Rightwing arrests 'not linked to Mangaung'

2012-12-17 12:46

Police guard the entrance to the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where the ANC is holding its national elective conference. (Werner Beukes, Sapa)

Johannesburg - The four people arrested for suspected acts of terrorism were not linked to the ANC's 53rd elective conference in Mangaung, Free State police said on Monday.

"No, at this stage we are not linking any of the arrests with the conference at all," spokesperson Brigadier Billy Jones said.

"The acts of these suspects were countrywide."

He confirmed that only four people, believed to be rightwing extremists, had been arrested.

"The suspects are aged between 40 and 50. Their premises were searched and evidence supporting the investigation was seized."

Joint law enforcement operation

Jones said the arrests, which took place on Sunday, were the result of a successful joint law enforcement operation. The four would be charged and brought before a court soon.

Jones said his team was investigating further.

"Yes, we are expecting to make more arrests, but we cannot reveal further details at the moment," he said.

The newly-established Federal Freedom Party (FFP) said that at least two of the people arrested were believed to be members of their party.

"We are a political party, not a military organisation," national secretary Francois Cloete said.

"They are innocent until proven guilty, but our party doesn't stand for acts of terrorism."

The FFP was officially launched on 10 October. Cloete said he could not confirm how many members it had yet.

Cloete described the FFP as a "party that promotes self-determination of the Afrikaner/Boer people in a confederal political model".

The African National Congress's 53rd elective conference started in Mangaung, in the Free State, on Sunday.

- SAPA