Pretoria | Saturday
MORE details of an alleged right-wing plan to overthrow the government emerged in the Pretoria Regional Court on Friday.
State Prosecutor Louis Wiese said that according to the plan, members of South African cabinet were to be ”taken out”.
Wiese said the State was in possession of a 45-page document in which the ”frightening” plan was outlined.
Three men – Michael Teshart du Toit (43) Andre Tibert du Toit (32) and Jacobus Christoffel du Plessis (43) – appeared in connection with the plan.
They were denied a formal bail application as the state was still formulating charges.
The three, from Krugersdorp, Warmbaths and Brits respectively, were arrested last Friday, only days after four other men were arrested in the Free State in connection with plans to blow up the Vaal Dam.
The arrests came after the year-long police operation, Operation Zealot, during which police intelligence surveyed several rightwing groups.
Wiese said the documents in police possession contained the names of several other persons and that more arrests might follow.
Professors, doctors and certain government officials would apparently have assisted the right wingers in overthrowing the government.
According to the plan, power stations, airports and certain radio stations including Radio Pretoria, would have been blown up and key military installations would have been taken over.
”Everything was planned, down to the finest detail,” Wiese told the court.
The plan was due to have unfolded in September last year. ”I don’t know what prevented it from being implemented” Wiese said.
According to Wiese the plan was clearly aimed against government.
The State was considering charging the men with terrorism and sabotage, but the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions has still to draw up a final charge sheet.
The case was postponed till April 19. – Sapa