Paul Erasmus
Encyclopedia
Paul Erasmus was a South Africa
n security police officer who testified to the Goldstone Commission
, and later the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about police dirty tricks and violence during the apartheid era. This testimony revealed the existence of a unit in the Security Police called STRATCOM that specialised in misinformation and propaganda against opponents of the regime. Erasmus also testified on the police efforts to discredit Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
by spreading false rumours about sexual affairs and drug use.
Before joining STRATCOM, Erasmus had served in the counter-insurgency campaign in Namibia
, as part of the Koevoet
police unit.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n security police officer who testified to the Goldstone Commission
Goldstone Commission
The Goldstone Commission, formally known as the Commission of Inquiry Regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation, was appointed to investigate political violence and intimidation that occurred between July 1991 and the 1994 general election that ended apartheid in South Africa.The...
, and later the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about police dirty tricks and violence during the apartheid era. This testimony revealed the existence of a unit in the Security Police called STRATCOM that specialised in misinformation and propaganda against opponents of the regime. Erasmus also testified on the police efforts to discredit Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is a South African politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is currently a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee...
by spreading false rumours about sexual affairs and drug use.
Before joining STRATCOM, Erasmus had served in the counter-insurgency campaign in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, as part of the Koevoet
Koevoet
Koevoet , also known as "Operation K" and officially known as the "South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Unit" , was a police counter insurgency unit in South-West Africa during the 1970s and 1980s...
police unit.
External links
- Tuning Into the Enemy - BBC Radio
- Amnesty Hearing - Paul Erasmus 27 November 2000, Truth and reconciliation commission
- Proclamation by the President of the Republic of South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Committee on amnesty (Under section 20 of The Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 1995), Regulation Gazette, No. 7311 No. R. 26, 2002. Government Gazette, Vol. 441, No. 23257, 28 March 2002. Section "XIV Paul Erasmus (identity number 5602145141006), in respect of -"