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/ 26 January 2008

Johan Nel a ‘young, brainwashed racist’

Racism was still a key issue in South Africa, political party representatives said as they addressed a gathering at Saturday’s funeral of the murdered Skielik victims. Congress of South African Trade Unions secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi said alleged killer, Johan Nel (18) had ”no regard for human life”.

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/ 26 January 2008

Mourners stream to Skielik funerals

Mourners streamed to marquees set up on a patch of land next to the highway past the informal settlement of Skielik on Saturday to bury three people killed there by a lone gunman last Monday. There was a heavy police presence at the marquees, where women stirred pots of food in readiness for the funerals.

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/ 24 January 2008

Skielik: ‘There is no trust in the world’

About 600 mourners, officials, politicians and family members gathered at a memorial service held for the victims of the Skielik shootings just outside Swartruggens on Thursday afternoon. School principal Cherian Kocheapen said: ”Our learners cried after this incident. People are afraid of the place [Skielik] and the situation.”

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/ 24 January 2008

Skielik shooting case postponed

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.

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/ 24 January 2008

Skielik shooting: Cops on alert outside court

Police massed outside the Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court on Thursday in anticipation of the arrival of a large group of protesters ahead of the appearance of Johan Nel on murder charges. Nel (18) stands accused of killing four and injuring six residents of the Skielik informal settlement, about 10km outside Swartruggens in North West, last Monday.

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/ 19 January 2008

Skielik protest: MP accused of hate speech

AfriForum has laid a charge against an African National Congress MP and all other organisers of a demonstration held outside the Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, the organisation said on Friday. Johan Nel (18), who allegedly shot and killed three people in the Skielik informal settlement, was appearing in court on at the time.