Rightwinger’s worker dumped ammo

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Published Feb 17, 2014

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Bloemfontein - A farmworker employed by rightwing treason accused Johan Prinsloo dumped ammunition in the Nylsvlei Nature Reserve after his arrest, a Free State court heard on Monday.

Judge Mojalefa Rampai was hearing evidence in the treason and conspiracy trial of Prinsloo, 51, from Springs, in the Bloemfontein High Court.

Prosecutor Torie Pretorius was leading the evidence-in-chief of Gerhard Robetze, a worker on Prinsloo's farm.

Mark Trollip, 48, Martin Keevy, 49, and Prinsloo were arrested in connection with the alleged plan to attack the ANC's Mangaung conference on December 16, 2012. On that day police arrived at Prinsloo's farm and searched his house, Robetze said.

He testified that they would have found a case of ammunition in his caravan if they had searched it.

Robetze said Prinsloo had paid about R25 000 to a police infiltrator, Jaco Scherman, to buy mortar bombs.

However, when Prinsloo phoned Scherman late on the night of December 15, 2012, Scherman allegedly said they had failed to buy any mortar bombs.

“He told Scherman to cancel everything and that he wanted nothing to do with the issue any more.”

Robetze told the court Prinsloo was very disappointed on the morning of December 16.

“He could not believe that the 'volk' had betrayed him.”

Robetze said Prinsloo was upset with Trollip, who should have had everything in place.

“But nothing realised 1/8materialised 3/8,” he said.

In cross-examination, Robetze said he felt sad, scared and intimidated when police questioned him about Prinsloo's case.

He testified that a police colonel showed him a blurred photograph of a meeting in a rondawel, and that he was apparently identified at the meeting. Robetze said he could not identify himself in the photograph.

He made a statement to police or else he would have been arrested, he told the court.

Trollip has already pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy and was sentenced to eight years in prison last year.

In October, Keevy was declared unfit to stand trial.

The trial continues.

Sapa

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