The 47-year-old Jacobus Johannes Claasen appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 29 December 2022. 

He was released on R20 000 bail. 

According to the spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Free State, Phaladi Shuping, part of Claasen's bail conditions entails that he must hand over his passport to the investigating officer. 

Classen is facing charges of common assault, crimen injuria and attempted murder. His case has been postponed to 25 January 2023. 

His co-accused, 47-year-old Jan Stefanus Van der Merwe and 33-year-old Johan Nel, who are facing charges of assault, were released on warning after appearing in court on Wednesday, 28 December 2022. 

Claasen, together with Nel and van der Merwe, allegedly assaulted two boys, aged 18 and 13, when they instructed them not to use a swimming pool at Maselspoort Resort.

ALSO READ: One of the three alleged Maselspoort attackers in court today

Meanwhile, Provincial EFF Chairperson, Mapheule Liphoko says his party is “disturbed and disgruntled” by the release of two of the three suspects following the alleged racist attack. 

He alleges they received preferential treatment as they were arrested on Wednesday and immediately appeared in court, before being released shortly thereafter.

ALSO READ: Ruling party weighs in on Maselspoort video

Furthermore, the African National Congress (ANC) in Mangaung said they view the incident as “particularly unfortunate” and “deserving of unambiguous condemnation”.

The Patriotic Alliance in the Free State said the “atrocious and inexcusable acts” against Black South Africans “are derailing the gains we have made as a country”.

The MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Desta), Makalo Mohale, has since called for harsher sentences to be handed out to the perpetrators.

ALSO READ: MEC calls for harsh sentences for Maselspoort pool-attack suspects

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