Police are confident they have crippled the right-wing insurrection with the arrest this week of five of the men wanted for the Soweto bombings.
Nine men were arrested this week in connection with the right-wing violence that has rocked South Africa in the past two months.
The director general of the National Intelligence Agency, Vusi Mavimbela, confirmed the agency had received information that the rightwingers planned a bombing campaign from December 16 through the festive season.
Police spokesperson Selby Bokaba said he believed the arrests had broken the back of the groups involved in the attacks. The police uncovered 384kg of explosives in Pretoria and about 500kg in Limpopo, where the men were arrested.
Wilhelm Pretorius (25), Rudie Gouws (25) and Herman van Rooyen (28) were arrested in Pretoria on Tuesday and Wednesday, while Kobus Pretorius (29) and Johan Pretorius (31) were apprehended on a farm in Limpopo on Wednesday. Police believe Kobus Pretorius is one of two men who planted the bombs in Soweto six weeks ago. Gerhardus ”Vissie” Visagie (63), a sixth suspect, is still on the run.
The Pretorius brothers are the sons of Johan ”Lets” Pretorius, a medical doctor who was arrested after police confiscated a truck containing weapons and medical equipment near Lichtenburg.
The police also seized firearms, including an R4 assault rifle and pistols, and other military-type equipment.