Racial tensions flare as rival groups face off after sentencing

RACIAL tension threatened to erupt outside the court in Ventersdorp where the killer of Eugene Terre'Blanche was sentenced.

Members of the Geloftevolk Republikeine (Covenant Nation Republicans) drove around the Ventersdorp Magistrate's Court in a van dragging a life-size, home-made black doll wearing a T-shirt with "Chris Mahlangu" printed on it. The old Transvaal flag was also flown.

In turn, a crowd of black people gathered outside the court hurled insults and sang Struggle songs, including the controversial "Kill the Boer".

Andre Visagie, leader of the Geloftevolk Republikeine, the right-wing organisation formed two months after Terre'Blanche's death, said: "The AWB is dead. As you can see, they are not here today. There is a very good reason for it.

"All the generals of the AWB resigned and are part of the Geloftevolk."

Former AWB members stood alongside members of the Terre'Blanche family outside the court before sentence was passed in the two-year murder trial.

The group had earlier hung the doll from a tree.

Visagie said the organisation wanted the death penalty to be brought back.