Ring of steel for Boeremag case

2003-05-15 13:33

Pretoria - The largest post-apartheid security operation for a court case will get underway in Pretoria next week when 23 alleged members of the rightwing Boeremag organisation go on trial for treason.

Security measures would include strict access control to Church Square, which houses the trial venue - the Palace of Justice - regular bomb sweeps and random body searches, police and justice officials said in Pretoria on Thursday.

All entry routes to the square would be closed to motor vehicles and no parking would be allowed initially, said Mel Vosloo of Tshwane metro police. This would be reviewed as the trial progressed.

The operation would involve members of the police's public order policing, crime prevention, and intervention units, the special task force, metro police, and security officials from the justice department.

Air support also would be deployed, said deputy national police commissioner André Pruis.

A joint operations centre would be set up at court to co-ordinate the operation.

"In terms of direct involvement, it is the largest deployment in the history of the SA Police Service," said Pruis.

Protection for court officials

He said security would be handled in the same manner as that for big events like the World Summit on Sustainable Development last year and the World Conference Against Racism in 2001.

The judge and his two assessors, the prosecutors and investigators also would be protected.

The police would oppose the holding of any marches or pickets close to Church Square.

"We have contingency plans in place for any eventuality," Pruis said. "We have a long list of possible threats or risks for which we are planning. But, at this stage, there is no intelligence of any possible attacks."

He added investigations continued.

"I wouldn't say the rightwing threat has been totally neutralised."

But no threats had been received for "some time".

Vosloo urged Pretoria motorists to give way for high-speed police convoys transporting the men from prison to court every day.

Lawyers' briefcases will be searched

Hawkers on Church Square would also be affected by the trial. Only those with formal licences would be allowed to conduct business.

Court security head Gerhardus van Vollenhoven said no firearms, sharp objects, parcels, cameras or electrical equipment would be allowed into court.

Even the briefcases of advocates and attorneys would be searched.

Only 120 people would be allowed into the public area every day.

The security arrangements would remain in place for the duration of the trial - which some have predicted could last several years.

National directorate of public prosecutions spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said the State was ready to get the trial underway on Monday.

However, there might be some delays on the part of the accused, some of whom had only recently got legal aid.

Some of the men had objected to the court's jurisdiction on the matter, but Ngwema said the prosecution was ready to contest that point.

- SAPA