On 10 November AfriForum assisted the owner of a white cross, that was set alight earlier this month by a journalist in Brits, North West, to lay a charge of malicious damage to property at the local police station. The cross was initially erected to promote awareness of farm murders.
A video was circulated earlier on social media wherein one Nick Motloung placed a tyre against the white cross, poured a flammable liquid over it and set it alight. The journalist was continuously spurred on by a woman filming the incident.
Maroela Media reported on 5 November that Motloung apologised for his behaviour and that he merely wanted to draw people’s attention to the challenges of farm workers.
“This light-hearted, unlawful and thoughtless behaviour may not go by unnoticed. South Africa is weighed down with a wave of farm murders that result in heartache and pain. AfriForum will do everything in its power to ensure that justice takes its course. We also want to ensure that the case is prosecuted successfully and an example is made of Mr Motloung that will act as a deterrent to those who are considering the same abominable behaviour,” says Marnus Kamfer, AfriForum’s Law and Risk Manager for Community Safety.