PRETORIA: One of South Africa’s most notorious apartheid mass murderers, Eugene “Prime Evil” de Kock, was granted parole on Friday after 20 years in jail, a decision set to re-ignite painful debate over the crimes committed by the country’s former white-minority rulers.
“In the interest of nation-building and reconciliation I have decided to place Mr De Kock on parole,” Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha told a news briefing, adding that he had rejected parole to two other prominent convicted apartheid-era killers.
De Kock was sentenced to two life terms plus 212 years in prison for his activities as head of the infamous Vlakplaas police death squad targeting anti-apartheid activists.
The highly-decorated former colonel confessed to more than 100 acts of murder, torture and fraud before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which was established in 1995 to consider amnesty for those who confessed their crimes during apartheid.
He was granted amnesty for most offences - including the 1982 bombing of the ANC’s London offices - but was jailed for six murders found to have lacked direct political motivation.
The run-up to the parole decision rekindled bitter debate over the crimes of the former white-minority regime.
To some, his crimes of multiple murder, kidnapping and torture were too heinous for forgiveness.
To others, the former police officer was a symbolic and repentant prisoner serving time as a scapegoat for countless perpetrators of apartheid evil who were never punished.
It’s a point De Kock made in his court appeal of last year’s parole denial.
“I am the only member of the South African Police Service that is serving a sentence for crimes which I had committed, as part of the National Party’s attempt to uphold apartheid and fight the liberation movements.
“Not one of the previous Generals, or Ministers who were in Cabinet up to 1990 have been prosecuted at all,” he wrote.
He has by all accounts been a model prisoner, engaging with the families of his victims and cooperating with the government in locating the dumped bodies of his victims.
He has made confessions before tribunals, written letters begging forgiveness and named top officials who gave him orders.
In announcing his decision, corrections minister Masutha noted the assistance De Kock had provided to the authorities and said he was also satisfied that the families of his victims had been consulted.
“However, I need to remind all of us that parole does not reduce the sentence imposed by the court,” he said, pointing out that De Kock could return to jail if he failed to comply with set conditions.
Masutha said De Kock had asked that the date of his release and the conditions of his parole should not be made public, to which the minister agreed.
The minister however denied parole requests of two other apartheid-era killers - former member of parliament Clive Derby-Lewis, who is serving a life sentence for the high-profile murder of former South African Communist Party chief and liberation hero Chris Hani in 1993; and ex government agent Ferdi Barnard for killing prominent anti-apartheid activist and academic David Webster in 1989.
On Derby-Lewis, who had been recommended for medical parole, Masutha questioned the level of his illness and said there was no evidence the former MP had expressed remorse.
The murder of Hani, who was also chief of staff of the African National Congress’s military wing, sparked riots and fears of civil war ahead of South Africa’s first democratic elections.
ANC leader Nelson Mandela, who was later to become president, called it “a deed so foul that our whole nation now teeters on the brink of disaster”.
But he called for calm and is credited with preventing major bloodshed.
Derby-Lewis, once described by a fellow MP as “the biggest racist in parliament”, supplied the weapon to the hitman, Polish immigrant Janusz Walus, who remains in jail.
From:Jay Hilotin
Sent: 30 January 2015 6:05 PM
To: Nasheet Khan; All GN Editorial Web
Subject: RE: These will do well online
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From:Nasheet Khan
Sent: 30 January 2015 6:05 PM
To: All GN Editorial Web; Jay Hilotin
Subject: These will do well online
7 seconds delay cost Quebecer lottery ticket winnings
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) - A Quebec man who bought a lottery ticket seven seconds too late to be declared the winner has lost his Supreme Court of Canada bid to appeal a decision denying him half of the $27-million prize.
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accept Joel Ifergan's appeal.
Ifergan bought two Super 7 tickets in May 2008, seconds before the 9 p.m. cutoff.
The first ticket was printed showing the May 23 date - that night's draw. The second ticket with the winning numbers for that night's jackpot, was printed a few seconds later with a date for the following week's draw.
Ifergan blamed the delay on Loto-Quibec's central computer system and sued the province's lottery regulator for half of the jackpot because there was another a winning ticket.
Newborn in China dies after being dragged for metres
Beijing , Jan 30 (IANS) A newborn baby in China died after being dragged for nearly a dozen metres by its attached umbilical cord while the mother was being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse, the hospital confirmed Friday.
The baby girl was born in the hallway of the hospital Jan 2 while the mother, surnamed Shang, was being moved to receive a caesarean at the doctor's insistence, hospital managers with the Women and Children Medical Care Centre of Luoyang city in central China's Henan province, told Xinhua news agency.
Camera surveillance showed the baby hit the ground head-down and was dragged for more than 10 metres before the nurse saw the baby and picked her up.
The left side of the baby's head was swollen with what doctors thought was intracranial hematomas and she died later despite medical efforts.
The doctor strongly recommended the caesarean because Shang had already given birth to her first child 15 years ago in the same manner.
The father, surnamed Pan, said Shang's water broke on the evening of Jan 1 after seven months' pregnancy, but the doctor on the night shift at the hospital advised natural labour after examination that day.
Pan said the baby's death was caused by falling and being dragged and requested a compensation of 200,000 yuan ($32,000), but the hospital, which admitted their negligence and apologised, only agreed to offer 5,000 yuan.
Media reported the case Friday, and the city health department has launched an investigation into whether the hospital should be held responsible for the baby's death.
Australian politician caught slapping son withdraws candidacy
Sydney, Jan 30 (IANS) An independent candidate has withdrawn his candidacy for the state elections in the Australian state of Queensland, which will be held Jan 31, after being captured on film slapping his three-year-old son in a cafe on Sunshine Coast, media reported Friday.
Jason Deller told Channel 9 that a series of challenging events led him to become frustrated with the behaviour of his son while having breakfast with his wife and family at the cafe, ABC News reported.
"Unfortunately I reacted inappropriately and gave him a clip over his ear," Deller was quoted as saying.
"I sincerely apologise to my son, my wife and to those who witnessed the event."
Deller said his child has behavioural issues that require the help of support services.
He added he wanted to be elected as an independent lawmaker to make a difference to the community.
"However, out of respect for community perception and well being of my family, I intend to withdraw my candidacy as the independent for Kawana at the election tomorrow (Saturday)."
