250 Squatters Kill KZN Farm Manager

[NewsFlash]

Sort of reminds me of the Piet Retief story. Seems the more things change the more they stay the same.

Dingane asked that Retief and his party retrieve some cattle stolen from him by a local chief. This Retief and his men did, returning on 3 February 1838. The next day, a treaty was signed, wherein Dingane ceded all the land south of the Tugela River to the Mzimvubu River to the Voortrekkers. Celebrations followed. On 6 February, at the end of the celebrations, Retief's party were invited to a dance, and asked to leave their weapons behind. At the peak of the dance, Dingane leapt to his feet and yelled "Bambani aba thakathi!"(isiZulu for "Kill the wizards"). Retief and his men were overpowered, taken to the nearby hill kwaMatiwane, and executed. It is believed that they were killed for withholding some of the cattle they recovered. Dingane's army then attacked and massacred a group of 500 Voortrekker men, women and children camped nearby. The site of this massacre is today called Weenen, (Dutch for "to weep").
[source]

True fact not science fiction. Have anything changed since then.

 

[Syndyre]

If you have a Pistol and 250 People... Why whould you fire a shot... @ max if you are attacked you can only fire 18 shots... Very sad/Stupid

Where's the reference to the pistol in the article?

 

[Syndyre]

These sort of situations happen in Zim regularly. I hope the authorities sort this out quickly - though their investigation is not proving fruitful because the squatters are keeping mum.

Then they should all be charged with conspiracy, accessory to murder or something similar.

 

[Syndyre]

No-one wants to be among the first 18. Not everyone in the 250 will take a chance.

These people deserve to have their homes burned down, not to be able to stay because the owner is now dead. Before anyone judges that statement, first consider that their action was taken as a community, and not handing over the responsible people also means the community tacitly supports this action.

Agreed.

 

[Skeptik]

Then they should all be charged with conspiracy, accessory to murder or something similar.

I'm not sure such a law exists in RSA. Do you remember Jodie Foster in the US film 'The Accused' ... ? They applied a law that said the whole group were guilty because they were looking on and encouraging the perpetrators.

I'm surprised their mud huts are still standing. These farmers are a very law-abiding soft lot it seems.

 

[Syndyre]

I'm not sure such a law exists in RSA. Do you remember Jodie Foster in the US film 'The Accused' ... ? They applied a law that said the whole group were guilty because they were looking on and encouraging the perpetrators.

Don't think I've seen that movie. Think SA might have a law similar to this (US version) which might theoretically be able to be used. Not sure though, maybe one of the lawyers on here will enlighten us

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act

Edit: Even if such a law doesn't exist surely the could be charged with obstruction of justice if they witnessed the crime but refused to co-operate?