Boeremag 'won't take prisoners'
2003-11-04 12:04
Pretoria - Rightwingers allegedly plotting to take over several defence force bases as part of a planned coup d'etat intended taking no prisoners, the Pretoria High Court heard on Tuesday.
"Everyone would have been summarily shot," police informer Johannes Coenraad Smit told the court.
This was discussed, he said, at a meeting in January last year to plan the military coup.
Defence force bases in Lohatlha, Potchefstroom, Kimberley and Bloemfontein were identified as the priority targets.
He described in detail how the bases were to have been taken over.
Small terror groups were to blow up electricity pylons at exactly 20:00 on the chosen day. At the same time groups of men gathered within a 5km radius of the target were to move in and take over the bases, Smit said.
"We were told that no prisoners would be taken."
Smit was testifying in the treason trial of 22 alleged members of the rightwing Boeremag organisation charged with plotting to overthrow the government.
He was part of the planning while all the time being a police spy.
Smit told the court how at a later meeting all those present were given a 9mm round to symbolise that traitors would be eliminated.
The hearing continues.
- SAPA