Boeremag

Boeremag sympathizers claim that the African National Congress has seized power in South Africa illegally. They allege that organized black gangs are secretly trained by the ANC, and rewarded via a bounty system for killing white farmers. They claim that the Boeremag exists to protect white farmers from attack and to reverse the ANC seizure of power.

Opponents of the Boeremag, including the South African government, claim that the Boeremag is a terrorist organization. South African law enforcement officials believe that the Boeremag was responsible for the string of bombings in Soweto in 2002. South African police arrested 26 alleged members of the Boeremag in November and December of 2002, and seized over 1,000 kg of explosives. Further arrests occurred in March, 2003.

The first trial of alleged Boeremag members began under high security in Pretoria during May of 2003. 22 men were charged with 42 counts of treason, murder, and illegal weapons possession. Six plead not guilty; 2 have not entered pleas; one refuses to plea; and 13 are challenging the court's jurisdiction, alleging that the post-apartheid constitution and government of South Africa are illegitimate.

External References

• African Crisis (http://www.africancrisis.org/), site sympathetic to the Boeremag
• Blast on South African Bridge (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2522579.stm)
• Right-Wing Group Claims Soweto Blasts (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2440463.stm)
• SA Police Seek 'Extremists' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2845017.stm)
• Rebellie, info on the 'Boeremag' trial (http://www.rebellie.org/)
• S African whites face treason trial (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3013938.stm)