Students join protest over murder

Students of the North-West University (NWU) campus in Potchefstroom  joined a protest outside the Potchefstroom Magistrate Court on 13 October where the alleged murderers of the 71-year-old Sias Willemse applied for bail.

Willemse, a resident of Baillie Park, was murdered in his house on 22 September 2020. Subsequently, three suspects, Meriam Mahlapa (20), Petrus Mahlapa (24) and Andries Mahlapa (28), were arrested.

Students joined civil society organisation AfriForum and residents outside the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court for the bail hearing.

 “The protest’s goal was to show support to the Willemse-family as well as to show the country that we are also tired of our people’s voices not being heard and that we have had enough of these murders,” says Ernine Wepener (22), Vice-chairperson of AfriForum Youth Potchefstroom. 

The protest began early on 13 October 2020 at the Reformed Church,  27 Wolmarans Street. From there protestors walked in silence carrying a white cross with #boerelewensmaaksaak and #farmerslivesmatter and placards saying “No farmers no food” and “Farmers’ lives matter”. 

Protestors came as far as Johannesburg to support the gathering and to give support to the Willemse-family. “Police officers stood outside with shields awaiting violence, but only got people wanting answers and justice for the lives that been lost and that there should be no bail given … ,” says a heartbroken supporter of the Willemse-family, Eben de Clercq (23) and a student at the North-West University.

The three accused abandoned their application and will appear in court again on 16 November. – Dané Engelbrecht, Henrique Lubbe, Carané Roos en Janine Vermaak