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'Plane stolen for rightwingers'
25/09/2002 10:51 - (SA)
Erika Gibson, Beeld
Pretoria - The Cessna 206 aircraft stolen from Wonderboom Airport last week was "destined for Thabazimbi", claims a rightwing informant.
The informant told Beeld that a member of a far-rightwing group, allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, was
connected to the theft. The aircraft was found abandoned on the N4 highway outside Pretoria after it ran out of fuel.
The informant claims the aircraft was to have been used for area
security measures by an "extra-conservative grouping" in the Thabazimbi area.
The informant claimed secret meetings are being held regularly in the area. Venues were kept secret and changed at the last moment.
Armed guards prevented uninvited guests from attending.
Regular meetings reportedly took place on a farm belonging to one of the suspected far-rightwing conspirators.
Plane has longer range than most
Those sympathetic to the cause had filled in forms, but it was unclear what kind of support was being offered.
Videos of farm attacks were screened at these meetings, causing concern in organised agricultural circles.
Farmers had repeatedly gathered to register their
dissatisfaction over "unbridled crime" on farms.
Lourens du Plessis, a millionaire farmer in the area and one of the alleged far-rightwingers in custody, appears to have organised several of the meetings.
Aircraft expert Linden Birns said on Tuesday the Cessna 206 was popular among farmers as it had a range of 1 200km - much more than most other light aircraft.
Cities such as Harare in Zimbabwe, Gaborone in Botswana or the southern areas of Namibia were within easy range on a full tank.
It was easy to land the aircraft on a rough runway.
"These aircraft are easy to handle and control in the air. It can seat six or otherwise carry a sizeable load."
- Beeld
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