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S. African white supremacist plot leader sentenced to 35 years

by Reuters
Tuesday, 29 October 2013 10:48 GMT

JOHANNESBURG, Oct 29 (Reuters) - The mastermind of a "Boer Army" white supremacist plot to assassinate Nelson Mandela and drive blacks out of South Africa was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday after a trial lasting more than 10 years, state media said.

Former university lecturer Mike du Toit was convicted of high treason for his leadership role in the "Boeremag", a rag-tag militia of apartheid loyalists accused of a botched 2002 coup attempt in Africa's biggest economy that aimed to overthrow the ruling African National Congress.

At least one other leader of the group also received a 35-year sentence at the Pretoria High Court, while others among the 20 defendants were handed lesser sentences, state broadcaster SABC reported. (Reporting by Peroshni Govender; Editing by Pascal Fletcher)

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