FRIDAY 4.30PM:
THE African National Congress has welcomed the conviction of former Civil Co-operation Bureau assassin Ferdi Barnard, but has called his comments likening his cause to that of President Mandela “presumptious”.
After being sentenced to two life terms and 63 years for murder, attempted murder and fraud, Barnard said: “When President Mandela got sentenced in the Rivonia trial, he didn’t go the next day and turn on all of his comrades. I’m going to take a page from his book. I’m not going to turn on my friends. I’m just going to do my time.”
The ANC’s information department said in a statement on Friday: “President Mandela’s cause was a just and legitimate struggle against a system rejected by the entire international community as a crime against humanity and a heresy.”
Barnard’s conviction and sentencing would consolidate confidence in the judicial system and its ability to ensure that those responsible for heinous crimes faced the full might of the law, the statement said.
The ANC said that the judgement paved the way for further investigations and prosecution of people who conspired with Barnard, or who sanctioned, aided and abetted him in his activities.