Unchain Boeremag: Judge

Jun 13, 2011 

The High Court in Pretoria has ordered that four of the Boeremag treason trial accused may no longer be held in leg irons overnight. 

 

Judge Andre Louw granted the urgent court order on Monday following an application by the accused Mike du Toit, Herman van Rooyen, Tom Vorster and Rudi Gouws. 

He also ordered that Correctional Services must immediate return the four's laptop computers to them. 

The four complained that they were sleep deprived and unable to concentrate on legal argument by their counsel in court or to give proper instructions because they were forced to sleep in leg irons with the lights on at night.

They also complaint their laptops contained privileged instructions to their legal representatives.

They said Correctional Services had never given them any reasons for extending their period in isolation and shackles from seven to 30 days. 

Counsel for the four, Piet Pistorius, argued that the "draconian" measures were unnecessary, as the four were already being held in a high security section within the jail, where they were guarded 24 hours per day. 

"It is inhumane treatment to force an inmate to sleep in shackles at night," he said. 

Correctional Services opposed the application, saying the Correctional Services Act and regulations authorised them to restrain inmates who tried to escape in this manner. 

Solly Sithole SC argued on behalf of Correctional Services that the four were at the top of the list of high-risk inmates and were not the only ones who were kept in isolation and shackles.

"It's a question of branding of an inmate as a high risk inmate," he said. 

Louw said he had to accept if the four said they could not sleep properly at night. 

He said Correctional Services may have acted within the Act and regulations, but still had to justify the extension of the measures in terms of the Constitution, but gave no reasons for the extension. 

It also did not give any reasons why the accused's laptop computers should not be returned to them. 

Louw ordered that each party to pay its own costs. 

The four, together with the elderly Vis Visagie, staged a failed escape bid during a tea break at the High Court last month, but were all recaptured shortly thereafter. 

Visagie was rushed to hospital after collapsing at court the next day. He is still in hospital after undergoing heart surgery. 

Du Toit was also absent from court on Monday as he was being treated for injuries apparently sustained during the escape bid. 

Six of the other incarcerated accused have meanwhile also threatened to launch an urgent application as they had to appear in court in leg irons and lost all of their privileges along with the five who tried to escape. 

Van Rooyen and Gouws were previously on the run for eight months after escaping from the court cells in 2008. 

The State has asked for the conviction of all 20 accused on the main charge of high treason, arguing that a rightwing plot to violently overthrow the government was continuing to this day. 

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article1115293.ece/Unchain-Boeremag--Judge 

April 21 2011 

The proposed coup and conspiracy plan by the Boeremag to overthrow the government had not been abandoned, the prosecution in this marathon trial told the Pretoria High Court. 

Delivering the State’s final arguments before judgment in the trial, lead prosecutor Paul Fick SC asked Judge Eben Jordaan to convict the 21 accused of high treason, murder, attempted murder and an array of charges ranging from unlawful possession of arms and ammunition to manufacturing of explosives. 

Fick said the State was of the opinion that the plans to overthrow the government still existed.

Documents indicating this were found in the possession of Rudi Gouws and Herman van Rooyen after they were captured when they had been on the run for several months. 

They had made a dash for freedom while being held at the holding cells at court. 

Fick said these documents which were recovered and which the State claimed were drawn up while the two were on the run, had set out a further plan to achieve their goals, namely a coup. 

He said it also consisted of a plan to set free their co-accused, half of whom were kept in custody. 

Last week the State concluded their legal arguments pertaining to judgment. It is expected that the defence will start its arguments on May 23. 

The marathon Boeremag trial is the longest and most expensive trial to date in South Africa’s legal history. While it is difficult to calculate what the trial is costing the State, the legal fees for the accused, footed by the taxpayer, ran to R20 million two years ago. This is according to figures issued by the Legal Aid Board at the time. 

Next month it will be the eighth year of the trial. It started on May 19, 2003, but it was at the time marked by various applications and other hiccups. The first witness was only called to the stand months down the line - in October, 2003. 

By that time accused No 23, Dawie Oosthuizen, had pleaded guilty to terrorism and he was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. While his co-accused are still standing trial, Oosthuizen has been released on parole in the meantime and has since fathered a child. 

Meanwhile, 10 of the accused are awaiting trial in Pretoria’s Local Prison, while the remaining 11 are on bail. 

The charge sheet, containing the 43 charges, runs to six volumes and the evidence before court consists of more than 46 000 pages. The State’s legal arguments regarding judgment runs into 1 800 pages and it took Fick a week to only argue the summary of the State’s case. 

The State closed its case on June 15, 2007. The lengthy procedure of calling the accused to the stand to present their case then started. All of the accused, apart from five, testified in their own defence. 

Security has been as tight as on day one of the trial, with the accused who are in custody being transported to court every day under heavy police escort and loud sirens. The only difference is that people these days barely glance up, while some would say, “Oh, its only the Boeremag again.” 

A police sniffer dog diligently goes through the court every morning to make sure everything is safe. The sniffer dog, at the start of the trial, while it was still conducted in the Palace of Justice, caused some chaos when it sniffed intensely at a coffee flask standing alone on the floor in the dock. 

The police were not going to take chances and blew the flask up, as they suspected it could be a bomb. It later turned out that it belonged to accused Dr Lets Pretorius. 

It emerged that another accused, Frederick Boltman, was asked by Pretorius, who was at the time still awaiting trial behind bars, to buy him a flask. Boltman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, forgot the flask at home, but eventually remembered to bring it. 

He gave it to Pretorius, who forgot it in the dock when he left for jail in the afternoon. He told prison officials to fetch it, but they were too late - it had already been blown up. 

The lengthy trial was also marked by many delays over the years. 

There were at least 40 interlocutory applications - which include gripes from the accused behind bars regarding prison food and their conditions in jail. 

They also launched an application to have a quieter C-Max, as they said they could no longer handle the music blaring from the public system. It was Metro FM and Jacaranda 94.2 on alternate days and at full volume, they complained. The court at the time ordered correctional services to disconnect the loudspeakers in the section where they were kept. 

Another gripe was a bright light shining from the passage into their cells, causing them sleepless nights. 

This prompted the judge who at the time had to decide over this complaint, to promptly go and see for himself what was going on at night. He found the light not to be as disturbing as claimed by the accused. 

There were at least 35 bail and other related applications 

While this marathon trial is coming to a head, it is not certain at this stage whether it will be concluded this year.

http://www.thestar.co.za/boeremag-coup-plan-still-exists-1.1059982

Boeremag Boets

May 25 2011

The advocate for two of the Boeremag treason trialists on Wednesday withdrew from the trial because of an "irreconcilable breach of trust" with his clients.

Judge Eben Jordaan granted Gert van Niekerk, the latest of several advocates who represented brothers Dr Johan and Wilhelm Pretorius, leave to withdraw from the trial, even though final legal argument for the defence commenced on Wednesday.

Johan Pretorius told the court the breach of trust came to light during consultations with Van Niekerk earlier this month, resulting in their advocate saying he had no other choice than to withdraw.

"We realise this comes at a very late stage and that we find ourselves in a legal technical minefield.

"We cannot reveal the justification grounds for the breach of trust because most of the information is privileged.

"We're required to reveal the grounds to the Legal Aid Board before we can get new legal representation.

"We're worried because every time in the past we've found ourselves in a similar situation, the Board contested it and even went to court about it, but then revealed privileged information.

"We want to consult with a legal representative we can trust to advise us, but we don't have the finances to pay anyone to represent us," he said.

Johan Pretoriu said they were not abandoning their right to legal representation, but felt the system could not accommodate their needs.

Judge Jordaan suggested that the two should try to consult with international law expert Prof Hercules Booysen or Adv Chris de Jager of the Pretoria Bar, who he said was of "unimpeachable integrity".

Judge Jordaan last year dismissed an application by the two and their brother Kobus to be declared prisoners of war.

The brothers insisted they should not be treated as ordinary criminals who committed crimes for gain.

They described themselves as "soldiers in a liberation struggle" who were embroiled in an armed struggle aimed at self-determination for the "Boerevolk".

The three brothers conceded their involvement in activities such as manufacturing home-made bombs, knowing these bombs were to be placed at strategic points.

Prosecutor Paul Fick SC last month argued that all of the accused should be convicted on the main charge of high treason.

He said their coup plot to violently overthrow the government and replace it with a Boer Republic was still very much alive.

Two of the original 22 treason trialists - Herman Scheepers and Frederick Boltman - have died since the trial commenced eight years ago.

The first of the defence advocates, Harry Prinsloo, today commenced with final legal argument in the trial.

He handed in lengthy written heads of argument, but started highlighting some of his arguments, centering around the State's argument on when the alleged coup plot commenced.

The trial continues on Thursday.

http://www.thenewage.co.za/18915-1007-53-Boeremag_brothers%27_advocate_withdraws 

Boeremag Trio Not Pow's

A South African judge overseeing the Boeremag treason trial has dismissed an application from three of the accused to be tried as prisoners of war.

Judge Eben Jordaan explained that brothers Johann, Willem and Kobus Pretorius could not be viewed as prisoners of war because they did not warn civilians that bombs were about to got off near them.

“The core (of the protocol) remains that only the targeting of military targets is permissible. The targeting of civilian targets is in conflict with the provisions of Protocol I,” Judge Jordaan said.

As previously reported,, the brothers made the application last April because they saw themselves as soldiers of the South African Boere Republic engaged in a war against the ANC government. The Boervolk sent a defacto declaration of war to the government known as The Blue Letters demanding the return of the former Boer republics.

“I am of the view that what the applicants did according to their own admissions does not justify the term legitimate combatants,” Judge Jordaan said.  “Their modus operandi was to blow up civilian targets in the night. An organised military force surely supposes more than that.”

Judge Jordaan said argument that the accused had been under a command structure was not supported by evidence. Their military commander, Tom Vorster, had apparently been abandoned because of a lack of trust before the bombs were planted.

http://www.therightperspective.org/2010/08/26/boeremag-trio-not-pows-judge/ 

Boeremag Brothers Admit Role

Brothers Johan and Wilhelm Pretorius, who stand accused of treason against the South African government, have admitted to playing a role in a series of 2002 terrorist bombing attacks but did so only as part of a legitimate Boer freedom struggle.

Wilhelm, a theologian, and brother Johan, a medical doctor, admitted in court that they were ranked soldiers in the civilian force of the “Suid-Afrikaanse Boererepubliek” (SABR). Part of their membership included the making of bombs that were later used in attacks on a bridge, railways, Grand Central Airport, a Buddhist temple and a Muslim mosque back in 2002. One person died as a result of these bombings.

The brothers’ admissions implicated fellow accused Tom Vorster, who they say was in command of the SABR civilian force and ordered them to make the bombs. A total of 21 people stand accused in the Boeremag trial, which has been running for the last 6 years and has cost the South African government an estimated US$18 million.

Wilhelm said he was never formally sworn in as a member of the SABR. He said Vorster commanded him to write the "blue Letters", which declared war on the South African government and independence for the Boere Republics. He handed to his commander. 

Johan was formally sworn in by Vorster as a One Castle Commandant in the medics’ corps. His role was to provide medical support during the “Night of the Long Knives,” where they believed a black-versus-white race war was about to break out in South Africa. He gave a truck and ambulance to the SABR.

The ultimate goal of the SABR was to reclaim the Boer Republics which were integrated into the Union of South Africa by the conquering British after Second Boer War ended in 1902.

http://www.therightperspective.org/2009/02/21/boeremag-brothers-admit-role/ 

Woman Wins Appeal In Boeremag Case

A woman who was convicted for helping two alleged Boeremag members won an appeal against her conviction Thursday.

Bess Bogaards and her husband Jaco were found guilty in June 2008 of hiding two suspected Boeremag members on their farm in Modimolle (previously Nylstroom). She was sentenced to two years in prison, which was suspended for five years.

The High Court in Pretoria repealed her sentence Thursday, saying the state did not prove she knew her husband allowed Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws to hide in a riverbed on their farm from May 2006 to January 2007.

The two men were hiding after escaping from custody during their trial in the High Court.

Jaco Bogaards had his sentence confirmed by the High Court on Thursday, but he was given leave to appeal.

http://www.therightperspective.org/2010/02/14/woman-wins-appeal-in-boeremag-case/ 

Boeremag Trial Hears of 'secret document'

Two recaptured Afrikaaner activists who are being tried in the Pretoria High court for treason said in a statement read by their attorney that they extended a hand of friendship "to everyone, black and white, who acknowledges that the Boers are native to Africa and that the same rights are vested in them as in any other African people -- also the right to govern themselves in our own fatherland".

Pretoria, South Africa

29 January 2007 

Recaptured Boeremag escapees Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws will remain in shackles for now, it emerged in their Pretoria High Court treason trial on Monday.

Their legal representative, advocate Piet Pistorius, initially indicated that they had instructed him to oppose a prosecution move to have them remain shackled while in court.

However, he later abandoned his stance, explaining to the court that his clients would abide by the present arrangements for the time being.

Pistorius was earlier given time to study a "secret" document found in possession of Van Rooyen and Gouws during their arrest earlier this month.

Chief prosecutor Paul Fick SC told the court the document contains further conspiracy plans and plans setting out the intention to use violence to free their co-accused from C-Max prison.

He asked that the contents of the document should not be made public as it is "not meant for everyone's eyes" as a result of its contents.

Attorney Paul Kruger, who read out a statement on behalf of Van Rooyen and Gouws, told the court Van Rooyen claimed to have assessed the situation in the country and concluded that violently overthrowing the government is not an option "at this stage".
In their statement, the two extended a hand of friendship "to everyone, black and white, who acknowledges that the Boers are native to Africa and that the same rights are vested in them as in any other African people -- also the right to govern themselves in our own fatherland".

They also hoped "their people" would abandon discord and elect a body with a mandate to further their claim for self-determination.

The men's sisters, Liezel van Rooyen and Sunita Gouws, expressed relief on Monday that their brothers were caught without bloodshed.

Van Rooyen hoped the police realised her brother and Gouws had weapons in their possession for self-defence because of threats that they would be shot if they were caught.

Gouws asked the public to keep in mind that neither of the men had harmed anyone in their nine months on the run, despite allegations that they were dangerous and heavily armed during that time.

Gouws's father, Pieter Gouws, who saw his son at court for the first time in nine months, told the two to stand strong and do what they believed in.
Van Rooyen's mother, Marie, had not worried about them while they were outside, because they are "tough guys".

The mother of four of the accused, Minnie Pretorius, complained bitterly about her treatment at Pretoria's local prison during a visit in December.

She claimed warders searched and handled food with their hands, shouted at her and insulted her when she complained. She said complaints to the head of C-Max prison remain unanswered.

Another accused, Tom Vorster, also complained to the court that his attempts to get legal aid for an application to protect his constitutional rights -- especially those as an awaiting-trial prisoner for contact visits -- had been ignored for more than three years.

The trial continues with the cross-examination of a state witness on the admissibility of documents allegedly found in possession of accused Dirk Hanekom. 

Source (http://www.mg.co.za/)

No fear of Boeremag escape from C-Max

Pretoria, South Africa

14 February 2007 06:30

There is nothing to suggest that the Department of Correctional Services has any real fears that an escape plan allegedly hatched by former Boeremag escapees Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws will actually be carried out if they are held in the same section of the C-Max prison, a high court judge said on Wednesday.

Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour this week launched an urgent application to set aside two previous court rulings about the joint incarceration of 12 of the 22 Boeremag accused in the same section of C-Max, as well as their rights to consult with each other and their legal representatives.

Three of the accused have already been moved to another section voluntarily, but Van Rooyen and Gouws turned to trial Judge Eben Jordaan for help after they were kept in chains in separate cells in a different section following their re-arrest.

They still appeared in court in leg irons, but rejoined the other accused in the closed "Boeremag section" at C-Max on Sunday after Jordaan last week said that his order about where they should be held remained valid.

Correctional services claim a document found in possession of Van Rooyen and Gouws during their latest arrest contains information of such a nature that there is a very real possibility that the objectives of the document will be executed if all of the accused are kept together and allowed to "roam free" in that section of the jail.

The court earlier heard that the document -- which remains secret -- contains new coup plans to overthrow the government, as well as a detailed escape plan, sketch plans and a description of the "weak points" of correctional services.

The prosecution objected to the application being heard by trial Judge Jordaan, as the document has not yet been placed before the court and might "contaminate" the judge, but Judge Hans Fabricius said many documents, which are eventually disregarded, are served before courts every day.

He said he could not at this stage find that correctional services' fears are real and was of the opinion that he would violate the accused's rights if he set aside previous court orders.

He refused to make an order and referred the matter back to Judge Jordaan for adjudication.


Source (http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=299072&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/)

Extra Security for Boeremag Accused

Pretoria, South Africa

15 February 2007 03:56

Increased security measures have been taken at Pretoria's C-Max prison to prevent the Boeremag treason trial accused from escaping, the Pretoria High Court heard on Thursday.

Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour earlier this week applied for two previous court orders, dealing with the incarceration and consultation arrangements of 12 of the 22 Boeremag accused, to be set aside.

The Correctional Services Department expressed concern that the objectives of a document found in possession of re-captured Boeremag escapees Rudi Gouws and Herman van Rooyen would be carried out if the two were held with the others in the same section at C-Max.

The document -- which may not be published -- apparently contained a detailed escape plan.

Three of the treason triallists have already been moved out of the "Boeremag section" of the jail at their own request.

Judge Eben Jordaan said he was not prepared to hear the application at this stage, following objections that he could be "contaminated" by information in the "secret" document, which has not yet been admitted as evidence in the criminal trial.

He referred the application to Judge Hans Fabricius, who in turn refused to make an order and referred the matter back to Judge Jordaan.

Counsel for the minister, Jaco Roux, said this left the department in an unenviable checkmate situation, because there was no ruling to appeal and Judge Jordaan did not want to hear the application -- or even read through it -- at this stage.

Correctional services therefore had no choice but than to shelve the application until the document on which it wanted to rely was before the court. This situation also worried the department, which could not choose when and if the state decided to use the document.

Roux said extra security measures had, meanwhile been put in place, but this was only a short-term solution, as they placed enormous strain on correctional services.

Gouws and Van Rooyen -- both farmers in the Bela-Bela district -- have appeared in court in leg irons since their escape from the cells at the Pretoria High Court during a lunch break in May last year. They escaped despite the presence of numerous armed members of the National Intervention Unit. -- Sapa


Source (http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=299127&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/)

7 year Trial.....

As the Boeremag trial enters its 7th year next month, some of the accused are calling on the Geneva Convention to be tried as prisoners of war in The Hague and not as terrorists.

A total of 21 men are facing numerous charges, including treason, terrorism, sabotage, murder, causing explosions, illegal possession of arms and ammunition, and attempted murder.

While at the stand in Pretoria High Court last week, one of the accused, Dr. Johan “Lets” Pretorius, who has been testifying since March 10th, refused the state prosecutor’s questions on the international legal grounds that he was part of a “freedom struggle.”

Legal representatives for his sons, brothers Cobus and Wilhelm Pretorius, indicated in the court that they would follow the same route.

The brothers, who are among the 13 who are being held in C-Max Prison, hoped that if declared prisoners of war, they would be freed as “the war is over”, their father, Dr Lets Pretorius, on trial with them, said.

Judge Eben Jordaan recessed the court and will consider the application Wednesday.

The Geneva Convention, which South Africa is a signatory, provides for the rights of prisoners of war. Some of the other men on trial are considering joining the brothers in their application.

Earlier in the trial, brothers Johan and Wilhelm Pretorius changed legal representatives and made written confessions to the bombings, claiming they declared “war” against South Africa.

Although their part in the various “legitimate military operations” differed, both indicated that they “at least knew of it.”

According to the confession they wrote, they were also involved in the establishment of a “base” in Gauteng, which would be required in the “anarchy” that would come when the “Night of Long Knives” would break loose.

Willhelm was also involved in the writing of the “blue letters” sent to the ANC and the South African president, which claimed the land for the “Boerevolk” and must be immediately given back to them.

“We formally declared war” when the requests are ignored, Pretorius said.

De Boer Krygsgevange-committee has already issued a declaration saying: “It was not brandy-and-Coke-talks around a campfire, but professionals who have left everything in the quest for the Boer nation’s self-realized.”

The Boeremag trial started on May 19, 2003, with 23 accused. One pleaded guilty and is already out on parole after serving his jail term. Another accused, Herman Scheepers, died while awaiting trial.

The case record runs more than 44,200 pages and has cost the South African government more than US$18 million. It is the longest-running trial in the history of South Africa.

Analysts expect the trial to end sometime next year. The State closed its case more than two years ago and only four of the 21 accused still have to take the stand.

http://www.therightperspective.org/2010/04/26/boeremag-accused-want-to-be-tried-as-prisoners-of-war/ 

Plot to kill 'treacherous whites'

Boeremag trial hears of plot to kill 'treacherous whites'

Pretoria, South Africa

23 March 2007 03:48

Documents discovered in the possession of Boeremag treason-trial escapees Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws describe a plot to kill "treacherous whites", the Pretoria High Court heard on Friday.

Captain Sietze Albertse testified that the documents were found in a townhouse in Centurion where Van Rooyen and Gouws were recaptured in January after nine months on the run.

The documents describe not only a plan for a revolution aimed at securing an independent Boer state, but also a plan to free other Boeremag accused from C-Max prison.

Police also found two assault rifles, ammunition, a GPS device, three cellphones and cash in the sparsely furnished flat.

The documents -- with Van Rooyen's fingerprints on them -- describe the ideals of an independent Boer state, the development of a revolutionary freedom struggle and the nature of rebels and guerrilla warfare.

The author makes it clear that the enemies (of the "Burger Bevrydingsorganisasie") were not black people, but "traitors" in the white community, including Afrikaners who worked for the state.

"Our biggest threat is not the ANC [African National Congress] or black people in general, it's TREASON. White treason," the document reads.

The document proposes freeing the other Boeremag detainees and then starting a freedom struggle with a form of ethnic cleansing ("volksuiwering") "to get rid of the cancer within".

From there it moves to the creation of a Utopian Boer state, using guerrilla warfare and revolutionary techniques such as propaganda war.

It describes the different stages envisaged for the struggle, culminating in a new government and commando units forming "the new army".

The author makes no bones about the use of violence.

Phrases such as "the heroic struggle", "taking back the fatherland metre by metre", "ANC oppressors", "white slaves", "revolution", "freedom struggle" and "war" occur throughout the lengthy documents, which includes maps and aerial photographs of the area surrounding C-Max prison.

The accused have opposed admitting the documents as evidence, claiming they were not relevant to the charges against them. The 22 accused have denied guilt on more than 30 charges including high treason, terrorism and murder.

The state alleged the document was highly relevant.

Judge Eben Jordaan provisionally allowed the documents to be placed before the court as evidence, but said he would have to weigh up their value at the end of the trial.


Source (http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=302863&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/)

Boeremag Escape

June 1 2011 

   

The presence of heavily armed members of the elite national intervention unit could not deter five determined Boeremag members from trying to make a dash for freedom during a tea break at their high court treason trial in Pretoria on Tuesday. 

Chaos erupted shortly after 11.30am as the five tried to hot-foot it out of court after spraying ammonia into the faces of several police officers. 

Amused pedestrians look on as Boeremag accused Herman van Rooyen is hustled back to jail 

after car guards had helped catch him during a brazen escape. He was one of five members of the right-wing organisation who made a break for freedom during their treason trial in the High Court in Pretoria.

Three of the men only made it out of the courtroom door before they were apprehended. 

The elderly Tom Vorster, said to be one of the leaders of the Boeremag, made it as far as the foyer before he was brought down by a female police officer. 

Police screamed orders and bewildered members of the public trying to leave the building saw Herman van Rooyen jump through a glass panel. 

Surprised security guard Steven Molokomme, who was guarding the door, dived towards Van Rooyen but he was sprayed in the eyes with ammonia. 

Van Rooyen, who managed to escape from the same court five years ago, was chased by a group of policemen and security guards as he ran towards Church Square. Shouts of “Boeremag, Boeremag” alerted car guards, who joined the chase. 

Van Rooyen was caught on Church Square by a member of the intervention unit. About five minutes after the drama began, he was cuffed and led back to court to cheers from onlookers.

By the time the Pretoria News arrived, Vorster was quietly lying in a foetal position on the floor. His hands were bound with a cable tie. 

He lay there for more than a minute before a member of the elite intervention unit, part of the group who daily watch over the Boeremag accused at court, dragged him back into the court.

Some of the people claimed Vorster was stopped at the door by a policewoman, who shocked him with a stun stick, but this was denied by national police spokeswoman Sally de Beer.

A senior police official, who was at the scene, claimed Vorster punched a policewoman, who then knocked him down. 

Accused Dr Lets Pretorius, who was awaiting trial in prison for several years before he was granted bail, just shook his head while observing Vorster lying on the ground. “You know, this is frustration. These men are extremely frustrated. They have been in jail for years now without being given bail and this trial is taking its toll on them,” he said. 

The other three who tried to escape were Mike du Toit, and the first to be arrested more than eight years ago, Gerhardus (“Oom Vis”) Visagie and Rudi Gouws. 

Oom Vis is deep in his 70s and the chaplain of the group. Early in the trial he often sat with his Bible on his lap. Gouws escaped with Van Rooyen in May 2006 during a lunch break. The pair were on the run for several months before they were apprehended in Lyttelton. 

Since then Gouws and Van Rooyen have been sitting in the dock with leg-irons.

How it came about that they were without their leg-irons is still a mystery at this stage. According to the police, it is part of their investigation. 

De Beer said: “We are going to make a request to the judge that all those on trial are placed in leg-irons for their next appearance.” 

When the Pretoria News entered the courtroom shortly after their attempted dash for freedom, the only evidence of the escape was a pair of leg-irons in the dock and another next to the dock. Both pairs still had their locks attached. 

Several bottles of nose spray, apparently filled with ammonia, were lined up against the wall of the courtroom. 

The police confirmed that four members of the intervention unit and a security guard were taken to hospital for treatment after being sprayed with ammonia. 

De Beer on Tuesday confirmed that all five had been apprehended and said that although there was “a strenuous struggle between the accused and the police”, minimum force was used under the circumstances. 

The court resumed sometime later with the accused who are on bail in the dock. Prosecutor Paul Fick told Judge Eben Jordaan about the escape attempt. He also said that the dock was virtually empty as the 11 accused awaiting trial in jail were being kept in the court cells following the incident. 

“Oh my goodness,” commented Judge Jordaan who postponed the trial to Wednesday.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cops-foil-boeremag-escape-1.1076620