Vlakplaas: Apartheid Death Squads: 1979–1994

by Robin Binckes

Faced with the total onslaught by its enemies, in 1979, Apartheid South Africa established Vlakplaas lit. shallow farm, a 100-hectare farm nestling in the hills outside Pretoria on the Hennops River as a secret operation under the arm of C1, a counter-terrorism division of the South African Police headed by Brigadier Schoon.The first phase of Vlakplaas operations, up until 1989, was aimed at fighting the enemy: the armed wings of the liberation movements, the African National Congresss Umkhonto we Sizwe (or MK), the Pan Africanist Congresss Azanian Peoples Liberation Army (or APLA) and the South African Communist Party. The second phase was fighting organized crime in which Vlakplaas itself seamlessly adopted the mantle of organized crime in the notorious downtown area of Johannesburgs Hillbrow. The final phase, the most destructive, was as the murky Third Force that destabilized the country in an orgy of violence in the run-up to its first democratic elections, in 1994.Operating within South Africa as well as beyond the countrys borders, it will never been known how many victims can be attributed to the Vlakplaas agenda with much of the execution taking place on the farm itself but a conservative figure of 1,000 murders and assassinations has been mooted.

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2018

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

De Kock was to say, “The black-on-black violence—Inkhata versus the ANC—that we encouraged was a handy propaganda tool because the outside world could be told with great conviction that the barbaric natives, as might have been expected, started murdering each other at every opportunity. We contributed to this violence for a number of years both passively (by failing to take steps) and actively (by sponsoring training and protecting violent gangs).”

Vlakplaas is a terrifying name and one that is chillingly linked to many violent deaths in Apartheid South Africa. What strikes about the book for any reader who manages to turn the pages to the end is the detailed planning of systemic torture and the murder of ANC supporters within and beyond national boundaries. There are episodes of murder and violence where Apartheid supporters hold BBQs naked drunk around burning corpses, men and women in orgiastic dances, their spirit drugged in evil.

The mind has to make a huge leap to even fathom how these individuals could live with themselves and carry on a seemingly normal life, sleep, eat and raise families without feeling the burden of conscience.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission gave voice and some relief to the victims of these institutionalised death squads. Is forgiveness possible in light of these barbaric massacres? Nearly 30 years after Mandela's election, the only consolation is that at least pain has been to some extent verbalised.

[Phats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbingly interesting and probably a good place for people of my younger generation to read or people who like to pretend nothing bad happened during those years. I am sure there are more informative books but it’s a good start, short to the point and gives a good foundation for the rest of your reading. Reading is always important but what you read is immensely important and knowing your own countries history is paramount so we never repeat the same atrocities. Always remember though to truly understand any complicated history like hours that still has repercussions today we need to read both sides of a story open mindedly to get to the real truth of why its been so hard to get past this. We expect so much to just be forgotten and forgiven but when you read these stories and try out yourself in those people shoes or their families shoes you can strata to understand that yes even today not enough has been done and too many people in our country on all sides are still too ignorant.

Read, learn, incorporate and change like a true leader, humble and kind person and maybe find ways to help the healing process along that we still need today and closedown the gap that is blatantly still alive and well between the poor and rich and the different races. There is no need for anger it’s just the truth so be smart. If you still think you have no advantage you need to educate yourself more and be openput yourself in others shoes. This world owes you nothing just based on the color of your skin or for any other reason we all need to wormer harder to even the playing fields and if your really hard working, patient and brilliant at what you do you will succeed either way.

[Benadé Kruger · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rehash of old information. I suppose if you're not South African and not familiar with the information it might me an interesting synopsis - think the book was only published in Britain.