The Sunday Times has published pictures of six men wanted in connection with a series of bombs in Gauteng and Mpumalanga last week.
Herman van Rooyen, Jan Rudolf Gouws, Gerhardus Petrus Visagie and the three Pretorius brothers — Wilhelm, Johan and Kobus — were sought for questioning in connection with the blasts.
National police commissioner Jackie Selebi told the newspaper that the men faced charges of high treason, terrorism and sabotage.
”We are working around the clock to find these people. One thing is for sure: we will get them,” he told the newspaper.
”It should be emphasised that until such time as these
individuals are arrested, the threat of loss of innocent lives and damage to infrastructure and other property through acts of terrorism, remains.”
Selebi said police want to question the men in connection with an underground right-wing network that has plotted to cause mayhem and racial discord.
Van Rooyen (28) Gerhardus Visagie (63) and Jan Rudolf Gouws (25) are all farmers from Bela Bela (Warmbaths),
Limpopo; and the three brothers were sons of a Limpopo doctor — Lets Pretorius.
Their father was arrested in Lichtenburg in North West in September after police seized a truck laden with explosives and weapons and ammunition.
Johan (31) also a doctor, and Lets Pretorius jointly owned the truck, police said. Kobus (29) is a farmer from Mokapane (Potgietersrus) and Wilhelm (25), who lives in Pretoria, is studying to be a pastor.
Nineteen men were already in custody facing treason charges in connection with the alleged plot.
A woman was killed in her sleep when the bombs rocked parts of Soweto, south of Johannesburg, on Wednesday morning last week.
Another bomb went off in Bronkhorstspruit, Mpumalanga. One person was injured there.
Selebi said police can positively place at least one of the men at the scene of the Soweto blasts.
Police said a mixture of nitrates extracted from fertiliser was found on Van Rooyen’s farm in Modimolle (Nylstroom), where 16 highly explosive gas-cylinder bombs were seized. The mixture was similar to the once used in the Gauteng and Mpumalanga bombs.
Selebi said: ”I am warning any person or persons currently or intending to provide safe passage, refuge and assistance or support to any of the mentioned individuals, to desist from doing so, as
that in itself constitutes a criminal action in terms of the Internal Security Act.”
Police are trying to pin down the political and intellectual leaders of the military groups. – Sapa