An urgent bid to free right-wing leader Eugene Terre’Blanche after an alleged parole violation will be made in the Pretoria High Court on Monday, his lawyer said.
Terre’Blanche was arrested at a guest house in Bethlehem at about 3pm on Sunday for allegedly being out of the area to which he is restricted.
Although Terre’Blanche had a court order granting him permission to be in Bethlehem, the actual violation was allegedly committed while he was at the Pretoria High Court securing permission to go there, said Gerrie Basson.
Terre’Blanche was released from prison in June after serving three years of a five-year sentence for the 1996 attempted murder of security guard Paul Motshabi.
His parole conditions confine him to the magisterial districts of Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp, and to leave these districts he must have permission. Basson said that to make ends meet Terre’Blanche gives religious and motivational talks and, in accordance with his parole conditions, had applied in writing for permission to travel to three talks out of his area.
This was refused late on Friday, so on Saturday Basson successfully approached the Pretoria High Court for an urgent application granting him permission to travel.
Basson said he would apply to have the warrant of arrest set aside and to have Terre’Blanche freed immediately on the grounds that it is Terre’Blanche’s constitutional right to be at a court case involving him, and that his parole officer knew where he was.
Terre’Blanche was being held in Potchefstroom Prison and parole officials were expected to meet to discuss the situation, said Correctional Services spokesperson Maupi Monyemangene. – Sapa