As police were rounding up suspected right-wing troublemakers in a countrywide swoop on Friday, a body purportedly representing such extremists threatened more violent attacks.
A statement issued under the logo of the Boeremag warned the festive season would see ”revenge” attacks across the country.
The police were collating information on Friday afternoon from its ”Operation Hopper” that included raids on 94 farms and other residences since 5am.
Those arrested so far included Gaye Derby-Lewis, wife of former Conservative Party MP Clive Derby-Lewis who is serving a life sentence for the 1993 murder of SA Communist Party leader Chris Hani. She is expected to appear in court on Monday.
The Boeremag said attacks prior and during the festive season would be part of what it dubbed Operation Elohiem of Revenge.
No explanation was given for the term ”Elohiem”. The word is Hebrew, and means ”angels”.
The organisation said its campaign would be stepped up because the ruling African National Congress refused to meet its demands.
”This operation entails countrywide revenge attacks prior to and during the false, worldly festive season,” said a statement that reached Sapa by e-mail.
The Boeremag said its targets so far were chosen to ensure a minimum loss of life.
The organisation has been blamed for a recent rash of bomb blasts in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
It is also thought to have been behind a plot to overthrow the government, and 18 of its alleged members have been charged with treason and terrorism.
The Transvaal Agriculture Union and the Afrikaner
Eenheidsbeweging warned the state on Friday against causing unnecessary panic in its moves to counter right-wing extremism.
The Democratic Alliance and New National Party welcomed the raids.
In Friday’s statement, the Boeremag said the first phase of its operation was mostly a show of force. This was aimed, among others, at highlighting its demands for the release of supporters arrested for the alleged coup plot.
The organisation hinted state buildings would be among the targets it had in mind for the next phase of its operation, saying: ”We call on all private businesses to remove themselves from state buildings.”
The statement added: ”The Boeremag will accept no responsibility for damage to the property of compatriots in the vicinity of state facilities.”
The Boeremag accepted responsibility for attacks so far, saying these were the beginning of the end of the ANC government and the ”oppression of the Boer nation”.
In an apparent referral to a bomb blast earlier this month at the Grand Central Airport building housing the police airwing in Midrand, the statement accused the police of hiding facts about damage caused.
It claimed six helicopters and a Pilatus aircraft were destroyed in the attack.
”Are they silent about these facts so that the public should keep on believing the lie that everything is under control under the ANC circus?”
The statement said members of the Boeremag were not rightwingers or ultra-rightwingers.
”We introduce ourselves as fighters of the Holy Father and the Boer nation.”
The statement was peppered with Bible quotes and references to holy revenge on behalf of ”the chosen people”. It said it would not tolerate ”heathen temples” or trading on a Sunday. No names or contact numbers were given in the statement, signed off: ”Krygers van die Boerevolk” (Warriors of the Boer nation).
TAU security manager Boela Niemann said there was something paranoid about the way the police were conducting their operation.
He claimed police arrested several union members for ”offences” such as being in possession of a firearm licensed in a brother’s name, and keeping a flare.
”Some of our people have been charged with serious offences but if you take a closer look these police are being paranoid,” Niemann said.
”We are starting to suspect that the state is creating a perception of a threat that does not really exist.”
Niemann said about 10 TAU members were questioned or arrested in the police swoop which began at 5am on Friday. All were released on bail, he said.
AEB leader Cassie Aucamp said: ”We make an urgent call on the government not to press the panic button in its efforts to defuse a suspected right-wing plot.”
Reiterating his party’s condemnation of violence, Aucamp said excessive and unqualified state violence could fuel the fire of those seeking justification for misguided terror and sabotage.
Democratic Alliance safety and security representative Paul Swart said he hoped ”Operation Hopper” would result in the arrest and conviction of those behind the bombs blasts. NNP representative Adriaan van Jaarsveld said these people probably included pre-1994 right-wing supporters who opposed political change.
Police expected to release more information on the outcome of Friday’s raids over the weekend. – Sapa