Changes

==DeDeur Shooting==

==DeDeur Shooting==

One week before commiting the Strijdom Square massacre Barend went to Wheeler's Farm squatter camp in DeDeur, near the town of Vereeniging. Here he shot one Black woman, killing her.  

One week before committing the Strijdom Square massacre Barend went to Wheeler's Farm squatter camp in DeDeur, near the town of Vereeniging. Here he shot one Black woman, killing her.  

He later said that this excursion was to see if he was psychologically capable of murder.

He later said that this excursion was to see if he was psychologically capable of murder.

==Strijdom Square==

==Strijdom Square==

On November 15, 1988 Strydom parked his car in Prinsloo Street, central [[Pretoria]], at approximately 3 pm. He was carrying some 200 loose bullets in his pockets, as well as two extra magazines for his 9mm pistol. He was wearing a police-issue camoflage jacket and an AWB belt buckle.

On November 15, 1988 Strydom parked his car in Prinsloo Street, central [[Pretoria]], at approximately 3 pm. He was carrying some 200 loose bullets in his pockets, as well as two extra magazines for his 9mm pistol. He was wearing a police-issue camouflage jacket and an AWB belt buckle.

He made his way to Strijdom Square, where there was usually, during the afternoon, a large population of Blacks, unemployed and employed alike, it had become a favourite spot for inner-city workers. There was large numbers of people eating, talking and sleeping in the various leisure spots which were situated beside Strijdom Square.

He made his way to Strijdom Square, where there was usually, during the afternoon, a large population of Blacks, unemployed and employed alike, it had become a favourite spot for inner-city workers. There was large numbers of people eating, talking and sleeping in the various leisure spots which were situated beside Strijdom Square.

Strydom was immediately taken to a police station, where he was informed that his killing spree (in which he shot 24 people) had killed "five or six people" (the final death toll was 7). He replied, "I shot badly".

Strydom was immediately taken to a police station, where he was informed that his killing spree (in which he shot 24 people) had killed "five or six people" (the final death toll was 7). He replied, "I shot badly".

The officer in charge of the case, Lietenant Viljoen said of Strydom, "He felt nothing for the victims".

The officer in charge of the case, Lieutenant Viljoen said of Strydom, "He felt nothing for the victims".

Whilst in police custody it emerged that Strydom was behind the so-called White Wolves, which had sent death threats to prominent South African liberals. The White Wolves (actually a mere figment of Strydom's imagination) claimed responsibility for the fire bombing of a left-wing Church (it later came to light that members of the Security Branch of the South African Police were responsible for the attack and that Strydom had merely taken 'credit' for it).

Whilst in police custody it emerged that Strydom was behind the so-called White Wolves, which had sent death threats to prominent South African liberals. The White Wolves (actually a mere figment of Strydom's imagination) claimed responsibility for the fire bombing of a left-wing Church (it later came to light that members of the Security Branch of the South African Police were responsible for the attack and that Strydom had merely taken 'credit' for it).

In the South African Sunday Times, the newspaper with the most readers in the country, Terre'Blanche said that the AWB was not to blame and that Strydom had acted alone.  

In the South African Sunday Times, the newspaper with the most readers in the country, Terre'Blanche said that the AWB was not to blame and that Strydom had acted alone.  

Even so a large AWB banner was photographed by the press, it was held up in Church Square, Pretoria, during an AWB rally and read "Free Strydom, Hang Mandela".

Even so, a large AWB banner was photographed by the press, it was held up in Church Square, Pretoria, during an AWB rally and read "Free Strydom, Hang Mandela".

==Life sentence==

==Life sentence==

In 1994 he was released along with 150 other political prisoners.

In 1994 he was released along with 150 other political prisoners.

He was scheduled to launch an application for amnesty to the Truth and Reconcilliation Commision, but withdrew it.[http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/media/1998/9804/s980429e.htm]

He was scheduled to launch an application for amnesty to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but withdrew it.[http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/media/1998/9804/s980429e.htm]

He currently lives with his wife, whom he married whilst imprisoned, in Gauteng province.

He currently lives with his wife, whom he married whilst imprisoned, in Gauteng province.