Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Paul Erasmus

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Name
  
Paul Erasmus


Paul Erasmus soundprintorggetImageID157RogerLeftPaulRightjpg

Paul erasmus testifies on apartheid govt being authors of fake news


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

Contents

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

Ilse Schoonraad speaks to Paul Erasmus (Long version)


Trashing the 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 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.

Biography

Foot Soldier for Apartheid, an unpublished manuscript, extracts available online

References

Paul Erasmus Wikipedia