COSATU welcomes Boeremag sentences

The Congress of South African Trade unions welcomes the prison sentences, from five to 30 years, imposed on Boeremag members convicted of high treason. The federation congratulates the investigators and prosecutors who brought these individuals to justice and put them in jail where they belong.

The bombers had five large car bombs ready for targets in the city centres of Pretoria and Johannesburg and were planning further bomb attacks when they were caught.

As Judge Eben Jordaan told the court, the Boeremag's aim had been to destroy democracy in South Africa. He reminded us that Comrade Nelson Mandela could have been killed by a landmine planted by the Boeremag bomb squad if he had not arrived by helicopter to open a school in Bolobedu, Limpopo. This, said the judge, would have caused chaos and bloodshed in the country. It would have had devastating consequences for our democracy and social stability.

Let us also never forget Claudia Mokone, who lost her life when a piece of steel dislodged by a bomb planted by the Boeremag on a railway line landed in her Soweto shack.

COSATU fully agrees with the hope expressed by Government spokesperson Harold Maloka, "that these sentences will act as a deterrent to those who threaten the stability of our hard fought for democracy".

Let us never forget the appalling fate that would have awaited us if these racist thugs had succeeded in their evil plans and recommit ourselves to the struggle to defend our non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and peaceful society.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, October 31 2013

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