Enter the ‘Boere Ninja’

Jaco Scherman, the owner of Panzer Protection in Springs, is also a police reservist

A “general” in a far-right movement, calling himself the “Boere Ninja”, has emerged as a key character in an alleged right wing conspiracy to wipe out the ANC leadership.

He is Jaco Scherman, owner of Panzer Protection in Springs on the East Rand. He is a police reservist.

This week he admitted to City Press that he had trained two of the four alleged far-right conspirators who wanted to bomb the Mangaung conference, but denied involvement in any of their plans.

But Cornelia De Wet, a right wing farmer currently in custody, claims ammunition and explosives that police found on her farm in May this year belong to Scherman.

This week, De Wet, who is incarcerated in Middelburg prison, contacted City Press and said she had been part of Scherman’s far-right group.

She claimed terror acts had been planned in her presence.

She said she had resigned from the organisation shortly before her arrest and claimed she had received death threats.

She had informed the police of the group’s existence.

“Scherman’s Panzer company is nothing other than a front to train right-wingers for war and terror,” De Wet charged this week.

She told of witnessing plans to blow up schools in predominantly black neighbourhoods and taxi ranks, among other areas.

De Wet was a member of the Leeuwag and the Boere Beskermings Forum (BBF), both militant right wing movements, of which Scherman had been a general.

The leader and founding member of the BBF was Johan Prinsloo, one of the four right-wingers who were arrested by police this week and charged with terrorism and treason.

Prinsloo, Mark Trollip, Hein Boonzaaier and Martin Keevy appeared in court in Bloemfontein this week because they had allegedly wanted to blow up the ANC conference with mortars.

The state claims there was a second plan to shoot President Jacob Zuma, ministers and other ANC dignitaries at close range.

Scherman admitted to City Press he had ties with Prinsloo and Boonzaaier, but insisted they had done nothing wrong.

He rejected suggestions that he was the mastermind behind the group.

Scherman’s alleged role and the fact that he hadn’t been arrested caused a stir in right wing circles this week.

City Press was told police questioned him on Thursday morning and he had agreed to turn state witness.

Scherman vehemently denied this.

The police did not respond to requests for comment.

- Jacques Pauw