A terrorist right-wing organisation leader Harry Johannes Knoesen has been slapped with two life terms and 21 years behind bars bars for terrorism-related offences.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) this morning said the Mpumalanga High Court sitting in Middelburg sentenced Knoesen, 63, the leader of the National Christian Resistance Movement, a right-wing organisation.
Knoesen was convicted of a contravention of preparing and planning to carry out terrorist attacks, incitement to carry out a terrorist attack in South Africa, soliciting support/recruitment of persons to carry out terrorist attacks in South Africa, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
“The accused was further declared unfit to possess a firearm as part of the sentence. The application for leave to appeal against his sentence and conviction was also dismissed,” said NPA Mpumalanga spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.
She said Knoesen was charged along with the Abrams brothers, Errol and Eric, who pleaded guilty to the crimes and were sentenced. Nyuswa said that during the period of December 2018 to November 28, 2019, Knoesen developed a deep-rooted hatred for the non-profit racial democratic dispensation established under the auspices of the Constitution and implemented by the South African government and for South African persons residing in the country, be they South African citizens or members of émigré communities.
“Knoesen sought to justify his beliefs on religious grounds, claiming that God had ordained that he should reclaim South Africa for white people. These highly racial views were his motivation to decide to overthrow the government and indiscriminately kill African people. To further this end, he planned to attack government institutions and more specifically police and military institutions. He also identified townships and informal settlements occupied by African persons as targets for attack.
“To further these objectives, he took over the National Christian Resistance Movement (NCRM), also known as the Crusaders (NCRM), and appointed himself as commander-in-chief, giving himself the rank of general. He explored the possibility of using a biological weapon to infect and kill members of the African population. He also had discussions regarding arranging training in urban warfare. The police had, however, become aware of his activities, and on 28 November 2019 he was arrested,” Nyuswa said.
She said documentation relevant to the planning of the attacks and information relating to the members of the organisation and their cells were also found.
Nyuswa further said digital devices were also seized including weapons and ammunition.
She said the accused pleaded not guilty to the crimes and the State led evidence of various witnesses including the evidence of his social media administrator, who arranged the plenary meetings.
This included the evidence of audio clips and videos he made on social media, as well as the testimony of a digital forensic investigator.
“The court found him guilty on all counts and he was sentenced accordingly,” Nyuswa said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga, advocate Nkebe Kanyane, acknowledged the sterling work done by the team, hoping that it will serve as a deterrent.