Diary of a Death Factory (Vlakplaas) | South Africa

Episode 243,   Oct 05, 05:40 PM

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A covert Apartheid-era police unit operated a farm of death. At Vlakplaas countless people were tortured and murdered. This is the story of South Africa’s hidden war.

For nearly two decades, a nondescript farm outside Pretoria was the epicenter of South Africa’s most covert and brutal campaign of state-sponsored terror. Known as Vlakplaas, it served as headquarters for a police death squad targeting anti-Apartheid activists. Under the leadership of Colonel Dirk Coetzee and later Eugene de Kock – dubbed “Prime Evil” – Vlakplaas was responsible for countless abductions, torture, and murders masked by secrecy and political protection.

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Resources
YouTube
Know more about Vlakplaas where Prime Evil operated
The gruesome truth behind Vlakplaas and Eugene de Kock
Web
TRC – Final Report – Volume 2
State v Wouter Basson
Wikipedia
Foundation for Human Rights - Nokuthula Simelane 
Lothar Neethling
Articles
The odd couple: why an Apartheid activist joined forces with a murderer
Vlakplaas and the history of Apartheid’s Death Squad
Olof Palme assassination: The South African connection

Created & Produced by Sonya Lowe
Narrated by Noel Vinson
Music: "Nordic Medieval" by Marcus Bressler
Background track: Doblado Studios: https://www.youtube.com/c/DobladoStudios

This True Crime Podcast was researched using open-source or archive materials.