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'The government is not in control'

Kingdom Mabuza

Kingdom Mabuza

The government is either unwilling or powerless to deal with justice officials who continue to make a mockery of our democracy, PAC and Azapo said yesterday.

The organisations were reacting to a R10000 fine sentence handed down to a Limpopo farmer for killing 11-year-old Sello Pete.

Magistrate T L Prinsloo said the prosecution had failed to substantiate the charge of murder. The farmer, Marcel Nel, was convicted for culpable homicide.

Sello was shot by Nel, who claimed he had "mistaken" the boy for a dog.

"The justice system is still what it use to be under apartheid. Our people are still subjected to callous murders without any recourse from the courts," said PAC spokesman Mudini Maivha.

He said the PAC would not be surprised should blacks, especially in rural areas, rise against the system.

"Our people will reach a point where they will resort to defending themselves because the government does not look like it is prepared to come to their aid," he said.

Maivha said the PAC will support the community should it decide to take action against "injustice".

Azapo spokesman Dan Habedi said the sentence proves that the government is not in control of strategic institutions like courts.

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