DISAPPEARANCE OF EUGENE de KOCK

From the very first day of Eugene de Kock's release on parole, there was controversy and much questioning of the decision to release him on parole. Now, to add to that controversy, de Kock is claiming that he is being detained by security forces against his will. We had been under the impression all this while that he himself had requested the Department of Correctional Services to put him in a safe house for his own safety (see EWN report).

In our country, where rule of law prevails, Eugene De Kock is on parole and must therefore be treated as such. Correctional Services, therefore, should have been in charge and must know of his whereabouts. That he is a very high profile parolee makes the department's obligations even greater.

If it is indeed true that he is being unlawfully detained by the security force, then the police must intervene and arrest the people who are detaining him.

COPE calls on the Minister of Police to investigate the claims of Eugene de Kock immediately and to arrest those who are involved in taking the law into their own hands.

In our country, the constitution is the supreme law and we must uphold it accordingly.

Statement issued by Dennis Bloem, Cope spokesperson, March 21 2015

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