The man who killed apartheid : the life of Dimitri Tsafendas

In the South African House of Assembly, on 6 September 1966,Dimitri Tsafendas stabbed to death Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd.Afterwards, Tsafendas was declared to be a schizophrenic whobelieved a tapeworm lived inside him which controlled his actions,and that he had no political motive for assassinating Verwoerd.Pronounced unfit to stand trial, Tsafendas went down in history as aderanged parliamentary messenger.For fifty years, this story prevailed. However, this book now revealsthe truth about Tsafendas; that he was deeply political from an earlyage. He was arrested numerous times, starting in Mozambique, thecountry of his birth. In Portugal, the security police opened a file onhim in 1938, when he was aged only twenty. After the assassination,Tsafendas volunteered a series of incontestable political reasons forkilling Verwoerd, but these, along with details of his political past,were never allowed to see the light of day.This book reveals the extent of the cover-up by South Africa’sauthorities and the desperate lengths they went to conceal theexistence of Tsafendas’s opposition to apartheid. The book exposesone of the great lies in South African history, that Verwoerd wasmurdered by a mad man. It also offers for the first time a completebiography of this extraordinary man.Advocate George Bizos characterised Dousemetzis’s work onTsafendas and Verwoerd’s assassination as ‘monumental’ and ofbeing ‘of major historical importance for South Africa and as to ourunderstanding of Verwoerd’s assassination’. Professor John Dugardsaid ‘South African history should know the truth about Tsafendas.Dousemetzis has done South Africa a service by correcting thehistorical record.’ In The South African House Of Assembly, On 6 September 1966, Dimitri Tsafendas Stabbed To Death Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd. Afterwards, Tsafendas Was Declared To Be A Schizophrenic Who Believed A Tapeworm Lived Inside Him Which Controlled His Actions, And That He Had No Political Motive For Assassinating Verwoerd. Pronounced Unfit To Stand Trial, Tsafendas Went Down In History As A Deranged Parliamentary Messenger. For Fifty Years, This Story Prevailed. However, This Book Now Reveals The Truth About Tsafendas; That He Was Deeply Political From An Early Age. He Was Arrested Numerous Times, Starting In Mozambique, The Country Of His Birth. In Portugal, The Security Police Opened A File On Him In 1938, When He Was Aged Only Twenty. After The Assassination, Tsafendas Volunteered A Series Of Incontestable Political Reasons For Killing Verwoerd, But These, Along With Details Of His Political Past, Were Never Allowed To See The Light Of Day. This Book Reveals The Extent Of The Cover-up By South Africa's Authorities And The Desperate Lengths They Went To Conceal The Existence Of Tsafendas's Opposition To Apartheid. The Book Exposes One Of The Great Lies In South African History, That Verwoerd Was Murdered By A Mad Man. It Also Offers For The First Time A Complete Biography Of This Extraordinary Man. Preface -- 1. The Deed -- 2. After The Deed -- 3. The Son Of An Anarchist -- 4. Tsafendas And Verwoerd In South Africa -- 5. Enter The Tapeworm -- 6. Redemption -- 7. Exiled -- 8. Teacher Of English And Bomb-maker -- 9. Back To Africa -- 10. Parliamentary Messenger -- 11. The Outbreak Of Torture -- 12. A Verdict Is Arranged -- 13. A State-president's Patient -- 14. Justifying The Deed -- 15. An Unmarked Grave. Harris Dousemetzis With Gerry Loughran. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 451-467) And Index. In the South African House of Assembly, on 6 September 1966, Dimitri Tsafendas stabbed to death Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd. Afterwards, Tsafendas was declared to be a schizophrenic who believed a tapeworm lived inside him which controlled his actions, and that he had no political motive for assassinating Verwoerd. Pronounced unfit to stand trial, Tsafendas went down in history as a deranged parliamentary messenger. For fifty years, this story prevailed. However, this book now reveals the truth about Tsafendas; that he was deeply political from an early age. He was arrested numerous times, starting in Mozambique, the country of his birth. In Portugal, the security police opened a file on him in 1938, when he was aged only twenty. After the assassination, Tsafendas volunteered a series of incontestable political reasons for killing Verwoerd, but these, along with details of his political past, were never allowed to see the light of day. This book reveals the extent of the cover-up by South Africa's authorities and the desperate lengths they went to conceal the existence of Tsafendas's opposition to apartheid. The book exposes one of the great lies in South African history, that Verwoerd was murdered by a mad man. It also offers for the first time a complete biography of this extraordinary man. Advocate George Bizos characterised Dousemetzis's work on Tsafendas and Verwoerd's assassination as 'monumental' and ofbeing 'of major historical importance for South Africa and as to our understanding of Verwoerd's assassination'.Professor John Dugard, Judge ad hoc at the International Court of Justice in The Hague,said 'South African history should know the truth about Tsafendas.Dousemetzis has done South Africa a service by correcting the historical record.'