19 February 2004
The South African Communist Party (SACP) calls on the Department of Justice and the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions to appeal yesterday's decision by Judge Johan Els of the Nelspruit circuit of the Pretoria High Court to only fine farmer, Gerrit Maritz a sum of R36,000 despite the fact that Maritz killed Jotham Mandlazi by dragging him alongside his bakkie until he fell under its wheel.
This decision by Johan Els is a pat on the back of degrading and inhuman exploitation that hundreds of thousands of farm workers in our country continue to live under. By making this decision, Judge Els has condoned this exploitation and given a licence to many more farmers to continue with their practices knowing that if they are charged the courts will judge in their favour and deny justice to victims of violence and exploitation.
The decision by Judge Els also shows that those who are rich can get good lawyers and even pay their way out of jail sentences.
In the view of the Communist Party an example must be made of Maritz in order to highlight and fight against the condition of farm workers. Many farmers regard farm workers as their property which they can just order around and kill at will. The conditions of farm workers demonstrate the fact that the riches of Maritz and many other farmers are built on the dead bodies of black farm workers. The Mandlazi case is a grim reminder of the reality that white agricultural capital still holds massive power over land and agrarian reform and the justice systems in the smaller towns of our country.
The Communist Party calls on the poor and working people of Neslpruit and all of Mpumalanga to mobilise their mass power to ensure that Jotham Mandlazi gets the justice he is denied even in his death.