S.African farmer charged with terrorism after court riot

Cape Town

A South African farmer who allegedly led a group of protestors to storm a courthouse during a murder case hearing was charged with terrorism yesterday, prosecutors said. Andre Pienaar, 52, was arrested on Wednesday after a group of mainly white farmers charged into a court building in the central town of Senekal during the appearance of two black suspects accused of last week’s murder of a 22-year-old farm manager.

Amid a heavy police presence, Pienaar appeared for a bail hearing before a magistrate yesterday having been charged initially with inciting violence and destruction of property. Online publication News24 first reported that he faced extra charges including terrorism and attempted murder. “Yes, one of the charges is terrorism,” National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) provincial spokesman Pheladi Shuping confirmed.