The former Minister of Law and Order, Adriaan Vlok has died at the Unitas Hospital in Pretoria at the age of 85.
Family spokesperson, Peet Bothma said that Vlok died following a short illness.
He served in various positions in the apartheid government, with the Law and Order portfolio being one he was most known for.
During his reign as Minister of Law and Order, Vlok was instrumental in the restriction of 17 anti-apartheid organisation together with the detention and suppression of more than 30 000 people.
Vlok was granted amnesty in 1999 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for his testimony on the role he played in the apartheid atrocities.
In 2006, he further made headlines with revelations of his part in more atrocities and went as far as washing the feet of Reverend Frank Chikane, and the widows and mothers of the Mamelodi 10 as a symbol of apology.
“He is survived by his wife Antoinette, three children, Nicolaas and Adriaan Johannes Vlok and Annemarie Coetzee, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.”
“Funeral arrangements are currently being made and will be announced shortly,” Bothma said.
