Boeremag plotted in strip joint

2003-11-03 16:49

Pretoria - Writhing, half-naked women proved a favoured backdrop for a group of men allegedly drawing up a rightwing plot to overthrow the government.

The Pretoria High Court heard on Monday that some of the plotters' leaders returned several times to the Teasers striptease club in Pretoria to discuss their plans.

Of all the meeting places named in the testimony of police informer Johannes Coenraad Smit, Teasers appeared to be among the most preferred - with at least three encounters taking place there.

According to Smit, alleged coup mastermind Mike du Toit first called a meeting at Teasers with four of his accomplices on November 1 last year.

"He explained a few aspects to us despite the overpowering music."

At this meeting, Du Toit told the group he was afraid of going home for fear of arrest, and was looking for someone to take his wife to the hospital when she goes into labour.

At least one of the alleged plotters objected to the meetings taking place at Teasers, Smit said.

Jacobus (Rooikoos) du Plessis left the November 1 meeting saying "he does not have time to waste on loose women as he is a loyal husband".

The other four, however, did not seem to have such qualms. Du Toit, Smit, Du Toit's brother Andre (accused number two) and a certain Lukas van Rensburg returned at least twice.

Smit said a second meeting was called by Du Toit at the same venue four days later in the early morning hours, and yet another on November 9.

At the last meeting, the group assembled at Pleasers, a brothel attached to the strip club.

"The planning that evening was a light-hearted affair," Smit testified. "We all had a few drinks, and accused number one (Mike du Toit) was later 'escorted' by one of the escorts."

The meeting continued. "But it was more relaxation than a real meeting," Smit told the court.

He was asked about a fourth meeting at Teasers later in the year, but could not recall the details.

Other venues used by the group to strategise included farms and guesthouses, each other's homes, garages, restaurants and shopping malls.

Twenty-two alleged Boeremag members are standing trial on 42 charges ranging from murder and attempted murder to terrorism, treason and explosives contraventions.

- SAPA