Eugene de Kock, the notorious Apartheid Security Force Member known even among his colleagues as “Prime Evil” for his efficacy as a killer, is pursuing a pardon from South African President Jacob Zuma. Though he was granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for every single instance for which he applied, de Kock will spend the rest of his life in prison for a host of crimes that were not covered under the TRC legislation unless he receives his pardon. De Kock actually has received support in some corners, but overwhelmingly the opponents have lined up against him, ranging from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to the Democratic Alliance and well beyond.
Zuma is almost certainly not going to grant de Kock a pardon. To do so would carry little political upside and would open up doors that Zuma, the ANC, and most of the country do not want opened.
But the case against de Kock’s pardon is not a slam dunk. That’s right — you read me correctly. I have written extensively on de Kock, particularly with regard to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. De Kock was a central figure, perhaps simultaneously the most compelling and repugnant figure during the TRC’s run. De Kock was a ruthless killer. But he was also ruthlessly honest in his testimony before the TRC and without his breaking of silences there is so much that we would not know about the awful era of Apartheid and especially the horrific 1980s. And De Kock always had at least one powerful argument: What about the Generals and politicians, who damned well knew what was going on and often gave the orders to carry out those awful deeds, where was their accountability?
I am not advocating for de Kock’s release. But were it to happen, I also would not be up in arms. “Prime Evil” at least pursued accountability before the TRC. That’s more than can be said for many dozens, maybe hundreds, possibly thousands of others with blood on their hands.
