Special Hearings — Media Hearings — UNKNOWN

MR NTSEBEZA: In fact, I have a curious photograph here.  I don't know whether it is speaking to what you have just said.  I can identify you and I can identify one or two, one person who I think is a media person.  And a number of Brigadiers.  If you can take a look at that and see if it is possibly what you are talking about.

MOEGSIEN WILLIAMS: Yes, Mr Chairman, this photograph was taken at Fort Doppies, the 3rd to the 5th of July 1987.  And virtually the entire general staff of the Defence Force were there.  The Minister, General Malan, General Geldenhuys, General Kat Liebenberg, The Chief of Staff, Finance, I can see him there.	Chief of the Air Force is there, Chief of the Navy is there.  The Chief of Military Strategic Communication, COMOPS is there, Brigadier Van Wyk.  I am there.  And then there are various journalists there.	Mr Tertius Myburgh is there, Mr Willie Koen.  Mr Alf Ries, some highly placed journalists.  And this was a "bosberaad" basically up on the border, close to the Angolan border and the main focus was Soviet, how we South Africa and the newspapers and so on, were going to act or relate to what the Soviets were going to do.	Soviets and Cubans were going to decide about pulling troops out of Angola in relation to the peace process.

MR NTSEBEZA: That would be all Mr Williamson.  If I can have my photograph back.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Williamson, just one issue.  As a Commission, we normally have to notify people who might possibly have something negative said about them.	We always try to do that as far as possible, but often names are mentioned in testimony and we are not aware of that beforehand.  You have referred to Mr Beresford as one of the journalists that were monitored, or you were somehow keeping an eye on him.	Just to get it on record, and beyond any doubt, is it correct that there was no evidence that was found that would link him to a foreign agency or anything in that sort of respect?

MOEGSIEN WILLIAMS: No, there was no evidence found and it appeared that in fact, there was a whole investigation and it was a leak that had in fact occurred I think in Armscor and their lawyers, and the Guardian in London had come to know of a visit by the legal team from Britain to South Africa, so it had nothing to do, our monitoring of him, in that case, didn't bear out the allegation that was made.
C

HAIRPERSON: Thank you, I just wanted to have that confirmed on record.  Then I must thank you that you operated with us, even before today, in assisting with the documentation and the records that were at your disposal, which was actually made available to us.	We quite appreciate the help that you had given us in this regard.

MOEGSIEN WILLIAMS: Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  The next witness would be Mr Vic McPherson.  May I ask him to please come forward.  Mr McPherson, good afternoon.

VIC MCPHERSON: Good afternoon.

CHAIRPERSON: Welcome, we as you have obviously - we are running a bit behind schedule and we are trying to catch up, thank you for your patience.  Can I just administer the oath to you and I assume it is your legal representative with you.  Good afternoon and welcome.

MR CORNELIUS: Thank you.

VIC MCPHERSON: Mr Wim Cornelius.

CHAIRPERSON: Welcome, Mr Cornelius.

VIC MCPHERSON: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, you may be seated.  Mr Hugh Lewin will deal with your testimony.

MR LEWIN: Thank you Mr Chairman.  Mr McPherson, I believe you would prefer to speak in Afrikaans.

VIC MCPHERSON: Yes, if possible.

MR LEWIN: Yes, and that you do have a submission and that your lawyer would be leading you in the submission (indistinct).

VIC MCPHERSON: We have decided to speed up the proceedings, that I will be just continuing and if anything legally pops up, he will stand in for me.

MR LEWIN: Okay, thank you very much.    You can proceed Mr McPherson.

VIC MCPHERSON: During the years 1989 and 1990, I was Unit Head of covert strategic communication of the South African Police and this resorted under the Security Branch of the South African Police.

MR LEWIN: Just a second, so that people can just get interpreting equipment so that they can follow in English.  If we can just wait for people to collect their headphones.  Sorry.  Does everybody who requires headphones, have them now?	May we continue Mr McPherson, thank you.