Using the word as loosely as some South Africans do today strips it of its intentional and intimate terror. The diluted use of the word empties out the pain it was designed to cause. In Stratcom, we aimed to annihilate, not just insert positive stories to support De Klerk. We were trained to permanently neutralize ideas, people, or institutions for the government. Stratcom was far from the tame version some South Africans, including political party supporters, now discuss on Twitter. Those who do should reflect on how it systematically dismantled Winnie Mandela, utilizing unlimited state resources to achieve this. Paul Erasmus’s explosive account of his time as a security policeman during apartheid reveals the National Party’s ruthless intent to destroy Mandela and terrorize anti-apartheid activists. He exposes the corruption and power struggles within the South African Police, highlighting the fascist connections some officers had. Erasmus confronts his own actions and the atrocities he was part of, naming individuals involved. His extensive testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission provides insight into Stratcom's operations, and this book further explores that testimony, delving deeper into the moral reckoning he seeks.
