The case against alleged Skielik shooter Johan Nel was postponed in the Swartruggens District Court on Thursday.
Nel stands accused of the murder of four people and the attempted murder of six others in a shooting incident in the Skielik informal settlement last Monday.
The case was postponed to February 12.
During a brief appearance Nel, wearing grey pants and a green T-shirt, looked around the packed courtroom. He stood patiently while photographers and cameramen captured his appearance. At one point he waved at one of the cameramen.
It is alleged that Nel left a Swartruggens farm last Monday and drove 10km out of town to Skielik. There he allegedly gunned down 10 people, killing four. Two of the victims were children aged 10 years and three months.
Speaking outside the court, North West provincial minister of safety and security Phenye Vilakazi said the murders were racially motivated. He said there was ”no other explanation”.
Earlier, magistrate Andre Kleynhans appealed to the families of the victims to ”keep a level head”.
”I wish to appeal to people to let justice run its course and let the court do its work.”
By 10am on Thursday the police car transporting Nel had not managed to clear a way through the throng of protesters at the court gates.
The atmosphere was tense with the crowd chanting: ”We want Nel!” — Sapa