The attack on the Koeberg plant was carried out by the African National Congress’ “special operations” division, headed by the former South African Communist Party chief, Joe Slovo. The unit carried out the major ANC coups of the liberation struggle, including the attacks on Sasol. Wilkinson’s immediate commander was Rashid Ismail who is now a general in the South African National Defence Force.
A pivotal figure in the operation was Mac Maharaj, a leader of the ANC underground in South Africa and now Minister of Transport after whom the project — “Operation Mac” — – was named.
Maharaj says the sucess of the operation, along with the Sasol attacks, lay in the demonstration it provided that no target was out of reach.
“In the South African establishment it created deep concern as to how vulnerable they were …
“They never got to know how it was done; until now they have not known the identity of this couple.” After the attack the Wilkinsons were placed under deep cover in anticipation of “vicious” retaliation from the South African security forces.
Maharaj disclosed that there was in fact a subsequent attack, in which a couple were badly injured, which was believed to have been an act of retaliation directed at the wrong
targets.