South African white supremacist Terreblanche killed on his farm.

Obituary: Eugene Terreblanche



The very name of South African paramilitary leader Eugene Terreblanche highlighted the white supremacist's roots.

Terreblanche means "white earth" in French, the language of the politician's Huguenot ancestors.
His murder - reportedly being hacked to death with a panga on his farm - brings a gory end to a singularly ineffectual political career.

Terreblanche, who was 69, and his Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (Afrikaner Resistance Movement - AWB) came to prominence in the early 1980s.

At the time, the government of PW Botha was considering a constitutional plan allowing South Africa's Asian and coloured (mixed-race) minorities to vote for racially-segregated parliamentary chambers.

For the likes of Terreblanche, this was the start of the slippery slope towards democracy, communism, black rule and the destruction of the Afrikaner nation.

Claiming on occasion to be a cultural organisation - albeit one with sidearms and paramilitary uniforms - Terreblanche and his men promised to fight for the survival of the white tribe of Africa.


Their political heartland was in Ventersdorp - a decaying farming town amid the maize fields some 150km (100 miles) west of Johannesburg.

From that base, the AWB established cells, mostly among the Afrikaans farmers in the north of the country - though occasionally Terreblanche would venture into urban Afrikaans communities to hold a public meeting.

"The leader" - as followers invariably called him - would arrive flanked by members of his black-clad inner circle, the Iron Guard.

"Cover him," an Estuary English accent would bark - the voice of Iron Guard commander Keith Conroy, the former British soldier reputed to speak barely a word of Afrikaans.

Terreblanche's thunderous voice and magnificent style of delivery - alternating between roar and husky whisper, with gestures to match - helped to disguise the complete meaninglessness of what he was saying.
His oratory would sweep from the plight of white farmers, to ancient Greek philosophy, to the state of the Soviet Union, without any apparent logic........

South Africa's President Zuma:


I have learnt with shock of the brutal killing of Mr Eugene Terreblanche last night, allegedly by people who were working for him.




Two suspects have now been arrested and police are still doing their further investigations. The Minister and the National Commissioner of Police have already visited the scene.

We strongly condemn such acts of violence. People should use legal and peaceful means to resolve differences of any nature including labour disputes. We should uphold the right to life that is enshrined in the Constitution and abide by the rule of law at all times.

As government, we convey our profound sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Terreblanche during this difficult time. I have personally communicated to the Terreblanche family and have spoken to Mr Terreblanche’s daughter and conveyed my condolences.

I call upon our people, black and white to remain calm, and allow police and other organs of state to do their work. This is not the time for speculation that can worsen the situation. It is the time for us to unite all of us, black and white and put the nation and the country first.

South Africa belongs to all who live in it, regardless of race, colour and political affiliation. This is the fundamental principle upon which our nation is founded. It is the fundamental principle that will keep this nation together always, united in its diversity.

We said last week during our visit to the Bethlehem settlement in Pretoria West that we need to seriously discuss heritage and reconciliation further in our country in a manner that cements our ties as one diverse nation.

None of our problems are insurmountable, we have come very far already as a nation and we have a great future together.

We just need to be mature and work well together as various parties and groups to lead our people to a prosperous, united and harmonious future. All leaders must act responsibly and work with government to control emotions and anger during this period.

Leaders and organisations must not to use Mr Terreblanche’s death to score political points. Instead, they must work harder to unite our people.

Call for calm after Terreblanche killed
ROBYN DIXON
April 5, 2010


JOHANNESBURG: The South African President, Jacob Zuma, has called for calm over the killing of the white supremacist Eugene Terreblanche.

The killing has caused shock waves at a delicate time for South Africa, just 10 weeks before it is to host the soccer World Cup. The government is trying to reassure tourists over security fears and to play down recent racial tensions.

Police say Mr Terreblanche was hacked and bludgeoned to death after an argument with two workers on his farm outside Ventersdorp in North West Province.

Mr Terreblanche, 69, was the leader of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement, or AWB, formed in the 1970s, which bitterly opposed black majority rule.

Mr Zuma condemned the killing and urged South Africans to refrain from statements inciting racial hatred.

The AWB said it would avenge his killing but urged members not to react immediately.

The group's secretary-general, Andre Visagie, said yesterday that it would meet on May 1. ''We will decide upon our actions to avenge Mr Terreblanche's death. We will take action and the specific action … will be decided upon at our conference.''

Although the killing comes amid increased racial tension, police said it was motivated not by politics but a dispute over wages. Captain Adele Myburgh said Mr Terreblanche was attacked by a 21-year-old man and a 15-year-old youth who worked for him but who told police they had not been paid.

''Mr Terreblanche's body was found on the bed with facial and head injuries. There was a panga [machete] on him and knobkerrie [African club] next to the bed," Captain Myburgh said.

Mr Visagie said Mr Terreblanche, who was apparently alone and asleep at the time of the attack, was beaten so badly ''he didn't look like Eugene any more''. He said his only security were his dogs, which were ''neutralised''.

Mr Terreblanche was one of the most divisive figures in South African politics, believing in white supremacy and racial segregation. He recently declared: ''Our country is being run by criminals who murder and rob. This land was the best, and they ruined it all. We are being oppressed again. We will rise again.''

From the 1970s the AWB sought to terrorise blacks and fought to retain the system of racial segregation introduced in South Africa by the National Party in 1948..........