Vlakplaas

Vlakplaas is a farm 20km west of Pretoria that served as the headquarters of the South African Police counterinsurgency unit C10 (later called C1) [ [http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/amntrans/1999/99041521_el_990420el.htm Testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by M. D. Ras] ] working for the apartheid government in South Africa. The C-designation of the counterinsurgency unit was its official name but the whole unit became known as Vlakplaas and was commanded by Eugene de Kock.

Vlakplaas functioned as a paramilitary hit squad, [http://www.ukzn.ac.za/cae/caepubs/CASERole.pdf The Role of Political Violence in South Africa's Democratisation] ] capturing political opponents of the apartheid government and either "turning" (converting) or executing them. The Vlakplaas farm was usually the site of multiple executions of political opponents of the apartheid government. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/10/98/truth_and_reconciliation/143668.stm Truth and Reconciliation - The Voice of 'Prime Evil'] - BBC News]

In August 2007, it was announced by the South African Department of Science and Technology that the farm would serve a new purpose, as a centre for healing. The centre will conduct research into plants used in traditional medicine, and promote collaboration between practitioners of western medicine and traditional healers. [ [http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=541432 Vlakplaas to become centre for healing] - The South African Sunday Times]

See also

* Bureau of State Security

References

External links

* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/12/17/wvlak17.xml Witch Doctors 'cleanse' Vlakplaas]
* [http://www.dispatch.co.za/1999/06/17/southafrica/VLAKPLAA.HTM Vlakplaas proposed as museum]
* [http://www.geocities.com/odjobman/coetzee.htm Vlakplaas and the murder of Griffiths Mxenge]