The Heartless and Vicious 1985 Lesotho Raid
Exactly forty years ago, during the early hours of 20 December 1985, at around 01:00, Vlakplaas Commander Eugene de Kock was leading a unit of six men, as they were deployed at one of the houses in Hoohlo Township in Maseru. Amongst them was a young so-called Coloured man, Elvis Vincent Macaskill, who was a resident of the township, and was briefing them about the party that was taking place in the house. According to Macaskill, Joe and Jacqui Quin had left the party early and the other partygoers were still inside. De Kock then instructed Macaskill to lead Anton Adamson and another member of the group to Joe Quin’s house, which was approximately two kilometres away, while the other three, under De Kock’s leadership, preceded to the main target house.
When they approached the main house, they saw a man leaving the premises to look for something in his car and De Kock fired two shots at him. Afterwards, De Kock and Willie Nortjé stormed the house, while the other two members of the remained outside to keep watch. Inside the house, De Kock and Nortjé shot dead six people and after having made sure that those in the house were dead, they met the other two that went to the Quin’s residence in the getaway vehicle. Adamson reported that they struggled to capture Joe Quin alive, and they subsequently shot him. He then added that Jacqui Quin was also shot dead when she grabbed the silencer of one of the guns.
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