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Paul Erasmus was a South African Security Police officer who testified to the Goldstone Commission,^[1] and later the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about police dirty tricks and violence during the apartheid era.^[2] This testimony revealed the existence of a unit in the Security Police called STRATCOM (Strategic Communications) that specialised in misinformation and propaganda against opponents of the regime.^[3]^[4] Erasmus also testified on the police efforts to discredit Winnie Madikizela-Mandela by spreading false rumours about sexual affairs and drug use.^[5]^[6]

Before joining STRATCOM, Erasmus had served in the counter-insurgency campaign in Namibia, as part of the Koevoet police unit.^[7]

Trashing music industry

Erasmus appears in a documentary, Stopping the Music: the Roger Lucey Story, in which he explains Stratcom's campaign against South African folk rock guitarist Roger Lucey, which led to banning and disruption of gigs, confiscation of records, and an overzealous campaign against Shifty Records and the South African music industry in general. Erasmus's revelations were published in a biography, which was then extracted by an article in the Mail & Guardian.

Torture as treatment

Erasmus was a feared interrogator. His methods of persuasion included burning, choking, beating, drowning, and administering electric shocks.^[8]

Biography

Foot Soldier for Apartheid, an unpublished manuscript, has extracts available online.^[9]^[10]

References

^ David Goodman Reconciliation or Chaos? Mother Jones May/June 1999
^ De Klerk linked to `dirty tricks' to sabotage ANC Washington Times Jul 10, 1995
^ Press release by Paul Erasmus Archived 2007-03-22 at the Wayback Machine African National Congress, 09-09-97
^ Dolley, Caryn (13 November 2021). "Atrocious crimes: Apartheid hitman's brutal confessions serve as a warning for South Africans". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^ Suzanne Daley Winnie Mandela Discredited Herself, Police Official Says New York Times November 29, 1997
^ Winnie Mandela defended by white former agents BBC News 24 November 1997
^ David Goodman and Paul Weinberg (2002) Fault Lines: Journeys Into the New South Africa University of California Press ISBN 0-520-23203-8 p93
^ "Reconciliation or Chaos?". Mother Jones. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
^ "3rd Ear Music Forum - Foot Soldier for Apartheid". www.3rdearmusic.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
^ Leonard, Charles. "The day the music died". The M&G Online. Retrieved 23 October 2018.

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 -"

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