 Demonstrators
at the trial of Johan Nel, the 18 year old 'kid' who murdered four
people and wounding six others in the Skielik informal settlement,
chanting liberation songs behind the 10ft high razor wire fence erected
for his court appearance today. The crowd were protesting to Nels
application to be granted a physciatric examination, saying he was well
aware of what he was doing when he pulled the trigger. |
 Johan
Nel being seated in the dock before his trial with family members of the
victims in the background. We were given a minute to photograph him
before the guards told us to leave. Johan looked at the camera and
appeared very calm. During proceedings a family member of the murder
accused shouted "Johan, Sterkte", which caused an uproar in
the courthouse. |
 One
of the protesters shows me what he would do to Johan Nel if he had to
get hold of him. He carried a plackard reading "Stop Killing Black
People". |
 Protesters
hitting the razor wire fence with sticks at the other Photojournalists
behind the relative safety of the razor wire fence, the court in the
background. They sang 'Senzeni Na', what have we done, as they pushed
and pulled the barrier between themselves and the court proceedings. |
 In
case the police didn't hear the crowd, or if they did not understand,
this demonstrator made his request very clear. |
 I
ducked back under the barrier, back to the 'safe' side just before the
protesters managed to find a way though. The fence easily pushed down,
but the riot police were quick to react and forced their way, in
formation, to prevent the rioters through. |
 The
police in formation after the barrier collapsing with a demonstrator
standing in defiance. The riot police fell back soon after under the
orders from their Afrikaans corpral. |
 The
rioters, now very aggrevated, picked up stones and rocks to throuw at
the police. Not many actually had the courage to throw and merely
threatened with rocks in hand. |
 Johan
is raced off in the police vehicle without much incident. The media
reported stones 'hailing' down on the car, but few came anywhere close
to hitting. |
 The
incident finished very quickly and the crowd dispersed. His next court
appearance is March 14. |