KHAREEN PECH, Johannesburg | Friday 1.00pm.
A WEALTHY rightwinger linked to arms cartels and several rebel groups in Africa plans to destabilise South Africa in the run-up to the country’s second democratic elections in 1999.
Former Civilian Co-operation Bureau operative Johan Niemller is directing preparations by the “Boerevolk” for a “Fourth Boere Revolution” by galvanising support among white farmers and using an army composed of citizen soliders trained and deployed by the old South African Defence Force.
Niemller has recruited former SADF mercenaries to fight with Angolan Unita rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, and intelligence sources have said he has “sleeper” agents in the military and police forces. Jan Johannes Smith, Niemller’s operations chief, told the M&G: “we have a bigger army than the present state has”.
The group is conducting public meetings with farmers and distributing propaganda materials including manifestoes and graphic images of violence. Niemller paints a picture of South Africa where law and order has completely broken down and war is being waged against whites.
Disturbingly, Niemller may have the support of some agents on task forces set up to monitor him, according to intelligence sources. He has reportedly threatened police officers investigating his activities and journalists reporting on the right wing.