SOUTH AFRICA: NEO-NAZI EUGENE TERREBLANCHE IS CONVICTED OF ASSAULT

(23 Apr 1997) Afrikaans/Eng/Nat

Eugene TerreBlanche, leader of South Africa's neo-Nazi Afrikaner Resistance Movement, has been convicted on charges of assaulting a black man who worked for him.

TerreBlanche, a well-known figure in South African politics for two decades, called the judge who convicted him a traitor, before abruptly storming from the courtroom in Potchefstroom.

About 30 of his bodyguards and supporters, some in khaki uniforms, scuffled with dozens of policemen who forced TerreBlanche to return to hear the rest of the verdict,.

It is a sign of the changes South Africa has undergone that a white neo-Nazi has been convicted of assaulting a black man.

Eugene TerreBlanche, the leader of a white extremist group Afrikaner Resistance Movement (A-W-B) arrived at court with a handful of supporters.

There was a considerable police presence.

The A-W-B have threatened a race war against black rule and set off a series of bombs that killed 21 people on the eve of South Africa's first all-race election in 1994 that ended white rule.

But now TerreBlanche has been found guilty of attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

He attacked Paul Motshabi, who worked for the A-W-B leader as a security guard.

According to testimony at the trial, TerreBlanche knocked down Motshabi and beat him with a club or pipe on March 25, 1996.

As the verdict was being read, TerreBlanche stood up and shouted at the magistrate.

Later he accused the magistrate of being an accomplice of the ruling African National Congress.

SOUNDBITE: (Afrikaans)
This magistrate found me guilty of a deed I didn't commit. May God in his wisdom and mercy make Paul (Motshabi, the victim) speak to say what happened, so that justice may once again happen in this country.
SUPER CAPTION: Eugene TerreBlanche, leader of A-W-B

TerreBlanche also accused the judiciary of double standards.

SOUNDBITE: (Afrikaans)
People are worth nothing before South African law. I was never guilty of murdering black people. The same people who are now prosecuting me killed black people under the name of apartheid. I never killed black people.
SUPER CAPTION: Eugene TerreBlanche, A-W-B leader.

However those who had come to witness the occasion had no fear of the A-W-B's threatened vengeance.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
The A-W-B is just a few numbers of people. they will not disrupt the country, the masses can do that. But not the A-W-B
SUPER CAPTION: Joel Mahumapelo, spectator at court.

His supporters have implied that if TerreBlanche was imprisoned there would be a violent backlash.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
I repeat this will cause serious problems in this country if this man is jailed today. He is a prominent leader, an outstanding man, a man of great integrity, I have known him for thirty years. If you can do this to him, he has the fullest right to walk out of this circus they are holding here.
SUPER CAPTION: Robert van Tonder, Order Boerevolk leader.

It is not yet known what TerreBlanche's punishment will be.

Sentencing was set for June 17th when TerreBlanche could receive up to 10 years in jail.

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