Buhle Mbhele
Former apartheid-era police commander Eugene de Kock has accused former prosecutor Advocate Anton Ackermann and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of failing to pursue senior officials allegedly linked to apartheid-era crimes.
Testifying before the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry in Johannesburg, De Kock said Ackermann had promised after his 1996 sentencing to use his evidence to investigate those higher up the chain of command.
However, he alleges that prosecutors never approached him in prison to obtain information about generals and politicians who allegedly authorised operations against anti-apartheid activists.
De Kock, who commanded the notorious Vlakplaas security police unit, said he was willing to provide evidence about several cases, including the Cradock Four murders and the Motherwell bombing.
He told the commission he was never asked to identify the generals who allegedly gave the orders for unlawful operations.
These are two connected cases from South Africa’s apartheid era. Both involved the Security Branch of the apartheid police and became important in investigations into whether senior officials ordered or covered up politically motivated crimes.
The Khampepe Commission is investigating allegations of delays and interference in the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred to the NPA by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
These remain allegations presented to the inquiry, rather than findings that all the individuals named were guilty.
De Kock maintains that he remains willing to provide further evidence.
Click below to listen to De Kock’s sentiments…
