Amnesty Hearings — Johannesburg — UNKNOWN

<UNKNOWN>: Yes, but the question is who told you that you were to go to Zeerust or to the Botswana border?

ANSWER: Dirk Coetzee told me about that, that we were to go to Zeerust.

<UNKNOWN>: What were you told about this mission into Gaberone?

ANSWER: What was said to us was that there was a house, if I can remember so well, there was Joe who was sent to that place, I don't exactly remember whether he went there alone or with somebody else and then he came back, he sat and
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there was his de-briefing or discussion as to how we were going to get to the house.

<UNKNOWN>: Who conducted this briefing, in other words who told you what the operation was going to entail?

ANSWER: Well all these white people who were there, Jan Coetzee, Vermeulen there was a lot of discussion as to how all these things were going to do, some people were opposing as to whether Dirk Coetzee was to be involved and the like.  After that, that is where Dirk said we were to go together because they didn't want to include whites, that is how we ended up getting together to the house.

<UNKNOWN>: Who gave you your instructions what to do that day?

ANSWER: Who, I was given the instruction by Dirk Coetzee together with these other white people who chose the other people.

<UNKNOWN>: What did your role involve, in other words what were you then told to do?

ANSWER: I was together with an officer, Paul Van Dyk who was driving, we were to remain in the car which was not that far from where the operation was to be conducted.   We were able to see whatever was to happen.

<UNKNOWN>: How far from the house were you?

ANSWER: Approximately 200 metres or so.

<UNKNOWN>: How did you enter Botswana?

ANSWER: Well if I can remember so vividly I think we went through the fence but I can't really tell exactly but I know that from when we came out, we cut the fence and come back to South Africa.

<UNKNOWN>: During the whole operation did you stay with Van Dyk at that point near the house where you had been left?
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ANSWER: Yes we were right in the car.

<UNKNOWN>: Did the people who went to the house did they return later that evening to the point where you were?

ANSWER: Yes it didn't take long, we just heard some shootings for about 10 minutes or so and these people were back, they were running back.

<UNKNOWN>: Could you see what was happening at the house or could you only hear what was happening at the house?

ANSWER: Well I couldn't see clearly because it was dark and again there was rain.

<UNKNOWN>: Did you then return to South Africa?

ANSWER: Yes we returned to South Africa.

<UNKNOWN>: Were you told by the others what had happened at the house?

ANSWER: Well like it was, you know usually after an operation there was no need to ask from a colleague as to how it happened and the like, there was no need for that.  I didn't even want to ask.

<UNKNOWN>: During that time did you regard yourself as doing the work that you were supposed to do as a member of Vlakplaas?

ANSWER: Indeed it was necessarily so because I was part and parcel of the operation under Vlakplaas.

<UNKNOWN>: Were you at all times acting according to the instructions you had received?

ANSWER: Yes because whenever there was an operation we used to do whatever was instructed to us.

<UNKNOWN>: Did you know what the intention of Captain Dirk Coetzee and the other people were that went to the house, what were they going to do there?

ANSWER: Yes because when we were still being briefed, they
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were talking about the activities that the ANC people do, although there were some people who were targeted, but generally the house had to be shot at as a whole.

<UNKNOWN>: Was anything mentioned of injuring or killing anybody?

ANSWER: It was already indicated that Joyce Dibali was a common name(?), of course Joyce as a name was mentioned, the surname I couldn't remember and there was another person who came in our discussion but I can't remember who it was.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR JANSEN
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR MPSHE

<UNKNOWN>: What about this Joyce Dibali and somebody, the question which was asked to you was, was there any mention of people to be injured or to be killed.   You say that Joyce's name was mentioned, what are you really saying?

ANSWER: When I talk of Joyce it seems as if an indication was that she was the one who was more active in that house.

<UNKNOWN>: What should happen to her?

ANSWER: She had to be assassinated.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MPSHE

SISI KHAMPEPE: Mr Tsikalanga I wasn't clear whether I understood your evidence with regard to a question which was posed to you by your counsel.   What did Mr Dirk Coetzee say was the purpose of going to Zeerust to you, when you left Vlakplaas?

ANSWER: As I said, it was that if at all there was an operation to be done like going to Lesotho there was no further instruction you know, they just said we are going to meet at Ladybrand, they say at the same time they just said to us we are leaving.

SISI KHAMPEPE: When did you hear of the intention to go and
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assassinate Joyce Dibali and her husband, was it only when you were in Zeerust?

ANSWER: It was only when we were already in Zeerust that this is where it was mentioned.

SISI KHAMPEPE: ...Mr Dirk Coetzee, he's the one who gave you instructions to accompany Van Dyk in order to ensure a safe getaway when you are in Botswana?

ANSWER: Okay well I'm not specifically saying that it was Dirk, there was Captain Jan Coetzee, Vermeulen and one other person in Zeerust and then there were some other people who were discussing, deciding on the operation.   I'm not specifically saying that Dirk said such a specific thing.

SISI KHAMPEPE: Were you instructed by him as your commander to accompany Van Dyk to Botswana?

ANSWER: They just said we are leaving together, they nominated us to leave, Almond, Joe and myself just to leave together and that was all.

SISI KHAMPEPE: My question is addressing whether you were told by Mr Coetzee or you were told by the other people, the other white people who were in your group?

ANSWER: I was told by these other white people and Mr, Captain Dirk Coetzee.

BERNARD MAKGABO NGOEPE: When you were with Mr Paul Van Wyk were you in radio contact with the people who had gone towards the house?

ANSWER: No there were no radios.

BERNARD MAKGABO NGOEPE: What were you supposed to do, were you supposed to leave them if there was to be any interference?

ANSWER: We were waiting there with the car, we were waiting for them when they come and we were going to run away.
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BERNARD MAKGABO NGOEPE: They were to get into your car and get off with the car that you people were driving?

ANSWER: Yes after the completion of the operation we were waiting for them to get away with the car.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR MPSHE
NO RE-EXAMINATION BY MR JANSEN
WITNESS IS EXCUSED
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61
ALMOND NOFOMELA (suo)
EXAMINATION BY MR DE WET-MARAIS

<UNKNOWN>: Mr Nofomela before the incident of the shooting at the house, you first went to go and do surveillance of the house in Botswana, is that correct?

ANSWER: Yes I remember so sir.

<UNKNOWN>: Were you instructed to go and do the surveillance by Captain Coetzee?

ANSWER: Yes sir.

<UNKNOWN>: Did you then receive further instructions about the mission that was planned for the evening?

ANSWER: Yes sir.

<UNKNOWN>: Were you told what you were going to do?

ANSWER: The instruction which I received sir was that when we get to this house, all the occupants in the house should be shot.

<UNKNOWN>: Can you explain to the Commission how this happened, the evening when you went to Botswana?

ANSWER: Could you just repeat the question please?