Central SA
UPDATED: Third alleged Maselspoort racial attacker back in court─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 09:48 Wed, 25 Jan 2023
The third suspect involved in the alleged racial attack at the Maselspoort Resort is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 25 January 2023.
The 37-year-old Jacobus Johannes Claasen was released on R20 000 bail after appearing in court on 29 December 2022. His bail conditions entailed that he had to hand over his passport to the investigating officer. Claasen is facing charges of common assault, crimen injuria, and attempted murder. Claasen’s 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, Nel, and Van der Merwe were arrested for assaulting two boys, aged 18 and 13, for using a swimming pool which they allegedly instructed them not to use at the Maselspoort Resort in December 2022.
ALSO READ: One of the three alleged Maselspoort attackers in court today
The video of three suspects assaulting two boys next to the swimming pool trended on social media platforms and various political parties voiced their opinion on the incident. EFF Chairperson in the Free State, Mapheule Liphoko, said three suspects received preferential treatment as they were arrested on Wednesday and immediately appeared in court.
ALSO READ: Ruling party weighs in on Maselspoort video
The African National Congress (ANC) in Mangaung said they view the incident as “particularly unfortunate” and “deserving of unambiguous condemnation”. While 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”, before being released shortly thereafter.
ALSO READ: MEC calls for harsh sentences for Maselspoort pool attack suspects
The MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea), Makalo Mohale, called for harsher sentences to be handed out to the perpetrators, this after stating his concerns on how the incident might affect the Tourism industry in the province.
UPDATED: The case was postponed to 28 February 2023 for further investigations. Accused one and two are still out on warning and accused three is out on bail of R20 000.
