Mangaung plotters sought weapons

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Published Feb 4, 2014

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Bloemfontein - Rightwingers who planned an attack on the ANC's 2012 Mangaung conference were trying to buy weapons until they were arrested, the Bloemfontein High Court heard on Tuesday.

Testifying in the treason trial of Johan Prinsloo, State witness Jaco Scherman told the court of their failed attempts to acquire weapons.

After the group failed to buy weapons in Ficksburg, Prinsloo deposited R23 000 into his bank account for purchasing weapons.

The State submitted a bank statement of the amount paid into his account.

Scherman said that on the morning of the planned attack on the conference, he received a call about another contact he was supposed to approach for weapons.

However, he told the court that an hour later he heard that the plotters had been arrested and he cancelled all plans. Prinsloo faces charges of treason, conspiracy to take part in terrorist acts, and possession of illegal ammunition.

He was arrested in December 2012 with Martin Keevy, Mark Trollip and Hein Boonzaaier. Trollip pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy and was sentenced to eight years in prison last year. Keevy was declared unfit to stand trail. Charges against Boonzaaier were dropped.

The trial continues.

Sapa

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