Two of the accused in the Boeremag treason trial said on Monday they had no plans to testify against a couple accused of harbouring them while they were on the run.
Herman van Rooyen and Jan Rudolf Gouws said in statement, faxed from their attorney’s office, that it was reported in an ”untruthful way” that they would testify against Jaco Bogaards and his wife, Beth.
”We consider this as a deliberate attempt, like others in the past, to create suspicion, distrust and discord amongst our people,” the two said in the statement.
The Bogaards are facing charges of harbouring fugitives and transgression of certain parts of the Terrorism Act after they allegedly assisted Van Rooyen and Gouws who escaped from the Pretoria High Court during an appearance last year.
They have pleaded not guilty and are out on bail, with their trial resuming in October.
Van Rooyen and Gouws, both alleged members of the Boeremag who are facing charges of high treason, were re-arrested in January this year.
”We have no knowledge about the nature and the extent of the Bogaards’ hearing, and have not spoken [to] anybody about it,” the two said.
Beeld newspaper reported on Monday that the Bogaards’ attorney, Sydney Gregan, had said that there was a possibility that Van Rooyen and Gouws would be called to testify in his client’s case. — Sapa