South Africa: Blind Faith
June 2003 – 25’00”
V/O SCRIPT ONLY – PLEASE WRITE TO LOUIS LOTTER IF FULL SCRIPT NEEDED.
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They call themselves the Boeremag and now 22 of them are on trial for treason. Their alleged plan was ambitious and elaborate. A small Boer army would spearhead a war that would see all in their words, all Black and Indian people expelled from the territories of the old Boer republics which today are the provinces of Gauteng, North-West, Limpopo and the Freestate. The government would be toppled and a Boer republic would be declared.
These are some of the allegations in the first treason trial of the new South Africa...
Today we try to understand how the Boeremag could possibly have thought their plan would succeed. One of the Boeremag members who has agreed to testify against his former comrades, says there was a strong belief in the visions of an old Boer prophet, Siener van Rensburg. Tonight we take a closer look at this allegation to see if it makes sense.
BLIND FAITH
a report by anneliese burgess
1997
On Christmas eve 1996 a bomb explodes in a supermarket in Worcester. A group called the Boere Aanvals Troepe claims responsibility for the blast which kills four people and injures 60. They demand the release of what they call Boer freedom fighters and that Boers be granted their own territory. Two rightwingers are later arrested on a remote farm where they had been preparing for their war. Literature found at the house links them to a religious sect, the Isrealites. They believe the Afrikaners are among God’s chosen people. A third accomplice is later extradited from Namibia. They are sentenced to 88 years in jail.
1997
In early 1997 a group of 12 rightwingers are arrested while trying to steal weapons and military equipment from Pomfret military base in the Northern Province. They call themselves the Pretoria Boer Commando. Their leader is well-known rightwinge Willem Ratte...... He is a high ranking ex-special forces member of the old SADF. Ratte is sentenced to seven years in prison. This was not Rattes first stint in prison for rightwing activities. A year earlier he’d been released from prison on bail after a hunger strike. On the day of his release he is welcome by a crowd displaying the old South African flag and those of the Boer Republics. They call him "Kommandant" -- a military title from the old Boer armies.
1998
In May 1998 a group of men break into the Tempe army base in Bloemfontein. Over 100 weapons including machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, mortars and night vision equipment are stolen...
Two weeks later the same group rob a Tempe army truck. They murder the black occupants and make off with machine guns and ammunition worth millions of rands. Four men are arrested and tried for theft, robbery and murder. They are alleged to be members of a new organization called DIE VOLK. There are also indications that the four are also members of the rightwing religious sect, the Israel Identity. They are all sentenced to long terms.
2002
Then in March 2002 three men are arrested on a smallholding near Parys in the Vaal Triangle. They are charged with sabotage for plans to blow up the Vaal Dam. Like the Worcester bombers and the Tempe killers, they are also followers of a rightwing religious sect, this time a splinter group of the Israel Vision ... They say they are fighting for a Boerestaat. The leader says he believes the Bible and the visions of an old Boer prophet Siener van Rensburg justified his actions. He had hoped his actions would bring about chaos and spark a Boer rebellion against the government.
2001
But a year earlier the activities of another group, THE BOEREMAG, had started coming to light... One year later it would be SA's primary security threat...
In May 2001 the first three Boeremag members are arrested. Among them Michael du Toit. He's a lecturer at Vista University and has a masters degree in philosophy. Police sieze a crucial document from his house. It’s called Document 12 -- and is a military plan. It is alleged du Toit is the author and a mastermind of the planned coup.
2002
In Sept 2001 the police say they have uncovered a Boeremag plan to bomb the (Earth?) Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg.
Later the same month they find a truck parked in an industrial area of Lichtenburg in the North West province. It’s packed with ammunition, petrol bombs, food and military and medical equipment.... There are also a number of neo-nazi badges. (insignias?) Police believe the truck was to have served as a mobile headquarters in the conflict.
During this time the Boeremag sends a letter to the media informing them that a state of war exists.
Shortly afterwards an arms cache is found on a farm near Modimolle in Limpopo province. This includes large amounts of explosive material, bomb cannisters and ammunition.
The police now admit that the Boeremag is a bigger threat than initially thought. A more accuarate profile is emerging:
UPS: Selebi
On October 8 bombs explode in Soweto. 1 person dies. Another bomb explodes in Bronhorstspruit.
In November a bomb damages the police aerial wing at Grand Central airport in Midrand.
In December the police intercept a bakkie packed with explosives. They believe the intended target is a soccer match in Pretoria.
The police hunt intensifies. By the end of the year 23 members of the Boeremag have been rounded up. This includes the other alleged commander, Ton Voster. The charges against them range from treason to terrorism and sabotage.
This was one of the their alleged plans...
First a Boer army is is established and targets identified.
Secondly, chaos is created and 4000 men are mobilised countrywide.
Then electricity is cut in Bloemfontein and Gauteng
Traitors are eliminated and radio stations taken over.
Army and police bases are taken over.
Jailed rightwingers are freed.
All Blacks and Indians are driven towards Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Kwa-Zulu Natal is then bombed to force them out of SA altogether.
Then a Boer republic is declared.
SIENER STANDUPPER
INSERT SIENER SECTION.
UPS: Raath
UPS: Snyman
UPS: Venter
We don't yet to what extent the visions of Siener van Rensburg influenced the Boeremag's thinking. Or to what extent they thought their actions were fulfilling those prophesies. One state witness has suggested it did play a role. And on the very face of it there are interesting parallels between some of the Boeremag's alleged plans and events outlined in some of the Seer's visions.
In "Document 12" one of the proposed plans is to guard the railway line between Prieska and Luderitz. No explaination is given, yet these towns have great significance in a vision of Siener van Rensburg:
UPS
Lichtenburg features heavily in Boeremag plans. Not only is the alleged mobile headquarters intercepted here. At some point last year letters are sent to various people urging them to gather at the Lichtenburg Commando for the declaration of a Boer Republic. One of Siener Van Rensburgs visions states:
UPS
Then there is of course the alleged plan to drive Black and Indian people to KwaZulu. And that once there, they are to be violently driven from this province too…
UPS
And then the final step... after the bombing of KZN, a Boer republic is to be established
UPS
Scholars agree on the importance of Siener van Rensburg in Afrikaner history. But they differ on the significance and the interpretation of his visions in today’s world. When he saw freedom for the Afrikaner, did he mean they should take up arms, we asked?
UPS
UPS
V/O Since 1994 Afrikaners have progressively lost their previous position of power and privilege in SA. An environment has been created for small groups of people to try to regain what they have lost. This, coupled with religion and a history of seperateness, makes for lethal cocktail.
UPS; More incidents
UPS: Bad news for Afrikaners
STANDUPPER
... finally come face to face with the justice system of the government they allegedly wanted to overthrow. The answer to whether the visions of the old Boer prophet played any significant role in their plans , will be come from the proceedings of the court.