Supporters stood at attention and sang the old Transvaal Republic’s anthem as eight alleged rightwingers appeared in the Pretoria Regional Court on Thursday afternoon on charges of high treason, terrorism, and sabotage.
”Kent gij dat volk?” (Do you know that nation?), friends and family members sang enthusiastically as the men were led out of court — some of the women in tears.
Before the start of the court case, the eight men could also be heard singing the rhymed version of Psalm 146 ”Prys die Heer met blye galme (Praise the Lord with joyous sounds)” before being led into the dock. Two of the men wore T-shirts with a picture of a lion and the words: ”Verwond maar nie oorwonne” (Wounded but not defeated).
The case against them was postponed to May 19 for trial in the Pretoria High Court. The men are brothers Wilhelm, Johan and Kobus Pretorius, Herman van Rooyen, Jacques Jordaan, Deon Krause, Otto Gerner and Rudi Gouws.
The eight are to stand trial with 18 other alleged right-wingers arrested earlier in the year — including the Pretorius brothers’ father, Lets.
They are all believed to have links to the right-wing Boeremag organisation which has claimed responsibility for at least some of the blasts in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape since October. It has also been linked to an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
Five of those who appeared in court on Thursday — the Pretorius brothers, Gouws and Van Rooyen — had been on the run since police announced they were wanted in connection with the October bombings in Soweto and Bronkhorstspruit. Their pictures were issued to the media in October, and warrants issued for their arrest.
A sixth wanted man, Gerhardus ”Vissie” Visage (63) is still at large.
The eight were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday this week along with two others who were released without being charged. Police seized about 880kg of explosives, firearms, military-type equipment and time delay devices.
Lawyers for the eight on Thursday told magistrate Allan Cowan some of their clients had been assaulted by the police. They asked that the court disregard any statements made by their clients without a lawyer being present.
”We have evidence of questioning techniques being used that far exceed the limits of the constitution,” said Carel Taute, representing five of the men.
They also asked the court that the men be transferred to the high security C-Max prison in Pretoria, saying they did not feel safe. The fact that they were being kept separate from each other also made consultations with their lawyers very difficult.
”The only advantage to keeping them separately seems to me to be to exert pressure on them, for whatever reason,” Taute told the court.
Lawyers indicated that the men intended applying for bail on December 19.
Prosecutor Paul Fick, however, said the State had not been informed this intention. No court dates or magistrates were available over the coming period. Fick also pointed out that C-Max was full.
Taute contended it was the State’s duty, when it arrested people, to ensure their Constitutional rights were respected — including the right to a speedy bail application.
”The Constitution is full of beautiful ideals which apparently fall short in reality,” he said. ”My clients are the ones coming off second best.”
Cowan said the court was not available for a bail application on December 19, and advised the prosecution and defence to agree on a suitable date.
”I believe that the State is bona fide (acting in good faith) and will do everything in its power to ensure the accused’s constitutional rights are not violated,” he said.
The magistrate added it was not in his powers to make an order regarding the place of incarceration.
Police have since last month been involved in operations to flush out right-wing extremists against the background of the bombings and threats, purportedly by the Boeremag, of revenge attacks over the festive season.
Several people have been arrested on weapons and ammunition-related charges. – Sapa