AWB member jailed for 1996 murder

31 August 2012 - 12:27 By Sapa
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
The old Vierkleur and the AWB flag. File photo.
The old Vierkleur and the AWB flag. File photo.
Image: Marianne Pretorius © ST.

A former AWB bomber has been sentenced to 10 years in jail in Port Elizabeth, in connection with the 1996 murder of his friend's wife, according to a report.

The Beeld newspaper reported today that Abraham "Koper" Myburgh, 39, who is already serving a life sentence for his role in several bombings that took place before and after the 1994 elections, appeared in court yesterday on a charge of murdering Sanet de Wet, 41.

She was the wife of Jan de Wet, who was jailed for 25 years in February 1997 for the 1994 bombings, the paper reported.

According to the charge sheet, Sanet was thought to have been suffocated with a pillow in her tent while she and other AWB members, including Myburgh and his wife, and Cliffie Barnard and his family were hiding from the police on the farm Erasmuskloof outside Hankey.

The three men had earlier escaped from Diepkloof prison, where they were awaiting trial for several bomb attacks.

Sanet was murdered on August 29, 1996 while her husband was elsewhere.

When Jan returned to the campsite, Myburgh and Barnard told him that his wife had had a heart attack and died.

Myburgh told the court yesterday that he regretted his actions, but that life in their hiding place had become unbearable, and that Sanet had constantly complained about everything and had also threatened to start a fire to allow the police to find them all.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now