 He was sentenced to six months in jail for quoting Joe Slovo, the then leader of the South African Communist Party and a banned person.The Vrye Weekblad broke the news of the Vlakplaas Death Squads and the role of its commander, Dirk Coetzee.In 1999, Du Preez was dismissed by the SABC from his position as the executive editor of "Special Assignment", an investigative television show, after he objected when a documentary was barred from being shown.