7 Apr 2010

Tempers flare at Terreblanche hearing

3:23 pm on 7 April 2010

Tempers flared outside a court where two black workers accused of killing South African right wing leader Eugene Terreblanche, have appeared charged with his murder.

Police kept a crowd of 200 supporters of Mr Terreblanche's Afrikaner Resistance Movement and a group of black workers apart outside the court in Ventersdorp, west of Johannesburg. A barricade of razor wire was used.

As AWB loyalists sang South Africa's apartheid-era national anthem, the opposing side responded with Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrica, (God Bless Africa).

The anthem was introduced after the country's first multi-racial elections in 1994.

Mr Terreblanche was found dead at his farm on Saturday. The BBC reports the killing has raised racial tensions in the country.

The suspects, aged 28 and 15, did not enter a plea.

They face four charges, including murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances and crimen injuria - assaulting the dignity of the victim.

They are due to appear in court again on 14 April.

President Jacob Zuma has appealed for calm and condemned the killing.