White farmers and their supporters have in recent months staged protests across the country against a spike in assaults and murders on farms.

South African farmer charged with terrorism after court riot

A South African farmer who allegedly led a group of protesters to storm a courthouse during a murder case hearing was charged with terrorism on Friday, prosecutors said.

· Nehanda Radio

Andre Pienaar, 52, was arrested on Wednesday after a group of mainly white farmers were charged into a court building in the central town of Senekal during the appearance of two black suspects accused of last week’s murder of a 22-year-old farm manager.

Amid a heavy police presence, Pienaar appeared for a bail hearing before a magistrate on Friday having been charged with inciting violence and destruction of property.

Online publication News24 first reported that he faced extra charges including terrorism and attempted murder.

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“Yes, one of the charges is terrorism,” National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) provincial spokesman Pheladi Shuping confirmed to AFP in a text message.

Pienaar was arrested over a series of violent incidents that left court property damaged and a police vehicle flipped over and set alight.

White farmers and their supporters have in recent months staged protests across the country against a spike in assaults and murders.

AfriForum, a pressure group that advocates on behalf of the country’s nine-percent-strong white population, told AFP Friday that 292 attacks have been recorded so far this year on farms, 38 of which were murders. AFP