1/31/2015
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Local authorities in South Africa ordered Eugene de Kock, the leader of a death squad during the African country’s segregationist ‘apartheid’ era, released on parole on Friday after having spent 20 years of the 212 he was sentenced to in 1996 in prison.
South African Minister of Justice Michael Masutha announced this decision in a televised press conference, in which he acknowledged de Kock’s progress in the process of social rehabilitation.
De Kock, a former member of the apartheid regime, was serving a total prison sentence of 212 years, and was considered one of the most bloodthirsty murderers in the former National Party, NP, government.
De Kock, who turned 66 on Thursday, was convicted in 1996 of being involved in six assassinations and several crimes including kidnapping, murdering and violently assaulting those who opposed the apartheid regime.
After having worked in both the police and military fields, De Kock joined the infamous Vlakplaas security service in 1983, where he operated within the notorious South African secret police squad.
Two years later, de Kock took command of this unit, which committed countless atrocities under his leadership in attempts to suppress the opposition.
Those crimes earned him the harsh sentences he was serving in Pretoria Central Prison.
De Kock testified before the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation in 1997 and 1998, which offered him amnesty in exchange for information regarding the apartheid regime’s crimes.
However, his own confessions did not exempt him from a lengthy prison sentence.
During the same press conference, Masutha announced that Clive Derby-Lewis, one of two right-wing militants involved in the murder of the South African Communist Party’s leader Chris Hani in 1993, had been denied his request for parole.
Hani’s assassination in the middle of the African country’s stage of democratic transition led to an eruption of tensions across South Africa, threatening to poison the nation’s fragile democratic process.
Masutha also explained that Ferdi Barnard will continue to serve his prison term, as he was convicted of committing multiple murders while working for the paramilitary Civil Cooperation Bureau, CCB, established and backed by the apartheid government.
In the meantime, a parole request filed by Barnard is currently being studied by correctional services authorities.
source
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Local authorities in South Africa ordered Eugene de Kock, the leader of a death squad during the African country’s segregationist ‘apartheid’ era, released on parole on Friday after having spent 20 years of the 212 he was sentenced to in 1996 in prison.
South African Minister of Justice Michael Masutha announced this decision in a televised press conference, in which he acknowledged de Kock’s progress in the process of social rehabilitation.
De Kock, a former member of the apartheid regime, was serving a total prison sentence of 212 years, and was considered one of the most bloodthirsty murderers in the former National Party, NP, government.
De Kock, who turned 66 on Thursday, was convicted in 1996 of being involved in six assassinations and several crimes including kidnapping, murdering and violently assaulting those who opposed the apartheid regime.
After having worked in both the police and military fields, De Kock joined the infamous Vlakplaas security service in 1983, where he operated within the notorious South African secret police squad.
Two years later, de Kock took command of this unit, which committed countless atrocities under his leadership in attempts to suppress the opposition.
Those crimes earned him the harsh sentences he was serving in Pretoria Central Prison.
De Kock testified before the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation in 1997 and 1998, which offered him amnesty in exchange for information regarding the apartheid regime’s crimes.
However, his own confessions did not exempt him from a lengthy prison sentence.
During the same press conference, Masutha announced that Clive Derby-Lewis, one of two right-wing militants involved in the murder of the South African Communist Party’s leader Chris Hani in 1993, had been denied his request for parole.
Hani’s assassination in the middle of the African country’s stage of democratic transition led to an eruption of tensions across South Africa, threatening to poison the nation’s fragile democratic process.
Masutha also explained that Ferdi Barnard will continue to serve his prison term, as he was convicted of committing multiple murders while working for the paramilitary Civil Cooperation Bureau, CCB, established and backed by the apartheid government.
In the meantime, a parole request filed by Barnard is currently being studied by correctional services authorities.
source
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