Tatane trial restarts

The trial of eight Free State policemen accused of murdering protester Andries Tatane has started in the Ficksburg Regional Court

The case has been set down for four days.

There was a strong police presence at the court.

Tatane’s relatives and local residents filled the gallery. His wife Rose and other family members arrived at court at 8am, about an hour before the case was supposed to start, and took their seats in the front row.

A court orderly asked those in the public gallery not to react or comment when the video of the day in question was screened.

Tatane was killed in Meqheleng, allegedly by public order police, during a service delivery protest on April 13 last year.

The accused are: Nicodemus Israel Moiloa, Mothusi Magano, Mphonyana Ntaje, Olebogeng Mphirime, Solomon Moeketsi, Jonas Skosana, Kanathasen Munsamay, and Isaac Finger.

Video footage showed riot police beating Tatane during a march to the Setsoto municipal offices in Ficksburg. Over several days, roads were blocked with stones and bricks, and tyres set alight.

Two of the policemen are charged with murder. The other six face charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.