The Star Early Edition

‘Prime Evil’ doing good

- ZELDA VENTER

FORMER Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock was out assisting the National Prosecutin­g Authority (NPA) in the search for the remains of some of the victims of apartheid-era killings.

This was while his legal team turned to the high court in Pretoria yesterday to try to secure an early release from prison for him.

Although the NPA could not confirm this by late yesterday, it is understood from a reliable source that he was assisting the NPA’s Missing Persons Task Team (MPTT) looking for bones on the outskirts of Pretoria.

Justice and Correction­al Services Minister Michael Masutha said in July De Kock should “continue to assist the MPTT in helping the families of the victims to establish the whereabout­s of the remains of their loved ones”.

De Kock will know by the end of January whether he will be released on parole after serving 18 years in jail. His legal team turned to the court, challengin­g Masutha’s refusal to grant him parole. In July, the minister said the input of his victims’ families should first be obtained before his release was reconsider­ed.

In the meantime, De Kock had met with the families, and a report was compiled.

The National Council for Correction­al Services undertook in the light of this to consider by December 19 whether De Kock should be placed on parole.

The minister, in turn, undertook to decide on De Kock’s fate on or before January 31.

His lawyer, Julian Knight, is positive that De Kock is a step closer to freedom. He said the victim-offender dialogue between De Kock and the families started after the minister said this had to be done before parole was reconsider­ed.

Following the agreement between the parties, Knight said this was a positive indication that he would be given parole when the minister finally decided on the matter at the end of January.

“But I don’t want to prejudge. We will have to wait and see what happens when a decision is made.”

De Kock, who was in charge of the police death squad at Vlakplaas in the 1980s, was sentenced in 1996 to two life terms for six murders as well as a further 212 years imprisonme­nt.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa