A lawyer representing members of a white hard-line group accused of plotting to assassinate the former president Nelson Mandela and advocating the violent overthrow of the post-apartheid government argued in a Pretoria court today that his clients could not be tried by a South African court because they consider the Constitution illegitimate. Thirteen of the 22 members of the group, Boeremag — or Boer Force — entered a special plea contesting the jurisdiction of the South African court. Because the men believe the election that led to the formation of the 1994 Constitution was flawed, a South African court cannot judge them, argued Paul Kruger, a lawyer representing the men. Mr. Kruger said he planned to call F. W. de Klerk, the last white president of South Africa, to bolster his clients’ argument that the end of white rule was brought about by illegitimate means. He argued that because the white electorate never ratified the change in South Africa’s Constitution, the document was not binding on his clients. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.