Boeremag member arrested
2003-02-22 11:43
Pretoria - A senior member of the rightwing group, the Boeremag, Gerhardus Petrus Visagie, was arrested in Pretoria on Saturday morning on charges of terrorism, high treason and sabotage.
Director Sally de Beer said 63-year-old Visagie alias "Oom Vis" would appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Visagie, who has been a fugitive since October last year, was apprehended during an intelligence-driven operation. A warrant for his arrest had been issued.
Other prominent Boeremag members Johan Pretorius, Kobus Pretorius, Wilhelm Pretorius, Rudi Gouws and Herman van Rooyen were arrest in December last year.
A number of Visagie's alleged accomplices had appeared recently in court on high treason charges.
On January 23, Michael Teshardt du Toit, 43, of Krugersdorp, his brother Andries Tibert du Toit, 32, of Bela-Bela (Warmbaths) and Jacobus Christoffel "Rooikoos" du Plessis, 43, of Brits appeared in the Pretoria High Court to overturn a ruling by a Pretoria regional magistrate. This was after they were refused to immediately accept and read documents relating to new facts in their bail application.
They are also wanted the application to be referred to another judicial officer, claiming the magistrate was biased.
Visagie's arrest on Saturday brought to 28 the number of suspects arrested in connection with the plot to oust the government.
- SAPA