Introduction: A Chilling Encounter with a Convicted Murderer
In the dimly lit bedroom of Louis van Schoor, a convicted South African mass murderer, the air is heavy with the stench of cigarette smoke and decay. Van Schoor, once a feared security guard, now sits in a wheelchair, his legs amputated after a heart attack. His health is failing, but his chilling memories of hunting black people during apartheid are vivid. Over the past four years, BBC Africa Eye has uncovered horrifying details of his killings and the alleged police encouragement he received.
The Timeline of Terror: Van Schoor’s Killing Spree
1986-1989: Van Schoor’s Reign of Terror During apartheid in South Africa, Louis van Schoor was a security guard contracted to protect white-owned businesses in East London, Eastern Cape. Over these three years, he shot and killed at least 39 black men, including a 12-year-old boy, claiming they were criminals caught red-handed.
April 1986: The First Killings Van Schoor’s first recorded killing occurred in April 1986, when he shot a 16-year-old boy who was rummaging through a garbage bin outside a restaurant. This killing marked the beginning of his deadly spree.
July 1988: The Brutal Shooting of a 14-Year-Old On July 11, 1988, Van Schoor shot a 14-year-old boy who had broken into a restaurant searching for petty change. The boy, whose identity is protected, recounted that Van Schoor called him out, made him stand against a wall, and then shot him repeatedly. Despite the boy’s survival, his testimony was dismissed by the courts.
1986-1989: Continuous Killings and Police Reporting Van Schoor continued his spree, often killing multiple people in a single night. He reported every killing to the police, who allegedly sanctioned his actions. His defense often rested on the apartheid-era laws that permitted lethal force against intruders.
1990: Nelson Mandela’s Release and the Beginning of Change The release of Nelson Mandela on February 11, 1990, signaled the beginning of the end for Van Schoor’s unchecked violence. As the apartheid system began to crumble, activists and journalists, including Patrick Goodenough and Sharlene Crage, pressured the authorities to act.
1991: Arrest and Trial Van Schoor was arrested in 1991 after intense pressure from the community and media. His trial, one of the largest murder trials in South Africa’s history, involved numerous witnesses and thousands of pages of forensic evidence. Despite overwhelming evidence, Van Schoor was only convicted of seven murders due to the apartheid-era laws.
1992: Conviction and Sentencing In 1992, Van Schoor was sentenced to more than 90 years in prison, but the judge allowed him to serve the terms concurrently. His other 32 killings were classified as “justifiable homicides” under apartheid laws.
2004: Early Release Van Schoor was released on parole in 2004 after serving just 12 years. This decision was highly controversial and sparked outrage among the victims’ families and anti-apartheid activists.
The Apartheid System’s Deadly Enforcer
Louis van Schoor’s killings were reported to the police, who allegedly sanctioned his actions. He claimed he acted within the law, citing apartheid-era regulations that permitted lethal force against intruders. His defense often rested on the assertion that his victims were fleeing or resisting arrest, but investigations and survivor testimonies tell a different story.
Isa Jacobson, a South African journalist, has spent two decades investigating Van Schoor’s case. She discovered witness statements that contradict Van Schoor’s claims. Survivors described being shot while surrendering, with their hands up, or being toyed with before being shot. One victim was shot in the abdomen and then kicked in his wound by Van Schoor. The security guard’s use of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with hollow-point bullets caused severe internal damage to his victims.
Experts’ Opinions
Isa Jacobson: “These were intruders who were, in a lot of cases, pretty desperate. Digging through bins, maybe stealing some food… petty criminals.”
Patrick Goodenough: “The support for him was massive… He would not have been able to get away with a fraction of what he got away with without it.”
Sharlene Crage: “It’s a shocking miscarriage of justice. There is no reason his case shouldn’t be reopened.”
Police Complicity and Systemic Racism
Van Schoor insists he was not a racist and that he was merely doing his job. However, his chilling description of his actions, such as opting for an epidural during his leg amputation to watch the procedure, paints a disturbing picture. He admits finding excitement in stalking his victims in the dark, comparing it to hunting.
Former anti-apartheid activist Tetinene “Joe” Jordan remembers Van Schoor’s brutal tactics, describing him as “literally hunting people.” Van Schoor’s past as a member of the East London police force and his use of attack dogs to track protesters further highlight his role in enforcing apartheid’s brutal policies.
Journalist Patrick Goodenough, who led the 1980s investigation into Van Schoor, witnessed the overwhelming support the killer received from the white community. Bumper stickers proclaiming “I Love Louis” with heart-shaped bullet holes were sold, demonstrating the racial bias that permeated society and the legal system.
The Legal and Moral Implications
The failure of the South African judiciary to thoroughly investigate and convict Van Schoor for all his killings remains a significant issue. Much of the evidence was overlooked or dismissed by the apartheid-era legal system. Witnesses were often deemed “unsophisticated” and “unreliable” by the judge, and there were no jury trials in South Africa at the time.
Despite serving his prison sentence, Van Schoor’s other 32 killings are still classified as “justifiable homicides.” The apartheid laws allowed for lethal force against intruders, a defense Van Schoor relied on heavily. However, evidence uncovered by BBC Africa Eye suggests these killings were far from justified. Witnesses and survivors provided harrowing accounts of Van Schoor’s brutality, describing how he toyed with his victims before shooting them.
The Unresolved Pain of the Victims’ Families
For the families of Van Schoor’s victims, his early release and the state’s failure to reassess his killings are a constant source of anguish. Many families still seek justice and closure for their loved ones’ deaths. The lack of accountability and the state’s reluctance to reexamine classified “justifiable homicides” under apartheid laws continue to haunt the victims’ families.
Activist Sharlene Crage believes the case should be reopened, as there is no statute of limitations for murder in South Africa. The re-examination could provide the victims’ families with the justice and closure they have long sought.
Conclusion: A Call for Justice
The story of Louis van Schoor is a grim reminder of the horrors of apartheid and the systemic racism that allowed such atrocities to occur. It highlights the need for continued efforts to address past injustices and ensure accountability for those who committed crimes under apartheid.
The call for reopening Van Schoor’s case remains strong, driven by activists and the families of his victims. The fight for justice and reconciliation in South Africa is ongoing, and the case of Louis van Schoor serves as a stark example of the work that still needs to be done.
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FAQs:
Q1: Who was Louis van Schoor?
A1: Louis van Schoor was a security guard in South Africa during apartheid, known for killing at least 39 black individuals, claiming they were criminals.
Q2: What were the consequences of Louis van Schoor’s actions?
A2: Van Schoor was convicted of seven murders and sentenced to over 90 years in prison, but he served only 12 years before being released on parole.
Q3: How did the police respond to Van Schoor’s killings?
A3: The police allegedly sanctioned his actions, often classifying his killings as “justifiable homicides” under apartheid laws.
Q4: What was the impact of Van Schoor’s actions on the victims’ families?
A4: The families of Van Schoor’s victims suffered immense pain and anguish, with many still seeking justice and closure for their loved ones’ deaths.
Q5: Is there a possibility of reopening Van Schoor’s case?
A5: Activists like Sharlene Crage believe the case should be reopened, as there is no statute of limitations for murder in South Africa, allowing for a re-examination of the classified “justifiable homicides”.
