Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola condemned the violent act exhibited by protesting farmers in Free State.
He criticised the phenomena termed mob justice.
A violent clash between police and farmers in the area happened outside the Senekal Magistrates Court after court proceedings of accused killers of Brendin Horner.
Horner’s badly beaten body was found tied to a pole with a rope around his neck last week.
Angry farmers stormed into the holding cells of two suspects linked to the murder of farm manager Horner.
They were demanding the suspects be handed over to them.
During the protest gunshots were fired, a police vehicle was torched, and court property was vandalised.
Lamola in a statement said: “Preliminary reports indicate that gunshots were fired, a police vehicle was overturned and set alight, the court vandalised and court property damaged, following the appearance of two accused on charges relating to the murder of a farm manager,” the statement read.
“We urge the law enforcement authorities to ensure that the rule of law is maintained and an important part of that is to ensure that those responsible for undermining the administration of justice and the destruction of public property are brought to book.”
“If such attacks against the rule of law are allowed to go unchecked, our society will run the risk of descending into anarchy.”
“It is in the interest of everyone to ensure that respect for the rule of law is defended and upheld.
“However strongly communities may feel about issues, we simply cannot allow individuals to take the law into their own hands,” he said.
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