By Alvine Kapitako
WINDHOEK – President-elect Hage Geingob yesterday spoke strongly against alleged plans to allow South African apartheid era death squad commander Eugene de Kock to relocate to Namibia once released from prison.
De Kock was pardoned from prison last week nearly 20 years after he was imprisoned for crimes he committed against pro-freedom activists in South Africa and Namibia.
Announcing his parliamentary nominees and his upcoming Presidential Council, Geingob yesterday used the occasion to rebuke De Kock and the alleged plans to allow him to relocate to Namibia upon his release from prison.
During his application for parole, De Kock allegedly claimed that Swapo officials had visited him several times and offered him a safe haven in the Kavango Region.
Swapo has denied the claims and Geingob, the party’s vice-president, yesterday said the convicted mass killer would not be allowed to step foot on Namibian soil.
“If he comes here he could even be killed because that’s how bad Namibians feel about that man,” said Geingob, during a live televised press conference.
Geingob said he does not think any Swapo Party member visited De Kock (in prison) and offered him a place in Namibia.
“If he comes here, he’s coming at his own risk,” said Geingob. Geingob said De Kock was a person who was dropping Namibians in the sea and there was no way that Swapo would ask him to come here and relax.
“I don’t have to consult the President or Politburo (for that). If he comes here he will be arrested. He will be lucky if he is alive,” said Geingob.
The Sunday Times reported that a Swapo delegation has been visiting De Kock in prison. De Kock was apparently offered the option of a quiet life on an isolated piece of land near the Okavango by Swapo and that he is considering it.
The 66-year-old De Kock, who headed the notorious Koevoet anti-insurgency unit in its early years is apparently considering the offer. De Kock has admitted personally killing hundreds of Swapo combatants.
Swapo Party Secretary General Nangoloh Mbumba also rubbished claims of De Kock being offered a home in Namibia as “crap”.
“He committed crimes here why should we want him to come back. Let South Africa deal with their own criminals,” an irate Mbumba commented on Sunday.