Amnesty Hearings — Pretoria — UNKNOWN

MR DE KONING: And the purpose of the visit to Mr de Bruin's house in the morning was in order to determine when things would be happening and what would be happening.  Do I understand that correctly?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: And my instruction is that at point it was already known that a bomb had exploded somewhere, somewhere on the Eastern Rand?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes that's correct.

MR DE KONING: And do I comprehend your testimony correctly in so far as you create the impression with me that you regarded Mr de Bruin as someone who was higher up in the hierarchy of the AWB as a mere supporter?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes that's correct.

MR DE KONING: And the message which you received as I understand your testimony regarding the first visit in terms of the fact that the bomb had exploded, this signalled the beginning?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes that is correct.

MR DE KONING: And that violence had begun in terms of the disruption of the election, is that correct?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: And do I also then understand your testimony correctly in that you say that the shooting with a shotgun was a further attempt to disrupt the election?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes that's correct.

MR DE KONING: And my comprehension of your testimony is correct in that you leave the impression with me and I would like to know if you concur with my impression, that between you and the second applicant, Mr Pyper, you actually assumed the leading role although he actually pulled the trigger, do I understand it correctly?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes you could say that.

MR DE KONING: Furthermore, I would like to determine with you whether or not you concur regarding my instruction to the knowledge that before the day of the 27th, by the second applicant and yourself, an opportunity was sought out at work in order to secure explosives but because of security measures, that opportunity did not present itself?

JAMES WHEELER: That could be so.

MR DE KONING: Furthermore, I would like to determine from you that this shooting had taken place on the evening of the 27th, that is a common issue and that my comprehension of why it occurred in the evening and that people often do strange things in the evening in the hope that they might not be noticed, is that correct?

JAMES WHEELER: That's correct.

MR DE KONING: Then I would also like to control the following with you, what are the christian names of Mr Eksteen?  Is that Mike?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: And in their home before you and the second applicant left the home to go and fetch the firearms and ultimately launch the shooting in terms of the attempted derailment of the election, you attempted to persuade Mike to contribute to this.  Is this correct?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: And that because of his opposition to this you told me and I beg your pardon, Chairperson, you told him that he was a "slapgat" and that he was not prepared to do his part for Volk and Afrikanerdom?

JAMES WHEELER: That is correct.

MR DE KONING: Just a moment please.  Am I correct when I say that the second applicant's impression was that Gert de Bruin had some other higher appointment than a mere supporter of the AWB movement?

JAMES WHEELER: That is correct.

MR DE KONING: And Gert de Bruin was approached by you and it appeared, to be informed regarding the strategies more so than you and the second applicant, is that correct?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: Mr Wheeler, perhaps I should just ask you another question first, in so far as my learned colleague Mr Botha wanted to bring home to you that on the evening of the 27th April 1994, you were under the influence of alcohol and I would like to just accept that for the moment, would that have been the first opportunity or moment in your life where you had too much to drink or had you been like that before?

JAMES WHEELER: No, I had had too much to drink before.

MR DE KONING: And if alcohol was the motivation or the agent which inspired you to go on this expedition which we could say that the objective was to kill or injure black people, you would then concur with me that there had been ample opportunity before the 27th to do this, is that correct?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: Can we then accept your answer that you did this on the 27th April in order to derail the elections?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: Because from what I understand from your statement and I'm referring to it's entirety you held the fear or it was inbedded within you from the AWB's side that the election would bring about essential changes in the government structure?

JAMES WHEELER: That is correct.

MR DE KONING: Chairperson, might I just ask for five minutes because there are certain issues which I am still slightly unclear about?

CHAIRPERSON: Certainly Mr de Koning.  We'll take a short adjournment.
COMMITTEE ADJOURNS
ON RESUMPTION

MR DE KONING: (cont)
	Thank you Chairperson.  Chairperson for the sake of order shall I wait until everybody has returned and is seated before we proceed?  Thank you Chairperson.
	Mr Wheeler, my instructions are that the second applicant 
at an opportunity by means of the mediation or for want of a better word, by the mediation of Mr de Bruin applied for a 303 gun which would come from the Lenasia Military Unit or something of that sense.  Are you aware of that?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: Did you also make such an application?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: The guns however for some or other reason were not made available?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: Then, with the second visit to De Bruin's home on the evening of the 27th as I understand it, shortly before the shooting, Mr de Bruin was not at home?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: And the second applicant remained seated in the vehicle at that occasion?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: Perhaps just to observe whether or not your and the second applicant's versions correlate with the following aspect, it is my instruction that the hope which you cherished with this deed was the derailment of the election and the hope that a State of Emergency would be announced which would bring or prevent a complete change of the political dispensation?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes.

MR DE KONING: Thank you Chairperson, I have no further questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr de Koning.  Mr Steenkamp?

MR STEENKAMP: Mr Chairman, if you would allow me just two questions.
	Mr Wheeler, just to clarify it for myself, the instruction that you received was this to the effect that you understood it that you could take a weapon and during or before the election kill any black person?

JAMES WHEELER: No it was said that we should acquire weapons and that that is what would happen.

MR STEENKAMP: On what grounds did you decide that it was your responsibility to kill, shoot a black person during the election?

JAMES WHEELER: From the fact that I saw myself as a white Afrikaner and that is how I identified myself with what happened.

MR STEENKAMP: Did the AWB ever create the impression with you that your contributions would be important in light of the fact that you could go and shoot a black person on your own?

JAMES WHEELER: Yes - might I just consult with my legal counsel?

MR STEENKAMP: I will explain the question.  Mr Wheeler, did the AWB ever order you that you or members of the AWB, was it
ever said to you that you could take a weapon and that it would be justified within the struggle of the AWB to take a weapon and shoot a black person?

JAMES WHEELER: That is what I heard from their discussions and that it would be a collective attempt not an individual attempt.

MR STEENKAMP: Before or after the incident did you contact the AWB?

JAMES WHEELER: After that my wife contacted them.

MR STEENKAMP: Did you contact them afterwards and tell them what you had done?