Allegations that right-wingers plotted to assassinate former president Nelson Mandela, blowing up his vehicle on a trip to Limpopo, were made in an indictment, SABC radio news reported on Wednesday.
It was not clear from the report whether the indictment had been officially served on 23 alleged members of the Boeremag by court officials. The document apparently alleged that a group of Boeremag members built a bomb last October, hoping to blow up Mandela’s vehicle on a road in Limpopo, where he went to open a school.
The men are scheduled to go on trial in May. The indictment also apparently details a car bomb campaign aimed at causing panic among residents of Alexandra, north-eastern Johannesburg.
According to the report the indictment alleges Herman van Rooyen, Johan Pretorius (junior) and his brother Wilhelm placed the bomb on the route they hoped Mandela would travel.
Mandela’s travelling by helicopter foiled the plan, which was allegedly aimed at inciting blacks to violent protest and creating a climate for the execution of a coup d’etat.
The Boeremag allegedly hired 10 Avis cars and stored them in rented property in Alexandra where they would be converted into car bombs. This was around the time of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
They also allegedly planned to plant a car bomb in Marabastad, Pretoria. – Sapa