Skierlik suspect 'asked for more ammunition'

AFTER allegedly firing about 100 shots at helpless residents of the Skierlik informal settlement, Johan Nel is said to have walked to a nearby farm and asked for more bullets.

AFTER allegedly firing about 100 shots at helpless residents of the Skierlik informal settlement, Johan Nel is said to have walked to a nearby farm and asked for more bullets.

His shooting spree allegedly left dead four people, two of them children. Ten people were injured. An ostrich was killed.

When Nel's alleged request for ammunition was declined by a local farmer, he reportedly tried his luck with a second, who also turned him away.

Nel, 18, will go to trial in the Mmabatho High Court, in Mafikeng, on November 17 for the killings outside Swartruggens on January 14.

Nel, casually dressed and seemingly relaxed in the Swartruggens Magistrate's Court yesterday, appears to have gained weight in the past few weeks.

The crowd outside the court building, calling for a harsh sentence for Nel, was smaller than usual.

Nel showed no emotion as he stood in the dock. He was told by magistrate Andre Kleynhans that his case would be moved to a high court because of the severity of the charges against him, which now total 17.

They include four counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, one each of the illegal possession of a firearm and of ammunition, and a charge of malicious damage to property.

The final charge relates to the killing of an ostrich belonging to local farmer Charles Henning, whom Nel allegedly asked for ammunition for his father's .303 rifle on the day of the shootings.

In its summary of the case against Nel, the state alleges that he took his father's Toyota bakkie and parked it next to the main road to Swartruggens.

He is accused of walking towards Skierlik and firing at any residents in sight.

During the mayhem, he allegedly shot and killed 10-year-old Enoch Matshelanoka, Sivuyile Peyi, 37, and 31-year-old Annah Moiphitlhi and her two-month-old baby girl, Keditlhotse.

The summary, handed to the court yesterday, describes the events.

"Later during the afternoon, Charles Henning was asleep in his farmhouse when he was awoken by the sound of gunshots. He saw the accused in the yard.

"The accused then requested .303 live rounds from Henning, who did not accede thereto.

"After the accused disappeared into the bushes, Henning discovered that his ostrich was shot."

It is claimed that Nel then approached farmers Andries and Maggie de Jager, after which "the accused made verbal statements to them as to what transpired at Skierlik informal settlement".

Nel's lawyer, Frikkie Pretorius, said that, despite Nel pleading not guilty to all the charges earlier, no decision had been taken on his final plea.

He was sent to Weskoppies psychiatric hospital for assessment and declared fit to stand trial.