A ”key member” of the right-wing Boeremag group appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning on charges of terrorism, treason and sabotage.
Gerhardus Petrus Visagie (63) was arrested in Pretoria on Saturday morning after being on the run since late last year. His case was postponed to May 19, when he would go on trial with 22 other alleged rightwingers on charges related to an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
The names and photographs of Visagie, alias ”Oom Vissie” and five others were published in newspapers around the country in November. At the time, police said the men might be able to assist with their investigation into a rash of bombings in the country late last year.
The other men were: Herman van Rooyen, Rudie Gouws and brothers Kobus, Johan and Wilhelm Pretorius. They were arrested in December. Police representative senior superintendent Selby Bokaba said Visagie’s arrest brought to 28 the number of people arrested in connection with the alleged coup plot.
Charges against five of those had since been withdrawn. Of the 23 suspects still to go on trial, five were on bail. Bokaba described Visagie as a key member of the Boeremag. – Sapa