Photo: GCIS
Photo: GCIS
Two men who formed a right-wing terrorist cell have been put behind bars this week, more than a year after they were arrested for planning ‘extremist activities’. The Crusaders group, who plotted to overthrow the government of South Africa through a series of strategic attacks, were rumbled by the Hawks 13 months ago.
How long have the Crusaders members been jailed for?
Eric Abrahams and Errol Abrahamas – both in their fifties – had targeted key military and police locations. Their sick plan also involved a desire to kill SA’s black citizens by ‘blowing-up’ informal settlements, making a diabolical statement about everything Crusaders were ready to stand for. The extreme right-wing figures were charged for the following offences:
- Count 1: Preparing and planning to carry out terrorist attacks – 15 years’ imprisonment, with seven suspended
- Count 2: Financing of specified offence (terrorism) – five years of imprisonment.
- Count 3: Unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm – five years of imprisonment
- Count 4: Unlawful possession of a firearm- five years of imprisonment.
- Count 5: Unlawful possession of ammunition – five years of imprisonment.
- Count 6: Unlawful possession of more than 200 cartridges- five years of imprisonment.
- Total sentence: Counts 2-6 will run concurrently with Count 1, putting the suspects behind bars for eight years.
Right-wing terrorists ‘targeted government, African citizens’
SAPS have since issued a statement on the ‘Crusaders’ matter, following Tuesday’s conviction. They commended the officers who cracked this case, and their swift interventions almost certainly saved lives and prevented atrocious acts of terrorism taking place on South African soil. For now, the authorities can draw a line under this jaw-dropping case:
“Two members of the ‘Crusaders’ right-wing organisation, Eric Donald Abrahams (55) and Erroll Abrahams (50) were found guilty, convicted, and sentenced today in the Middelburg Regional Court for contravention of Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Matters Act (POCDATARA).”
“They prepared and planned to carry out terrorist attacks on government institutions and the African population in South Africa on 28 November 2019. The two formed part of the Crusaders organisation that planned and conspired to overthrow the democratically elected Government of South Africa and replace it with a Government led by the group.”
SAPS statement on the Crusaders convictions
#sapsHQ Mpumalanga, Middelburg: Right-wing accused jailed for 8 years for planning terrorist activities. The Court has further ordered that both accused are unfit to possess firearms, ammo, competency certificates, licences, authorisation and permits. MEhttps://t.co/su1OGPPTe0 pic.twitter.com/9R3DzB64Ge
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) December 8, 2020
