Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s most notorious Apartheid-era killer was denied parole Thursday, 20 years after he was sentenced to two life terms, as well as a further 212 years in prison.
Justice Minister Michael Masutha confirmed that former police Col. Eugene de Kock has been denied parole.
Masutha indicated that while De Kock had shown signs of improvement during his lengthy incarceration at a high-security Pretoria prison, he raised concerns that the families of De Kock’s victims were not afforded the opportunity to participate in the parole hearings.
“In the circumstances I have not approved parole at this stage,” he said.
However, Masutha has allowed De Kock to resubmit his request in 12 months rather than the mandatory two years.
Masuthu also acknowledged that the information De Kock had provided the authorities allowed police to recover the remains of some of his victims who subsequently received a proper burial.
The man nicknamed “Prime Evil” approached the North Gauteng High Court for a decision on his parole in May. Judge Thokozile Masipa gave the government 30 days to make a decision.
De Kock, who was the commander of the notorious Vlakplaas police base, was arrested in 1994.
Following South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994, De Kock disclosed the full scope of his crimes while testifying before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
In 1996, he was tried and convicted on eighty-nine charges. The charges included six counts of murder, as well as conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and fraud.
Since beginning his sentence, he has accused several members of the apartheid government, including former President F. W. De Klerk, of having “blood-soaked hands”.
However, De Klerk, who won the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Nelson Mandela in 1994, has denied the allegations.
In an unrelated case, a leading white extremist was given a five-year prison sentence on Wednesday for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Kimberley Regional Court sentenced Andre Visagie, the leader of the Geloftevolk Republikeine, a right-wing organisation that strives for the independence of an all-white nation.
Visagie, along with his son Jan, was arrested in 2011 after six home-made shotguns, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol as well as parts of another gun and a large quantity of ammunition were found in his home.
