https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / News / All News RSS ← Back
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Article Enquiry

Detectives find suicide note from controversial 'The Lost Boys of Bird Island'

Close

Embed Video

Detectives find suicide note from controversial 'The Lost Boys of Bird Island'

Bird Island Authors Chris Steyn and Mark Minnie
Bird Island Authors Chris Steyn and Mark Minnie

14th August 2018

By: African News Agency

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

Eastern Cape police on Tuesday, confirmed that detectives discovered a suicide note after the body of ex-policeman, Mark Minnie was discovered on a small holding in Theesecombe, Port Elizabeth.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu said that a suicide note was found, but would not divulge on its contents or the location of where it was discovered. 

Advertisement

Naidu also said the gun found on Monday night, did not belong to Minnie. 

Minnie, co-author of the controversial book, "The Lost Boys of Bird Island", was found dead at a friend’s smallholding at Theescombe on Monday night. 

Advertisement

The book, which is about high-ranking former National Party government ministers allegedly being part of a paedophile ring in the late 1980s, is a collaboration between journalist Chris Steyn and Minnie - a former police officer. 

The book tells the story of “fishing excursions” organised by late former defence minister Magnus Malan, wealthy businessman Dave Allen – who died by suicide at the age of 37 – and National Party environmental affairs minister John Wiley – who also committed suicide at age 80, just weeks after Allen was found dead with a similar gunshot wound to the head.

The book details how Malan, Wiley, Allen and another former apartheid-era minister, who is still alive, ferried young boys to Bird Island near Port Elizabeth where the minors were raped and forced to do other sexual acts on the men. 

Police had earlier said that no foul play was suspected after Minnie was found with a gunshot wound to his head. A pistol was found lying next to him. 

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Early on Tuesday morning, detectives arrived at the front of the property and were unable to gain access.

Detectives and a forensic team then moved to the back of the property to cordon off the scene and carry out further investigations. 

By late Tuesday afternoon, detectives and forensic teams were still combing the scene and were later seen carrying white containers in sealed evidence bags. 

For most of Tuesday, one worker was seen accompanying detectives around the property while pointing out locations. 

Photographs where taken at the property’s garage and forensics were also seen using a metal detector.

Several workers continued to prune roses at the property’s greenhouse while the owner did not once make a single appearance. 

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now