Boeremag trial hears evidence

2003-10-29 12:23

Pretoria - The Boeremag treason trial, delayed for months by legal technicalities, seems to have started, with a police informer giving evidence.

The 22 accused face a main charge of treason and four alternative counts each of terrorism and sabotage.

One count each of murder and attempted murder, and an alternative charge of conspiracy to murder are also listed. The rest of the 43 charges relate to the illegal possession, manufacture and use of explosives, arms and ammunition.

Pretoria High Court was told some SA National Defence Force bases and their troops had been identified in 2001 to help carry out a plan to overthrow the state.

Police informer Johannes Coenraad Smit, the first State witness, also told the court on Wednesday that convicted killers Barend Strydom and De Wet Kritzinger had been identified to him as some of those behind the planning of the coup.

Smit testified that a certain Kobus von Marle told him and accused No 3, Adriaan van Wyk, in April that year that the Thabazimbi, Zeerust and Wonderboom bases had been identified as possible allies in the coup plot.

Meetings to this end had taken place with the commanding officers of several commandos and generals, including former police general Lothar Neethling.

A meeting with Colonel Chris Zeeman, commander of Wonderboom commando, proved to be unsuccessful.

Both Smit and Van Wyk were members of that commando.

Von Marle proposed Van Wyk, a special forces operative, as a coup leader for the Pretoria area, Smit said.

- SAPA