AfriForum Youth laid a charge of assault at the Midrand Police Station against Lindsay Maasdorp (pictured – the one with the finger), spokesperson of the Black First Land First movement. This comes after Maasdorp assaulted members of AfriForum Youth at the National Education Crisis Forum in Midrand, which was attended by several movements.
Students who claimed that they belong to the #Feesmustfall structures also told AfriForum Youth that they could not speak at the event.
Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum Youth’s coordinator for Tuks said he walked up to the podium for his allotted turn to speak. “Then these students approached me and said that I was not allowed to speak because I am white… They also shouted the slogan ‘one settler, one bullet’ in our faces and sang the ‘kill the Boer’ song.”
A huge fight broke out – people threw chairs at one another and members of AfriForum Youth were assaulted by Maasdorp” said Renier Goosen, chairperson of the Tuks branch.
“We feared for our lives, and this shows that they have no regard for our contributions and that they are racist towards white people. We hope that the police will pursue the case,” Grobbelaar said.
Meanwhile a man with little regard for human rights himself, President Jacob Zuma, lead the national commemoration in King Williams Town, Eastern Cape Province, celebrating the country’s human rights tradition and honouring those who “sacrificed for the achievement of liberation and democracy”.
The commemorations was held under the theme: “The Year of OR Tambo: Unity in action in advancing Human Rights”, celebrating the contribution of national icon Oliver Reginald Tambo in advancing unity in the struggle for liberation.
The commemoration of Human Rights Day originates from the Sharpeville Massacre that took place on 21 March 1960 when 69 people were killed by police during a protest march.
The highlight of the 2017 commemoration will be the honouring of Black Consciousness leader Bantu Steve Biko. This year marks 40 years since the murder of Biko by police officers.
