'Prime Evil,' South Africa's pro-apartheid assassin, granted parole - a lesson in repentance, love and forgiveness

According to a story by Diana Magnay and Ralph Ellis of the CNN, Eugene de Kock (nicknamed Prime Evil), the most notorious assassin of South Africa's apartheid era who commanded a death squad that kidnapped, tortured and killed black activists has been granted parole. 

After apartheid fell, he was put on trial and sentenced in 1996 to two life sentences plus 212 years in prison. But de Kock showed remorse, meeting with victims' families, some of whom publicly forgave him, and helping the Missing Persons Task Force locate bodies, a fact noted by South African Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha. When apartheid fell and the ANC gained control of the government, de Kock cooperated with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established in 1994 to achieve full disclosure of apartheid-era misdeeds.

"In the interests of nation building and reconciliation," Masutha said Friday, he was granting parole to de Kock. Desmond Tutu says release from prison of apartheid police killer Eugene de Kock represents milestone on road to reconciliation and healing. 

I believe there is a lesson or two for us all there.

Read the full story here.