Former Stander gang member Allan Heyl said on Monday that he symbolises the worst of what is happening in South Africa, and pleaded with the country to ”stop the violence”.
Heyl, who was released from Krugersdorp prison last week, told a press conference in Johannesburg that he was a misfit in the past and that it is a miracle that he has survived.
”I don’t know why you are all here. I symbolise the worst of what is happening in this country. I robbed banks. Fortunately, I survived,” he said.
”This violence has to stop. We are destroying ourselves. This is a great country, but the police are under siege. They are not respected by society.”
Heyl said in the past he was depressive, aggressive, angry and short-tempered.
”I was a pathetic misfit,” he said.
Asked what it takes to be a bank robber, Heyl replied: ”Insanity and a gun — only mad people rob banks.”
Heyl said it is up to people to decide whether they are going to be criminals.
”We decide whether we are going to be law-abiding citizens, and it begins with simple choices.”
Heyl compared himself to an ex-smoker when it comes to crime.
”I’m an ex-baddy and that is why I’m entitled to say what needs to be said,” he said.
The bald and bearded Heyl spent more than 20 years behind bars for a spate of bank robberies carried out along with renegade police captain Andre Stander and Patrick McCall in the 1980s.
Stander and McCall both died in separate police shootings.
Earlier on Monday, two radio stations claimed Heyl would give his ”first” interviews at the same time.
Both Talk Radio 702 and SAFM announced that Heyl would be giving his first radio interview on their respective channels at 4pm.
Heyl’s publicist, Stuart Lee, confirmed both were right: the 702 interview would be live, while SAFM’s was pre-recorded. — Sapa