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De Kock tells Khampepe commission politicians shielded apartheid-era figures

Published

Convicted apartheid-era police commander Eugene de Kock alleged that senior figures escaped accountability and named Roelf Meyer as a politician who interfered in prosecutions. He also blamed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for not seeking his information.

De Kock said the NPA failed to ask him about killings and bombings that police generals and politicians allegedly ordered. He named former president PW Botha among them. He also named former ministers Louis le Grange and Adriaan Vlok, former State President FW de Klerk and Major-General Izak Engelbrecht. He alleged that they knew about his unit's operations, including a raid in which five children died.

De Kock also alleged that Meyer and a deputy minister of police took part in political interference in prosecutions. He said politicians helped ensure there were no prosecutions of apartheid crimes after 1994. Asked about this, he said: "The politicians can't say that they didn't know."

Former President Thabo Mbeki denied in his own testimony that a meeting on non-prosecution took place. He said difficult decisions were made for the sake of peace.

The commission is investigating alleged political interference in efforts to probe and prosecute crimes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) referred. De Kock was convicted of six murders in 1996.

Key facts

Who
Eugene de Kock (Former Vlakplaas commander giving testimony before the Khampepe Commission); Roelf Meyer (South Africa's ambassador to the United States, former National Party Cabinet…); Thabo Mbeki (Former President, gave testimony denying a meeting took place); FW de Klerk (Former State President named by De Kock)
What
Testifying before the Khampepe Commission, which is probing delays in TRC cases, Eugene de Kock alleged that senior apartheid-era figures were shielded from accountability and that politicians, including Roelf Meyer, were involved in preventing prosecutions after 1994. Former President Thabo Mbeki denied during his testimony that a meeting on non-prosecution took place.
When
27 October 2026
Where
South Africa, Vlakplaas, Pretoria
Status
Reported

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