Petrus Johann Coetzee


General Johann Petrus Coetzee is a South African police officer. He was Commissioner of the South African Police from 1983 to 1987.

Personal life

Coetzee is married and has two children. He also has degrees in political science and history.

Career in the police

Coetzee joined the police in 1946. Much of his career was spent in the Security Branch, where he co-ordinated the infiltration of anti-apartheid groups such as the South African Communist Party.
In June 1983 he was made Commissioner of the South African Police; he was also a member of the State Security Council. He retired in May 1987.

Retirement

Coetzee under cross-examination by George Bizos before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission denied any involvement in several murders and other atrocities committed by the apartheid National Party government.
Along with several other security policemen, he later applied for amnesty from the Commission in 2000.