Murders spur anti-crime protest

902 A crime scene expert takes pictures of the scene on 7th street in Linden where 3 men tried to hijack a woman after a chase with the police that started in Robindale. 190208. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

902 A crime scene expert takes pictures of the scene on 7th street in Linden where 3 men tried to hijack a woman after a chase with the police that started in Robindale. 190208. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published May 31, 2012

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About a 150 people protested in Delmas on Thursday following the murder of a day mother and a five-month-old baby boy, Mpumalanga police said.

Lt-Col Leonard Hlathi said the protesters handed a memorandum to the local police on Thursday afternoon.

“The protesters also trampled on the South African flag while handing over the memorandum,” he said.

Two men appeared in the Delmas Magistrate's Court on Thursday in connection with the murders.

Hlathi said Enock Mbele, 44, and Lazarus Mabhena, 54, were denied bail.

“The matter was postponed to June 7 for further investigation.”

The march was organised by members of the Afrikaner Volksraadskommissie (VVK) who were protesting against violent crime against women and children.

The Democratic Alliance condemned the way in which the march was held.

DA Limpopo leader Anthony Benadie said racist remarks, slogans and posters were used at the march.

Some of posters at the march read: “Black cowards - leave our women and children alone”, “Besteel, verkrag, vermoor: Ons is klaar met swart Suid-Afrika (Robbed, raped, murdered: We are finished with black South Africa)” and “Barbare los ons kinders uit (Barbarians leave our children alone).”

Benadie said the murders were condemned and should outrage every South African.

“However it was uncalled for that the VVK chose to reduce such a tragic event to a racial slur, by proclaiming that this murder was racially motivated.”

VVK chairman Paul Kruger denied the allegations.

“One should look reality in it's eyes. The truth is the truth. White people in South Africa are mostly killed by black people.”

He said the memorandum was an effort to communicate with the government in order to create a homogeneous ethnic state in South Africa for his nation. - Sapa

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