De Kock deal speculation mounts despite government denials

'The ongoing media speculation and reports that President Jacob Zuma has considered or is about to grant pardons to anyone are incorrect and misleading,' the Presidency said, according to a report on the IoL site. However, Rapport reported yesterday that De Kock was to help the government to fight right-wing extremists and provide information for the prosecution of apartheid politicians in return for his freedom. It says De Kock has allegedly helped the state to hunt extremists in the past and has now offered to assist in prosecuting his former apartheid allies. The newspaper claims De Kock's release may coincide with pardons for several IFP members as well as fraudster Schabir Shaik. It adds that De Kock's release, which it is claimed would be packaged as a token of reconciliation for Afrikaners, is also seen as providing a lightning conductor to shift attention from the controversial Shaik issue. Afrikaans confidantes of Zuma are said to be advising him that De Kock's release will win the favour of the Afrikaners and reduce opposition to a pardon for Shaik. Full report on the IoL site

The suggestion that De Kock's release may be seen as a 'token of reconciliation' for Afrikaners is described as an insult in a rare front page editorial in Rapport. Editor Liza Albrecht writes that all 'decent Afrikaners' distance themselves from De Kock's crimes, for which he is serving 212 years. If Zuma wants to free De Kock for tactical reasons or to score political points ... 'it will be for his own moral account', she writes. 'This will be a token of objectionable political opportunism rather than reconciliation.' Full report and editorial in Rapport

De Kock's former Vlakplaas colleagues have mixed feelings about the latest developments, notes Rapport. Willie Nortjé, a star state witness against De Kock who now works for the government's intelligence services, said there was 'nothing to be worried about', but another colleague, Chappies Klopper, is said to be upset about the developments. However, he declined to comment as he now works for the secret service. Former Vlakplaas commander Dirk Coetzee is quoted as saying 'if the government wants to pardon De Kock, they should do so'. He said De Kock was sitting in jail because he was 'stupid, impudent and arrogant'. 'If one guy gets (a pardon), everyone must get it: that guy Shaik, the IFP guys who keep on moaning, the AWB guys, the right, the left, Clive Derby-Lewis, Janusz Walus, Ferdi Barnard... It is simply a chapter of the past.' Full report in Rapport

Zuma was cagey when questioned about Shaik on e.tv last night. According to a report in The Mercury, Zuma told e.tv that Shaik has not applied for a pardon. 'I had nothing in front of me. If there was an application before me, you should ask the question. Why should I respond if I do not have the application before me,' he said. Zuma also said he did not know if Shaik was still ill, as he had not visited Shaik since his release on medical parole in March last year. Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)