Boeremag member pleads guilty

2003-05-16 10:32

Pretoria - One of 23 alleged Boeremag members charged with plotting to overthrow the government pleaded guilty to terrorism in the Pretoria High Court on Friday.

In terms of a plea agreement with the State, 27-year-old Dawid Oosthuizen would effectively serve a prison term of eight years.

He was sentenced to 12 years in jail, of which four years were suspended for five years.

According to the charge sheet, Oosthuizen was a corporal in the Warmbaths commando. He swore an oath of allegiance to the rightwing Boeremag and had the code name Buurman (neighbour).

Oosthuizen acknowledged guilt to one count of terrorism. His deal with the State provided for all other charges against him to be withdrawn.

Originally, he faced 43 charges along with the other 22 Boeremag members, whose trial is set to begin on Monday. Oosthuizen allegedly attended meetings about the recruitment of more Boeremag members and the gathering of emergency supplies for carrying out the planned coup de tat.

It is claimed he was one of the leaders of a group which did reconnaissance of car bomb targets.

The State alleges the Boeremag intended killing all black people and Indians or chasing them out of the country to proclaim it a Boer republic.

The main charge against the accused is one of high treason. There are four alternative charges of terrorism and four more of sabotage.

A murder charge is also listed, for the death of Claudia Mamatsieng Mokone in a bomb explosion in Soweto in October last year.

A count of attempted murder with an alternative of conspiracy to murder relates to an alleged plan to blow up a car transporting former president Nelson Mandela.

The rest of the charges pertain to contraventions of legislation governing the possession, manufacturing and use of explosives, arms and ammunition.

- SAPA