Extremist group’s ‘black genocide’ terrorism plot foiled

A CRACKDOWN on a terror group that planned a “black genocide” has revealed how it used social media to recruit members.

Harry Johannes Knoesen, leader of the extremist National Christian Resistance Movement (NCRM), also known as the Crusaders, has since deleted his Facebook page, which gave an insight into how the alleged Christian terrorist recruited new members to the group.

The Hawks arrested Knoesen on Thursday for his alleged plans to attack informal settlements, shopping centres and national key points to “bring about a black genocide”.

An alleged key accomplice, Riana Heymans, was nabbed in Joburg on Friday after hiding from police. She was found at a home believed to belong to a member of the group, which fronted as a church. Two other people were also taken into custody for allegedly hiding her.

Before the NCRM’s Facebook page was deleted, Knoesen used his personal account, which has also been deleted, to

recruit members. In one of his social media posts from his personal account, the former pastor and member of the SA National Defence Force, said: “When the Crusaders NCRM have turned the table… every home of our ruling race’s safe will look something like this… you will keep your military issue weapons and ammo at home in your safe. Cadets back in schools… self-defence taught at school. We will be a ready nation.”

Mpumalanga Black First Land First leader Elias Makwana laid charges of incitement to violence, high treason and crimen injuria against Knoesen earlier this year.

He said he opened the case after receiving a video from an unknown phone number threatening BLF leaders in Mpumalanga.

Makwana said NCRM was one of many far-right white organisations operating in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

After two years of investigations, the Hawks finally pounced on the 60-year-old at his residence in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, said spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

Police also discovered an “explosives factory” packed with electronic devices, unlicensed firearms and ammunition at a home in the Eastern Cape. Firearms were also discovered at the home where Heymans was hiding.

The four are expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court today on terrorism charges.