24-hour watch on treason court

2003-05-22 13:45

Pretoria - Traffic around the Pretoria High Court was rerouted on Thursday because of the operation to protect the building where the Boeremag treason trial is to resume on Monday.

"We are protecting the building on a 24-hour basis - even when the trial is not underway," said senior superintendent Selby Bokaba.

The part of Vermeulen Street at the back of the Palace of Justice was closed to morning peak-hour traffic, with scores of police patrolling the area.

The trial of 22 alleged members of the righting Boeremag organisation for a suspected coup plot was postponed for a week on Monday.

This was done at the request of defence lawyers who told the court they needed to sort out the legal aid of their clients.

On Monday, the first day of the trial, all roads to Church Square were closed to traffic.

This formed part of what police described as the largest post-apartheid security operation for a court case.

Bokaba said on Thursday: "We don't have to lower our guard when the trial is not in session. The building will be protected around the clock."

Deputy national police commissioner André Pruis earlier said investigations into rightwing activities were continuing.

"I wouldn't say the rightwing threat has been totally neutralised," he told the media in Pretoria.

- SAPA