Skielik murder case postponed

The case against alleged Skielik shooter Johan Nel was postponed to March 13 at the Swartruggens District Court today.

The case was postponed for psychiatric referral. Nel is accused of killing four people and wounding six others in the Skielik informal settlement near Swartruggens on January 14, smiled at his relatives as he took the stand.

He looked calm when his attorney told the court he needed to be referred for psychiatric help to determine whether he was in his right mind when he opened fire on residents in Skielik.

Outside the court protesters sang liberation songs behind a razor wire calling for the court not to refer him for psychiatric examination. They sang "Senzeni Na (what have we done)" as they attempted to pull down the razor wire, saying Nel knew what he was doing when he pulled the trigger.

As he was leaving the court in a police van protesters threw stones at the vehicle, baying for his blood.

The van sped down the road to the police station as the crowd ran along the razor wire pelting it with stones. The protesters shouted down Kgetleng municipality mayor Welhemina Moleko as she attempted to calm them. - Sapa