Beauregard Tromp
"I am eventually convinced that direct imprisonment...," said chief magistrate Mziwonke Hinxa. For a moment that seemed an eternity - the entire courtroom held their breath.
Friday would see the final chapter in the crimen injuria trial of the four white men from Reitz hostel at the University of Free State who made a degrading and racist video of five black workers.
The State, who had sent one of their 'generals' in the NPA, Johan Kemp SC, to prosecute the four men, had agreed that the offence deserved a fine.
The defence, spearheaded by Kemp J Kemp SC, has asked that the four be made to pay R5 000 each.
Perhaps more telling, the four complainants - Emma Koko, Nkgapeng Adams, Mankoe Phororo, David Molete and Sebuseng Ntlatseng - had told the court they do not wish to see their four torturers jailed but rather "to be taught a lesson".
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