THE six men who tried to change the name of Pretoria's Nelson Mandela Drive to Clive Derby-Lewis Street were released on bail of R1000 each
The six, all members of right-wing Verkenners group, appeared in the Pretoria district court charged with malicious damage to property, contravening the Road Traffic Act and public violence after pasting stickers over several street signs.
Adriaan Beyers, 31, Johannes Haremse, 31, Ben Geldenhuys, 38, Daan Greafe, 31, Ruan Combrink, 27, and Jacob Pretorius, 25, were arrested on Sunday night after they were caught on CCTV cameras.
They appeared before magistrate Bheki Ntshingila, and their case was postponed to August 19 for further investigation.
Their lawyer, Marius Coertze, who also represented Derby-Lewis - the man who masterminded the assassination of struggle leader Chris Hani for which he is now in prison for life - dismissed the charges as "a storm in a tea cup", and illustrative of a lack of tolerance in South African society.
Coertze said police first removed a sticker bearing Derby-Lewis's name and later replaced it so they could take photographs.
He said the charges against his clients had no basis as there was neither any violence nor damage to any property.
"There was a demonstration with a sticker placed on the name board. This is a simple case of freedom of speech ... a simple matter of a political over-reaction."
Coertze admitted that the timing of the "demonstration" - hours before Mandela's birthday - was "absolutely bad" but the reaction to it was "despicable".
According to the Verkenners' website, Geldenhuys is its president while Beyers is the treasurer.
The group claims to be "the only true and pure cultural organisation in which the Boerevolk's men can participate".
"We definitely strive for a Vaderland (homeland) where we will be free to maintain and expand on everything that is precious to us," it says.
The ANC reacted angrily to what the six allegedly did.
Tshwane region spokesperson Burton Joseph said the party "noted with disgust the vandalisation of street signs in Pretoria which bear the name of our iconic leader Nelson Mandela".
Rightwingers granted bail over Mandela damage
THE six men who tried to change the name of Pretoria's Nelson Mandela Drive to Clive Derby-Lewis Street were released on bail of R1000 each
The six, all members of right-wing Verkenners group, appeared in the Pretoria district court charged with malicious damage to property, contravening the Road Traffic Act and public violence after pasting stickers over several street signs.
Adriaan Beyers, 31, Johannes Haremse, 31, Ben Geldenhuys, 38, Daan Greafe, 31, Ruan Combrink, 27, and Jacob Pretorius, 25, were arrested on Sunday night after they were caught on CCTV cameras.
They appeared before magistrate Bheki Ntshingila, and their case was postponed to August 19 for further investigation.
Their lawyer, Marius Coertze, who also represented Derby-Lewis - the man who masterminded the assassination of struggle leader Chris Hani for which he is now in prison for life - dismissed the charges as "a storm in a tea cup", and illustrative of a lack of tolerance in South African society.
Coertze said police first removed a sticker bearing Derby-Lewis's name and later replaced it so they could take photographs.
He said the charges against his clients had no basis as there was neither any violence nor damage to any property.
"There was a demonstration with a sticker placed on the name board. This is a simple case of freedom of speech ... a simple matter of a political over-reaction."
Coertze admitted that the timing of the "demonstration" - hours before Mandela's birthday - was "absolutely bad" but the reaction to it was "despicable".
According to the Verkenners' website, Geldenhuys is its president while Beyers is the treasurer.
The group claims to be "the only true and pure cultural organisation in which the Boerevolk's men can participate".
"We definitely strive for a Vaderland (homeland) where we will be free to maintain and expand on everything that is precious to us," it says.
The ANC reacted angrily to what the six allegedly did.
Tshwane region spokesperson Burton Joseph said the party "noted with disgust the vandalisation of street signs in Pretoria which bear the name of our iconic leader Nelson Mandela".
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