Author ‘commits suicide’

Eastern Cape police Tuesday confirmed detectives discovered a suicide note after the body of author Mark Minnie was found on a smallholding in Theesecombe, Port Elizabeth.

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

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.

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 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.

• Malan ‘paedo leader’