Amnesty Hearings — Johannesburg — UNKNOWN

CHAIRPERSON: We are all aware that Archbishop Tutu, who is the Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has undergone surgery and is being treated at a clinic in Cape Town.   He is the Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and in many ways, the spiritual head, if I may put it that way, of the TRC.   On behalf of the members of the Committee and perhaps on behalf of the members of the community at large, I would like to express our hope and wish that he makes a speedy recovery from this illness.   The second point on which I would like to make a comment is that it may not be known to interested parties that representatives of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee, who are vitally interested in the proceedings, are here and their representatives will be here throughout these hearings.   We have with us this morning Professor Piet Meiring of the R&R Committee and Mr Joe Japhta who will be present throughout the hearing and Mr Tom Umtanta.   The purpose of making this announcement is for applicants, their witnesses, victims, dependents and relatives of victims who are here or who may be here, to be advised that such assistance and counselling as they may require in these difficult matters will be provided by members of the R&R Committee and that as soon as it is possible, either now or during the short adjournment, legal representatives should convey this to their respective clients and witnesses that should they require counselling or assistance, that will be made available and that they themselves make contact with these representatives.   They are here to the left as you will see, Professor Meiring, Mr Japhta and Mr Umtanta.    Thank you.   Mr Mpshe?
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MR MPSHE	2	ADDRESS

MOKOTEDI MPSHE: Thank you Mr Chairman.   Mr Chairman today as I have indicated to you is 20 January 1997, a continuation in the hearing on applications of Dirk Johannes Coetzee et al.  Mr Chairman the sequence, as already arranged with the legal representatives, that we are going to hear matter No 6 and thereafter matter No 7 Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Matter No 6 relates to the attempted murder of comrade A is it?

MOKOTEDI MPSHE: Of comrade A Mr Chairman, it will be the first matter that involves both applicant Dirk Coetzee and Almond Nofomela Mr Chairman.   Mr Chairman may I just put it on record that the comrade A is a code name, the full names of the person are General Khothatso Christopher Moloi.   He is a General in the South African military.   Mr Chairman he has been served with the form 2 notice and I have been in telephonic contact with him since last year, December, wherein he indicated that he would make himself available.  I have the return of service with me Mr Chairman but I have not seen him as yet in the hearing room.   Thank you Mr Chairman.   He has not arrived.  I will then Mr Chairman hand over to (indistinct) for first applicant.

MR JANSEN: Thank you Mr Chairman, honourable members of the Committee.   Before I call the applicant, as far as the 6th matter of applicant Coetzee's application is concerned, the relevant facts are found on page 12 of the application before this Committee and on page 89 of the applicant's manuscript which I believe is evidence book No 1 before you, it's in paragraph 5.4.11.3 thereof.   Further, the page in the manuscript is page 89, paragraph 5.4.11.3 and page 12 of the application before this Committee.

SISI KHAMPEPE: Isn't that page 16?
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MR JANSEN	3	D J COETZEE

MR JANSEN: Yes sorry that's a reference to the Annexure, sorry honourable member.  With your permission Mr Chairman I wish to call the applicant Mr Dirk Johannes Coetzee.
DIRK JOHANNES COETZEE (ss)
EXAMINATION BY MR JANSEN

<UNKNOWN>: Thank you Mr Chairman.   Mr Coetzee just to recap, you were the Commander of Vlakplaas, Section C1 Unit of the South African Security Police until the end of December 1981, is that correct?

ANSWER: That's correct Mr Chairperson.

<UNKNOWN>: The name comrade A, does that name remind you of an incident in which you were involved as a security policeman?

ANSWER: That is correct Mr Chairperson.

<UNKNOWN>: Can you just briefly explain to the Committee how it came that you were involved in an incident which involved this person called comrade A?

ANSWER: Mr Chairperson during 1981, towards the second half of 81, I was requested by my officer commanding, Brigadier Willem Schoon, to report at the Regional Security Police offices in Bloemfontein under which Lesotho fell as far as so-called ANC activities and revolutionary activities in Lesotho was concerned.   I did report to Colonel Coetzee, who was then Officer Commanding in the Regional Office where I also met with W/O Hendrik Prinsloo and was briefed to report to the branch office at Ladybrand, near Maseru Bridge, where Captain Louw was in charge for surveillance operation in the Maseru Bridge area on the Lesotho border.  I did proceed to Ladybrand where I reported, and set up base at Van Rooyenshek border gate in a vacant police house.
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MR JANSEN	4	D J COETZEE

<UNKNOWN>: The Van Rooyenshek border gate, close to which town is that?

ANSWER: Weppenar in the Free State Mr Chairperson.   In the days whilst I was there at a stage I was called by Captain Louw and a message relayed to me that there was an ANC cadre withe MK name comrade A based in Lesotho and I should put a plan in operation to eliminate him, assassinate him.

<UNKNOWN>: During your surveillance work in that area, were you accompanied by other members from Vlakplaas?

ANSWER: I was Mr Chairperson, amongst others Almond Nofomela and David Tshikalanga and I can't remember exactly which of the other team members were present.   For the purpose of the operation a Valiant motor car was made available to me and a black police member of the Ladybrand Security Branch was allocated to me to assist Almond Nofomela, whom I chose, to execute the operation.   I issued them with firearms and a Russian hand grenade from the arsenal in the boot of my police vehicle.   The idea was that the member of Ladybrand Security Police who accompanied Almond would point out the house and comrade A, upon which I suggested that they knock at the front door and when he opens, shoot him and throw the hand grenade into the house.  They did proceed to Lesotho and that evening reported back that they shot at comrade A through the window of his house.

<UNKNOWN>: Did you accompany them on the mission or did you accompany them only to a certain extent?

ANSWER: I did not enter Lesotho, I just accompanied them up to the border post where it was left in their hands to execute the operation further.

<UNKNOWN>: On arriving at the border gate was it night-time
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MR JANSEN	5	D J COETZEE
or approximately what time?

ANSWER: It is difficult to say.   As far as I remember it was late afternoon, towards evening Mr Chairperson.

<UNKNOWN>: Did they return on the same evening?

ANSWER: They did return later that night Mr Chairperson and it must have been before 10 o'clock because that's the time when the border posts close at Maseru Bridge where they exited.

<UNKNOWN>: Did they then report back to you again?

ANSWER: They did report back to me Mr Chairperson.

<UNKNOWN>: Did you report the incident any further than yourself?

ANSWER: I did Mr Chairperson to the Ladybrand, Captain Louw, Branch Commander where he was also personally briefed by or they were de-briefed by him as one of his own personnel was also involved, as I said, as I indicated.   Branch Commander, Security Branch, Ladybrand, Captain Louw.

<UNKNOWN>: Do you know whether Captain Louw received any instructions for this operation from higher up or from somebody more senior?