Businessman Cyril Ramaphosa was to be assassinated because he had an "action" against the whites.
This was the evidence of millionaire farmer and second state witness in the Boeremag trial, Lourens du Plessis. He was formerly an accused in the high treason trial but agreed to testify against the 22 accused in return for indemnity.
Du Plessis told the Pretoria High Court on Monday that accused Rooikoos du Plessis and another man, Lukas van Rensburg, came to his Thabazimbi farm during 2001.
"They said they planned to shoot one Jannie Smit because he was a traitor. I discouraged them and they said that in that case they would rather shoot (President) Mbeki.
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| The plight of white Zimbabwean farmers was one of the main reasons for the planned coup |
"I again stopped them and said that if you want to shoot someone, rather shoot Ramaphosa," Du Plessis testified.
He told Judge Eben Jordaan he gave the two R10 000 to do reconnaissance on Ramaphosa.
Rooikoos du Plessis later told him that they could not do much because they were being followed. He also said he had spent the R10 000 on food and petrol.
The judge asked the witness how Ramaphosa had "sinned" to deserve this. Du Plessis said Ramaphosa had made strong statements about black economic empowerment.
The court also heard that the Boeremag had their own parliament in place during 2001 as part of their alleged coup plot to oust the African National Congress-led government.
Du Plessis testified that accused Mike du Toit had told him there was a parliament at ground level which could take over after the coup.
He said the feeling among people at meetings was that the existing government could not guarantee the security of the Afrikaners.
Du Plessis testified that Mbeki's silence regarding the plight of white Zimbabwean farmers was one of the main reasons for the planned coup.
He also told the court of a prank he played on the police after he had heard that they planned to search his home. He placed nails in his driveway because he felt that if the police could disturb him, he could disturb them with flat tyres.
Another prank exploded in his face when he gave a policeman who claimed to be friendly, but was instead against the "plight of the Boere", a fake R300 note. Du Plessis faced criminal charges as a result. The charges were later withdrawn.
Du Plessis said they initially planned to print R100-million in fake notes to finance the coup. This plan was later abandoned, but several fake notes were printed.
Some of these were used to pay for petrol and they used a fake R100 note to pay at a toll booth and buy tinned food. Several medical kits bought at the Pretoria Show were paid for with fake notes, Du Plessis testified.
The trial continues.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on May 11, 2004
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