Eugene de Kock: Sluipmoordenaar van die staat

by Anemari Jansen

Eugene de Kock het die bloed van tientalle mense aan sy hande. Vir die meeste Suid-Afrikaners is hy die "monster" van Vlakplaas. Tog was Anemari Jansen gefassineer toe sy hom in 2011 vir die eerste keer in Pretoria-Sentraal ontmoet. Hoe versoen sy die man "met die sagte stem" met die mens wat Prime Evil gedoop is? Jansen se soeke na antwoorde het haar na alle uithoeke van die land geneem, na De Kock se familie, vriende en oud-Koevoet- en Vlakplaaskollegas, wat talle ontboesemings teenoor haar gemaak het. Sy haal ook groot dele aan uit De Kock se dagboeke en 'n ongepubliseerde tronkmanuskrip. In sy eie woorde is De Kock skreiend oor sy wandade, oor sy opdraggewers - en oor sy berou. Dié boek skets 'n prentjie van 'n intelligente, komplekse mens. Dit belig nie net De Kock se keuses nie, maar ook die onlangse Suid-Afrikaanse verlede op 'n openbarende, soms skokkende manier.

Genres: Africa, Nonfiction, Biography, History

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

EMPOWERING VOICES. PRESERVING STORIES.
At Koorsboomstories, we believe every book is a vessel for healing, legacy, and connection. Whether documenting personal journeys, family histories, community narratives or children’s books, we offer expert guidance and publishing services to help voices rise and be heard.
Anemari Jansen is the founder of the publishing house Koorsboomstories. She holds a Master’s degree in Afrikaans literature and is a published writer of fiction and non-fiction. Her debut novel, Glipstroom, was published in 2014 by NB Publishers.
In 2015 she published her first non-fiction work, Eugene de Kock: Assassin for the State and Eugene de Kock: Sluipmoordenaar vir die Staat.
The English version was longlisted for the Sunday Times/Alan Paton award. That was followed in 2019 by Suiker Britz: Dossier van `n Speurbaas, co-authored with Stefaans Coetzee.
Anemari has presented guided writing workshops since 2021, from Klerksdorp to Mamelodi. Her latest books include an anthology, Messages of hope for South Africa, in which 31 South Africans contributed their stories, as well as Write your Memoir: The power of storytelling.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and objective look at the life of Eugene de Kock who was labelled as "Prime Evil" by the the media after revelations made during the TRC hearings in South Africa after the end of Apartheid. De Kock the soldier policeman lead Koevoet units in the old South West Africa during the 1970's and these units lead highly successful anti-terrorist operations with the defense forces of the times, he was instrumental in the successful development of the tactics used by these units to hunt down terrorist. He was then transferred to Vlakplaas where he lead the so-called death squads in anti-insurgency operations against anti government organizations which was also highly successful and brutal. Through all these actions you can see how De Kock got lost in it all and in the end he was made a scapegoat by the old Apartheid security forces to take the fall for all it's sins. The author does a good job to portray him as a man, and has found a good balance to not make him look like a monster or make him look innocent. Highly recommended if you are interested in the subject matter and to see how the shadow wars of Apartheid were fought.

[Nicole P · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa is something that has interested me for most of my career. I've been fascinated with the various stories, political parties and people that participated in the Commission. And one such person was the notorious Eugene de Kock. Not much is known about the secret police that worked for the National Party government during the apartheid era. De Kock was the leader of a special unit at Vlakplaas. The book spares no details with the heinous crimes committed at this farm, with many of them recounted during the TRC hearings. What's different with this book is the fact that the author was able to interview De Kock while he was in prison. She provides firsthand accounts from De Kock and gives a fascinating look into his thinking and justification.

The book also brings to the forefront the indoctrination of most white people during apartheid and what they had to do to "defend the state" from the "black threat/communists". I was enthralled and griped by De Kock's justification and explanations. He has been a fascination of mine for many years and this was a great insight into what type of man he is. A great book that was well researched and presented.

[Bothma van Tonder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really profoundly interesting to read. There are countless other books focusing on the Apartheid Era death squads, Vlakplaas, BOSS etc. But to read a book that delves so much into the psyche of the man called prime evil, was incredibly fascinating.

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, as a former police officer of that era I understand how this could happen and how he had to pay the price for the sins of his commanders.

[Zare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of leader of Apartheid death squad from early 1980's to mid 1990's. Terrifying story of what happens when people loyal to the regime are encouraged to do terrifying things in order to "defend the state". Very, very disturbing book that proves once again that almost everyone under right conditions - when encouraged and approved (promoted etc) by their superiors for their actions - is capable of terrifying atrocities (as it is shown in numerous cases in WW2).

Book should be treated as warning on what happens when civil services (police) get [fully] militarized and their members get "blunted" to various atrocities that are not to be found in police working environments but fields of battle - this is something very very current for our times too.

Highly recommended for all interested in history and covert operations.

[Philip Weyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well crafted biography of a man caught up in horrific circumstances, many of his own making while in defence of a system he believed in. When the end came he was abandoned by his superiors and his colleagues. Well worth reading of a torrid time in South African history.

[Nic Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellently written book - one of enlightenment of the author in the realisation of what South Africa was under the Apartheid government having grown up being told that what was was God given, God's destiny for the Afrikaner people and just and right and as a result reassessing her Afrikaner identity and the other the tale of a guy caught up, like so many of his peers, in a "war" waged by the "mighty" following their own small world thoughts of grandeur, being used and rewarded for deeds normally considered inhumane, and then left to the wolves to take the rap for all his "seniors" and his "colleagues" as the scapegoat for Apartheid's offenses!
Just like Eugene I have also questioned what we served for, what we did in the name of keeping communism at bay and away from South Africa and the cost in human lives to attain what? It was all futile, yet the psychological cost to the many young policemen and soldiers who served in the townships and on the Border who experienced the most appalling scenes of white-on-black, black-on black, black-on-white and white-on-white barbarism that "normal" people would never imagine will never be calculated.
Thank you Anemari for sharing your and Eugene's stories in such a well researched and reader friendly manner.

[Rachelle Seymore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so identify with the author. We seemed to have lived in a horrible world in the apartheid ear -but with blinkers on. I worked in the government of the time and didn't know half of what was happening. I heard of Vlakplaas but never knew what truly transpired there. It is shocking and we were all part of that, regardless of the innocence that we claim. It is terrible what happened, but I find it totally unacceptable and a shame that none of Eugene's commanders have the guts to take responsibility for their instructions. No one in any government can get access to that kind of funding etc. etc. and not get direct orders from above. He has paid his dues. Let the man now live out his remaining days in peace.

[Salomé Kotzé · Rating 4 out of 5]

voel verskriklik melancholies nou. so hartseer vir hierdie man wat sy eie menswees opgeoffer het vir die haat en magsbeheptheid van ander. mag ons tog leer uit ons foute. goeie boek vir die kieskeurige leser

[Nico Strydom · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an Afrikaner reading this book makes you wonder what the future holds for us. How can you explain to the world that you are truly and without conditions sorry about the past. How will anybody find peace in their hearts to forgive those that believed the lies that were spread in our name?