Boeremag: Prosecution confusion
2003-04-20 22:35
Johannesburg - It is unclear by whom the 23 alleged extremist members of the Boeremag (Boer Force) will be prosecuted after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) formed a new unit responsible for investigations into high treason.
None of the members of the current prosecution team under deputy director of public prosecution, Paul Fick, was appointed to the new unit.
They were also caught unawares by an announcement by NPA head, Bulelani Ngcuka, that the new unit will be responsible for prosecuting alleged members of the Boeremag in future. Advocate Anton Ackermann will head up the new unit.
Ackermann was one of the prosecutors in the trial of doctor Wouter Basson, who was acquitted on 46 charges, including murder, fraud and drug trafficking, in the Pretoria High Court earlier.
The current prosecution team has been consulting the 272 state witnesses since the arrest of the first Boeremag suspects in April last year.
The 23 suspects will stand trial in the Pretoria Supreme Court on May 19 on 42 charges of high treason, sabotage, terrorism and contravening acts related to explosives, firearms and ammunition.
The case has received international attention because it will be the first time that the constitutional regulations on freedom of speech and association are tested.
Sipho Ngwema, spokesperson for the NPA, said the new unit will only supervise the prosecution of the alleged Boeremag members.
"The current prosecution team will not be replaced," he said.
Ngwema said Ackermann still had to submit a business plan to the NPA. Only then will posts be created in the new unit.