LIMPOPO – Limpopo Premier, Stanley Mathabatha has condemned the killing of a farm worker mistaken for a warthog. Speaking on the matter during the ANC Lekgotla held in Polokwane during the weekend, Mathabatha said the PEC lekgotla condemns the barbaric act and callous murder.
“That the life of a black person is still equated to that of a wild animal is not only disheartening, but requires radical effort in the transformation of our country,’ he said.
Read more: Modimolle worker shot dead: hunter (39) remanded in custody
Mathabatha’s comments follow the shooting and killing of Jan Railwa (23) by a 38-year-old farmer who told the police he had mistaken Railwa for a warthog. Railwa was shot in the back and died on the scene.
Spokesperson for the Limpopo Police, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said the deceased was working on the Waltlandgoed farm, a neighbouring farm.
The 38-year-old hunter faces a murder charge in the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court with his case to continue on Friday.
The murder has resulted in political parties weighing in on the matter.
EFF Acting Provincial Chairperson, Rendani Munyai said they are of the opinion that all farmers think the same.
“Farmers can’t change, it is becoming a norm. The deceased was a breadwinner and a brother to somebody and his life is gone. We are baboons, monkeys and warthogs in the eyes of farmers,” she said.
DA Provincial Spokesperson on Environment, Bodlani Langa said they find it very strange to be mistaken for a warthog: “How is a human being mistaken to a warthog? We trust that the criminal justice system will do its course. Incidents such as this do not help to build social cohesion and reconciliation that we as the country should be striving for. It is not true that we value the life of rhino more than a human-being. We value human life more than any,” said Langa.
In 2004, a Zimbabwean farm labourer, Jealous Dube (29) was shot and killed by Jewell Crossberg, a farmer and game lodge owner who claimed he thought Dube was a baboon on the Vogelenzang farm. He also shot at four of the deceased’s co-workers.
Judge Ronnie Bosielo found Crossberg guilty of murder and four charges of attempted murder. He was sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison for murder and five years’ imprisonment on each of the four counts of attempted murder.
