Update: Prepare for chaos
Several political parties are expected to be present at the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, when two farm workers will appear for kidnapping and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The charges come after a video, circulated on social media, show how two men push another into a coffin, threaten to douse him with petrol and to put a snake into the coffin with him.
Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson were identified by the Economic Freedom Fighters as the suspects.
They were arrested and are currently in custody at the Blinkpan police station.
Prudence Magutle, Steve Tshwete Municipality spokesperson, said that they have received an application from the ANC Youth League to picket in front of court. The application is currently being considered.
Other parties that want to protest in front of court have until 16:30 to apply for permission from the municipality.
Capt. Khanyisile Zwane, Middelburg police spokesperson, said that the local police have received no instruction from Provincial Office regarding preparations tomorrow. Protests are handled by the police’s provincial Public Order Policing unit and the help of local authorities are only called in when deemed necessary.
Me Magutle said that if no other parties apply for permission to picket, only the ANC Youth League will be allowed to do so. Participants from other parties will have to assemble from the same designated assembly point and march together with the Youth League, should they be granted permission, if they want to picket without their own application.
“Groups coming from a different assembly point will be dispersed immediately,” says Me Magutle.
Although the EFF have not indicated whether they are going to picket in front of court, they have issued a press release saying that their leadership will attend the court case tomorrow. Where the EFF leadership makes an appearance, their supporters are sure to follow.
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Information was received that the Democratic Alliance is also considering applying for permission to picket.
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It remains to be seen if the three political parties expected tomorrow will be able to set their political differences aside or whether tensions will boil over and chaos will erupt.
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