SOUTH AFRICAN APARTHEID-ERA NOTORIOUS HITMAN RELEASED FROM PRISON.

Cape Town, South Africa - 1996: Amnesty applicants (L-R) Ferdi Barnard, Genl. Eddie Webb, Chappee Maree, all ex-members of the Civil Cooperation Bureau (CCB, an Apartheid govt. military hit squad), at their hearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Cape Town.
Image: Gallo.

Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA:

Notorious apartheid-era hitman Ferdi Barnard is out on full parole.

Barnard was a member of the Defence Force's Civil Cooperation Bureau hit squad.

Those he killed included anti-apartheid activist David Webster, whom he shot in cold blood in 1989.

Former apartheid-era Civil Co-Operation Bureau (CCB) agent Ferdi Barnard, found guilty 17 years ago of the murder of anti-apartheid activist David Webster, will find out tomorrow whether he will get parole.
Webster, an anthropologist at the University of the Witwatersrand, was gunned down in 1989 outside his home in Troyeville, Johannesburg.

Almost a decade later, Barnard was convicted of the killing. He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of another activist, Dullah Omar, who went on to serve in both former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki's cabinets.
Barnard was given two life terms plus a further 63 years in jail, and was serving time in Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru II Prison.

When announcing the approval of his parole, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha said Barnard had met all requirements for parole.

Death Squad”. Members of this unit were tasked with preserving the ailing credibility.

Death Squad”. Members of this unit were tasked with preserving the ailing credibility.

21 June 2000. South Africa. Western Cape. Cape Town. Former Civil Co-Operation Bureau agent and Apartheid hitman, Ferdi Barnard testifying in front of the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission in Cape Town.
Image: Gallo

Who is Ferdi Barnard?

Role in apartheid:
He was a former member of the Civil Co-Operation Bureau, which has been crudely dubbed as the “Apartheid Death Squad”. Members of this unit were tasked with preserving the ailing credibility of the regime at all costs, and that included the clandestine assassination of political opponents .

Crime
That brings us to the killing of Professor David Webster . The staunch anti-apartheid activist and former Wits lecturer was gunned down unceremoniously in front of his home by Barnard. The so-called “hitman” was also blamed for the attempted murder of civil rights campaigner Dullar Omar.

Charges
He was arrested on 25 charges including two of murder, two of attempted murder and various charges relating to fraudulent transactions and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was acquitted on a further nine charges, because of a lack of evidence.

Jail sentence and parole
He was sentenced in June 1998 and was initially handed down two life terms, amounting to the potential of 63 years behind bars . However, he has been eligible for parole since 2016. After a handful of failed attempts, Minister Masutha feels that the time is now right for Ferdi Barnard to be re-introduced to society.

“Minister Masutha is satisfied that Mr Barnard has met all the requirements for parole. After consulting with David Webster’s widow, Maggie Friedman, she indicated that she had no objection to his parole.”

“[The law states] any offender is entitled to appeal for parole after serving more than 20 years of their life sentence. The conditions of Mr Barnard’s release will be subjected to continuous review.”
— The office of Michael Masutha

The hearing bears striking similarities to the Janusz Walus case – he was the Polish national who assassinated Chris Hani in 1993. He’s served 25 years in jail but has repeatedly failed to secure parole for himself .

SOURCE: Dispatch, The South African, enca.

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