){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
Dimitri Tsafendas
"Rand Daily Mail," Johannesburg, South Africa (Sept. 8, 1966)
It was into this atmosphere that a 2x2 man arrived in South Africa in
November 1963 named Dimitri "Demetrius" Tsafendas. He would
become The Man Who Killed Apartheid. Born in Mozambique, Africa, on
January 14, 1918, he was the illegitimate half-caste son of a white Greek
man, Michalis Tsafendas, and mixed-race African Amelia Williams. He grew
up with his father, stepmother and four siblings in Mozambique.
During WWII, while hospitalized in the US, Tsafendas became friends with
another patient, Brother Worker Tom Tuft. He was attracted to Tuft's
simple Church; after the war, they reconnected. When he left for Greece in
September 1947, Tuft provided contacts for European Church members.
Tsafendas converted, was baptized by Brother Worker John Micheletos,
and participated in their Church Meetings.
In March 1965, Tsafendas arrived in South Africa. He moved to Cape Town
in August and stayed with a 2x2 couple, Peter and Merle Daniels. They
shared a duplex with Merle's 2x2 sisters Sheila (De Jager) Martin and another.
Martin's first impression of Tsafendas was that he was a mysterious
character. She described him as quiet, gentle and restless, but not
threatening. He spoke eight languages fluently and regaled interesting
stories about his travels. He attended the same Church Meetings as Martin
and read his Bible often but was never quite in tune with 2x2 culture. He
once prayed the Lord's Prayer aloud at Convention. He never married.
He somehow acquired a job as a messenger at the House of Parliament.
Prime Minister Assassinated. In 1961, Prime Minister Dr. Hendrik
Verwoerd withdrew South Africa from the British Commonwealth. He was
a harsh, ruthless, merciless man; some believed he was evil and insane.
He planned to pass another very cruel law against the already suffering
black population. On September 6, 1966, as he stepped forward to deliver
a speech regarding the new law to Parliament, he was stabbed several
times and died. The murderer was none other than Dimitri "Demetrius"
Tsafendas, age 48.
The assassination appeared well planned. The story was published in
South African daily newspapers, e.g. the Argus and Cape Times, and also
internationally, including in the US editions of Time and Newsweek Magazines.
They reported Tsafendas claimed a tapeworm had possessed him.
Reportedly, he told the police he killed Verwoerd because he was
disgusted with his racial policies. At his one-day trial, Tsafendas was ruled
insane, detained at Pretoria Central Prison and incarcerated until his
death. Church members who testified were Daniels, O'Ryans and Brother
Worker James Johnson.
46/475 Additional References: Harris Dousemetzis with Gerry Loughran. 2019. The Man Who Killed Apartheid: The Life of Dimitri Tsafendas: Jacana Media, South Africa.
- Dimensions
- 2947*3670
- File
- Tsafendas-Alamy - smaller.jpg
- Filesize
- 4557 KB