Amnesty Hearings — Welkom — 1998-11-19

MS VAN DER WALT: Cliff Barnard, this is the accused who is responsible for the explosion in Johannesburg before the election?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: That is correct, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: And did he work at head office?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: That is correct, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: When you speak of head office where you collected these detonators, was this in the building or was it hidden somewhere?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, it was in the building, it was a storage room in the office of head office in Ventersdorp.

MS VAN DER WALT: The leader, Eugene Terre'blanche, would he be aware that these detonators would be stored there?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, my personal opinion is that I believe that he knew.  It was a storage room where everyday cleaning agents were stored, brooms and such.

MS VAN DER WALT: And you continue further on page 52, paragraph 25 you mention that you bought pistols, can you tell the Honourable Committee what happened there and why.

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, I did not buy the pistols myself, I had very little money at that stage.  Mr Piet Wessels who was with us the evening, when we bought the pistols at Hartebeesfontein or in that area where he bought three Z88 pistols with a cheque, a cheque of Mr Wessels.

MS VAN DER WALT: From whom did he buy it?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: He bought it from Mr Lukas Swart of the BKA at that stage.

MS VAN DER WALT: And why did you buy these weapons?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, we bought the weapons because it was cheap and at that stage it was difficult to acquire weapons and when we found the place to buy it we bought it so it could be used in the war when we go over to war.

MS VAN DER WALT: Do you have any knowledge whether Eugene Terre'blanche at several meetings mentioned that you had to acquire weapons for the war?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, at several meetings he said that we had to collect weapons as well as ammunition and if we couldn't buy it we had to steal it.

MS VAN DER WALT: And the farm where you and Mr Breytenbach lived, were you also in possession you and Mr Breytenbach, you were also charged of the possession of a 357 Taurus and a 308 rifle and several rounds of ammunition, where did you get these weapons?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, the revolver was Mr Piet Breytenbach's as well as the rifle.  I think one of the two he inherited and the other on he bought and it was being handed over to him.  The weapons were stored in a cupboard on Groot Mariko, Mr Wessels' farm.

MS VAN DER WALT: And there were no licences for these firearms?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Not as far as I know, Mr Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: You continue, Mr Breytenbach, Mr Wessels and yourself were arrested before the elections, is that correct?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Yes, that is correct, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: Why did you decide not to execute your instruction to blow up the gas depot in Lichtenburg?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, the gas depot is located centrally in Lichtenburg, there are houses surrounding the place and it would have killed many people if we did execute our instruction there.

MS VAN DER WALT: But you received the instruction from General Etsebeth, why did you not execute it?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, I did receive the instruction from General Etsebeth with the approval of the leader, Mr Eugene Terre'blanche.  I did not execute the instruction because I did not go out to kill people, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: What was General Fourie's opinion with regards to the killing of people?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: At no stage did General Fourie give me any instruction to kill people or to injure any people.

MS VAN DER WALT: Did you do any reconnaissance work in Lichtenburg at the gas depot?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: I did, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: You several times mentioned that you caused these explosions to stop the elections, what do you think would have happened, why did you think that the election would not go ahead if these explosions took place?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, as soon as one causes chaos in any circumstances, it would not go as it was planned and the chief reason was to create chaos before the elections to keep the people away from the voting boxes so that they do not vote.

MS VAN DER WALT: So you wanted to install fear in the public?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: That is correct, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: Did you personally gain in this?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: No, Chairperson, at no stage.  Not even with bail did I receive any assistance.

MS VAN DER WALT: And on whose behalf did you commit these actions?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: It was on instruction for the AWB and for my people and my fatherland.

MS VAN DER WALT: Did you believe that you would further the objectives of the AWB in this manner?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: That is what I believed, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: Did you have any grudge against anybody where you caused these explosions or at the taxi rank?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: None, Chairperson, I did not even know these people.  (end of tape)

MS VAN DER WALT: ... after there was a change in the country with regard to the acts that you committed?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, I'm very sorry for what I've done.  After the time since we've been charged and we appeared in the Supreme Court and I can now see that things can happen if negotiated.  And we were told that the AWB would not, if they would negotiate it would not help because they were negotiating with a communist party.

MS VAN DER WALT: Are you still a member of the AWB?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: No, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: Where are you employed?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: I work in St Lucia, Chairperson.  I am a traffic officer there.

MS VAN DER WALT: After you were arrested, did you participate in any actions or meetings of the AWB?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: No, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: And you also in Exhibit B state the objectives of the AWB and reasons as to why these actions were political actions, is that correct?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: That is correct, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: And do you confirm the contents of Annexure B?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: That is correct, Chairperson.

MS VAN DER WALT: Is there anything else you would like to add?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Chairperson, only that I am sorry for what I have done, and for as long as I live I will not do these things again.

MS VAN DER WALT: Thank you, Chairperson.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS VAN DER WALT

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Prinsloo, do you have any questions to ask the witness?

MR PRINSLOO: Thank you, Mr Chairman.
	Mr Strydom, when you planted the landmine at the taxi rank did you foresee the possibility that somebody could have died?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Yes, I did, Chairperson.

MR PRINSLOO: And according to a statement which you will find on page 98 of the bundle, Chairperson.  It's a statement of a certain Mr Manual Amaro Pereiro, and he says amongst others and I'll read it, it's in English
"In my opinion the only reason ..."
The words aren't very clear.
"... them had to plant bomb at my business was because I let black people sleep in my hotel."
Was that the reason why you planted the bomb there?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: No, Chairperson, it was not the reason.

MR PRINSLOO: And the bomb you planted was part of the liquor store, it was not at the hotel.

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: Yes, it was at the liquor store next to the hotel, it had nothing to do with the hotel.

MR PRINSLOO: The applicant, Mr Breytenbach whom I represent, according to my instructions he always acted under your command on behalf of the AWB?

DE WET JOHAN STRYDOM: That is correct, Chairperson.  Even though we had the same rank I was still the senior officer whilst we fought this war.

MR PRINSLOO: Thank you, Chairperson.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR PRINSLOO