Racial tensions rise in South Africa over farm killing

A tense standoff between white farmers and Black activists gripped South African town of Senekal Friday, as two men accused of killing a white farm manr were to appear in court.

More than 100 police patrolled area in front of courthouse in Free State province and used barbed wire to separate rival groups.

Sekwetjie Mahlamba and Sekola Matlaletsa were to appear in court on charges of killing Brendin Horner, 21, on Oct. 1.

About 250 white farmers gared to protest killing, charging that police do t equately protect white farmers. In an earlier court hearing last week, a group of white farmers stormed court and burned a police vehicle.

country’s leftist opposition party, Ecomic Freedom Fighters, mobilized about 1,000 of its supporters to challenge white farmers in front of court. y sang songs and shouted slogans calling for South Africa's land to be returned to Black residents. Many were dressed in EFF party's red uniforms and berets.

EFF leer Julius Malema came to Senekal Friday was expected to speak to his supporters after court hearing.

While most white farmers and organizations representing m have called for farm killings to be me a priority crime, government insists that white farmers are t being targeted, saying violence is a result of South Africa's relatively high crime rate. South Africa has one of highest crime statistics in world, with a murder rate of just over 58 deaths a day.

country’s official crime statistics indicate re were 49 farm killings in 2019/2020 financial year.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his weekly letter to nation Monday, condemned Horner’s killing, but said farm killings were part of bigger crime problem.

“Those people who think that farm attacks affect just a small part of our population are wrong. farming community is an integral part of our ecomy,” wrote Ramaphosa.

Senekal murder has also raised controversial issue of land ownership in country.

A great deal of South Africa's best farmland is owned by white farmers, as a result of eviction of Black farmers when country was ruled by a white mirity. Although South Africa w has majority rule, land ownership remains a contentious issue, with parties like EFF urging government to seize white-owned land without compensation and return it to Black families.

This story has t been edited by www.republicworld.com and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.