The apprehension of the 33-year-old man comes a few days after the 51-year-old André Pienaar was denied bail by Magistrate Buti Mlangeni for his role in the unrest in early October.

Police Ministry spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba, tweeted on Friday early evening that the latest suspect in custody will be facing charges of attempted murder, public violence, arson and malicious damage to property, when he appears in the Senekal Magistrate’s Court on October 19.

A police van was overturned and torched in addition to court property being damaged on the day of the incident.

Whilst this second suspect makes his first court appearance, Pienaar’s legal representatives will be hearing the outcome of his application to the Bloemfontein High Court, to have Mlangeni’s ruling on his bail overturned.

OFM News previously reported that Mlangeni in his damning judgment, characterised Pienaar – reported to be suffering from bipolar mood disorder – as a possible threat to the ongoing investigations into the unrest by detectives.

The Senekal Magistrate supported this assertion by stating that whilst in police cells, Pienaar was reportedly attempting to influence witnesses in an effort to exonerate him of the charges against him.

Mlangeni further chastised Pienaar and his accomplices for storming the court holding cells, an act that not only could have compromised the safety of the detainees, but could have also created a window for their escape.

The former farmer also stands accused of strangling a female police officer in full view of CCTV footage in the chaos.

Should Pienaar still be denied bail by the Bloemfontein High Court on Monday, he will stay in custody until his next scheduled court appearance in the Senekal Magistrate’s Court, dated November 20.

Meanwhile the murder case of farm manager Brendin Horner will resume in the same local court on Tuesday and Thursday, dated October20 and 22. 

Sekwetje Mahlamba and Sekola Matlaletsa, aged 32 and 44-years respectively, will remain in custody untill then.

The matter was postponed allowing for cross-examination of the investigating officer Pieter Myburgh, by the defence.

OFM News