Pik Botha visits Eugene de Kock

Pik Botha visits Eugene de Kock

2010-06-07 21:02

Cape Town - Pik Botha, South Africa's last apartheid-era foreign minister, and his former cabinet colleague Barend du Plessis on Sunday visited former Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock in jail."We visited Eugene de Kock yesterday (Sunday)," Botha told Sapa on Monday."I do not want to make any statement that might exacerbate his situation," Botha added."I believe that this matter ought to be resolved in terms of the norms of the law and of humanitarian justice."Botha pointed out that it was not his first visit to De Kock in jail.He said he had first encountered the convicted apartheid-era assassin when he went to visit former agriculture minister Piet du Plessis, who was jailed for fraud and held in a cell close to that of De Kock.There have been repeated reports that President Jacob Zuma may be considering pardoning De Kock, who has served 16 years of a 212-year jail sentence for six murders and 89 other crimes.Zuma visited De Kock in Pretoria Central Prison last April, just before he was elected president, but his office has been tight-lipped about the possibility of a pardon.According to press reports, the former police hit squad commander, dubbed "Prime Evil", offered to disclose information about apartheid-era atrocities in return for his freedom.De Kock applied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for amnesty but was only partially successful. The body found there was no political motive for some of his crimes.The case has divided public opinion. Some argue he should be released because it is unfair that he languish in jail while others who committed atrocities escaped sanction.Others remain vehemently opposed to a pardon, including ANC veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.Barend du Plessis served as finance minister from 1984 to 1992. Both Botha and Du Plessis were considered liberal compared to hardline Cabinet colleagues.- SAPA