AWB claim ‘will not stop Griquatown trial’

Cornelia de Wet claimed that she played a role in the murder of three members of the Steenkamp family in Griquatown last year.

Cornelia de Wet claimed that she played a role in the murder of three members of the Steenkamp family in Griquatown last year.

Published Oct 31, 2013

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Bloemfontein - The trial of a minor accused of murdering Griquatown farmer Deon Steenkamp and his family will continue next week despite another person confessing to the killings, the NPA said on Thursday.

The boy faces three murder charges, one of rape, and one of defeating the ends of justice for the murder of Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and their daughter, Marthella, 14, at their farm Naauwhoek on April 6, 2012. Marthella was also raped.

Northern Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Mashudu Malabi said they were aware of claims made by an apparent rightwing female farmer Cornelia de Wet in media reports.

In an exclusive interview with Diamond Fields Advertiser De Wet, a member of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging, confessed to her alleged role in the murders of the Steenkamps.

The report said the 37-year-old De Wet, in custody for possession of explosives and ammunition, alleged the Steenkamp murders were part of a plan to attack white farmers in an attempt to instil fear and incite racial hatred.

The report, carried on IOL earlier on Thursday, said the boy's lawyer and his guardian met De Wet at the Kimberley prison this week.

Malabi said the prosecuting team would nevertheless proceed with the case next week.

The trial was expected to continue throughout November, with additional dates in December if required. The boy was out on bail and in the care of a guardian.

Meanwhile, people on Twitter expressed shock and scepticism at De Wet’s claims. @MissVASmith asked ”Can a person be SO racist that they arrange the murder, rape & torture of their OWN race solely to promote racism? #AWB “

@DabigB tweeted: So these #awb people are killing other whites to instill fear and racial hate, #stevehofmeyer must be pissed #redOctober

He was not the only one asking Steve Hofmeyr to comment on the article. Hofmeyr eventually tweeted “...Toemaar. Klink my soos 'n Eugene Terre'blanche-se-seks-met-sy-minderjarige-moordenaars tipe stront storie.”

On IOL’s Facebook page, one person wrote: “This is an obvious attempt at disinformation and psychological warfare by NI (and a very feeble one at that), following the success of #RedOctober at highlighting the scourge of farm murders and the sadistic and brutal nature of those attacks. Anyone remotely familiar with the Steenkamp case and the evidence presented so far, will see right through this. The woman has been arrested for possession of explosives etc and will say anything in mitigation. Surely the timing following right after the Boeremag conviction is grounds for suspicion alone? Unless of course, you can't or prefer not to...” - Sapa, IOL

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