Bail decision expected in Zuma assassination plot case

23 January 2013 - 10:20
By Sapa
From right: Johan Prinsloo, Hein Boonzaaier, Martin Keevy and Mark Trollip, appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. They are accused of plotting to assassinate President Jacob Zuma and members of the ANC executive. File photo
Image: KEVIN SUTHERLAND From right: Johan Prinsloo, Hein Boonzaaier, Martin Keevy and Mark Trollip, appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. They are accused of plotting to assassinate President Jacob Zuma and members of the ANC executive. File photo

A decision on the bail of four men accused of plotting to kill President Jacob Zuma and other ANC leaders is expected to be handed down in Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court.

The four, aged between 40 and 50, are appearing on charges of treason and terrorism.

Mark Trollip, Johan Prinsloo, Martin Keevy and Hein Boonzaaier were believed to be rightwing extremists who, along with other people, had allegedly planned since January last year to establish a new rightwing party, the Boere Party, and commit acts of sabotage.

They had allegedly planned to kill African National Congress leaders at the party's Mangaung conference in December last year.

Two of the accused, Boonzaaier and Prinsloo, were Federal Freedom Party members who were suspended in December after their arrest.

Boonzaaier was the party's president and Prinsloo its operational manager.

At their court appearance in December, State prosecutor Shaun Abrahams alleged the four had planned "Die Slag van Mangaung" (The Battle of Mangaung) to eliminate the country's leaders.