It's self-defence , NOT racism.

* 'It's self-defence, not racism' -

21/05/2008 08:01 - (SA)

Nicolize van der Walt, Beeld

Delareyville - While a young farmer appeared in court in the town on
charges of murder and attempted murder, interest groups and other
politicians lashed out against a Cosatu spokesperson's "irresponsible
statements".

Cosatu's provincial secretary Solly Phetoe, in a statement this week,
referred to "racist murders" after Jaco Swart, 26, shot two men in his
farmhouse at about 02:00.

The initial investigation showed that Swart, who apparently slept with
his bedroom door locked, had fired only one shot with his father's
licensed firearm. Both intruders presumably were hit by the same
bullet.

'Nothing racist'

Michael Thipe, 35, was fatally wounded in the head and his 33-year-old
accomplice was hit in the lung. The latter fled after being shot and
was later arrested in a nearby informal settlement.

"There is nothing racist about this shooting incident."

"My client protected himself and his possessions according to the law."

"Cosatu is fanning the flames of racial tension. It's funny that when
people kill off foreigners of other races, it's xenophobia but when a
white person is involved, it's immediately racism," Swart's advocate
said to Beeld on Tuesday.

The DA's provincial leader in North West, Chris Hattingh, submitted a
motion to the provincial legislature about, among other things,
Phetoe's remarks.

"We expressed our worry over the politicising of murders and farmers'
defencelessness specifically over Phetoe's remarks.

"It's irresponsible and he misuses his podium to polarise people on
the grounds of race."

North West Premier Edna Molewa apparently warned officials to act
responsibly during these types of occurrences and to discuss them
prudently.

The provincial leader if the Freedom Front Plus Pieter Groenewald said
in a statement said the party would write to Cosatu to ask its leaders
to intervene in case of "such irresponsible statements by provincial
officials".

"Susan Shabangu, the deputy minister of safety and security, can't say
that police officers may shoot to kill if their lives are being
threatened but then it doesn't count for ordinary citizens,"
Groenewald said.

Swart's bail of R2 000 was paid by AfriForum, a civil rights
organisation that also supported the Swart family during the court
hearing.

AfriForum's spokesperson Nantes Kelder said they were worried that
South Africa was being driven towards a Zimbabwe-situation where
politicians would start interfering in the legal system and that could
not be allowed.

The case was postponed until August 26.

Source:News24

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9909,2-7-1442_2326050,00.html