De Kock, who was known as “Prime Evil” during apartheid, testified on Monday that he was prepared to share information about crimes committed during the apartheid era but was never approached by prosecutors seeking his account.
NPA
De Kock says prosecutors never asked him about cradock four murders
Former apartheid-era police assassin Eugene de Kock has told the Khampepe Commission that he was willing to provide evidence about the Cradock Four murders and other apartheid-era crimes, but prosecutors never approached him for the information.
Former apartheid-era police assassin Eugene de Kock has questioned the National Prosecuting Authority’s handling of apartheid-era crimes, telling the Khampepe Commission that prosecutors never asked him to provide evidence about the Cradock Four murders and other cases.
De Kock, who was known as “Prime Evil” during apartheid, testified on Monday that he was prepared to share information about crimes committed during the apartheid era but was never approached by prosecutors seeking his account.
His testimony has renewed questions about the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes and whether opportunities to obtain evidence from individuals directly involved in the security apparatus were missed.
The Cradock Four, Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli were anti-apartheid activists who were abducted and murdered in 1985. Their deaths became one of the most prominent cases associated with the apartheid government’s security operations.
De Kock also called for former president FW de Klerk’s Nobel Peace Prize to be revoked, alleging that de Klerk bore responsibility for the deaths of five children in Mthatha.
The allegations form part of broader questions raised during the commission proceedings about the role of senior apartheid-era officials, accountability for political violence and the handling of cases arising from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process.
De Kock’s testimony has also placed the spotlight on whether prosecutors adequately pursued information that could have helped establish responsibility for crimes committed under apartheid.
The commission is examining issues surrounding the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes and the circumstances in which cases were pursued or left unresolved.
