Special Hearings — Chemical And Biological Warfare Hearings — 1998-07-07

DR MIJBURGH: If that had happened I would be responsible. I hope it didn't.

YASMINE SOOKA: But you are not sure?

DR MIJBURGH: No and that is why I said I have some questions.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Mijburgh you testified, you were asked questions about a number of doctors, scientists. And one of the people you were being asked about was Dr Deon Erasmus. Now I am not so sure what you said you know him but what is it that you know about Dr Deon Erasmus? How well did you know him?

DR MIJBURGH: Well we were on the defence force together and he was a commanding officer of 7 medical battalion. At some point I also knew him socially. We studied together, we played rugby together and he completed his studies a year after me. And we also ran marathons together.

CHAIRPERSON: What rank did he hold in the defence force?

DR MIJBURGH: His rank? Well I am not sure. I think he was a lieutenant-colonel when he left the defence force.

CHAIRPERSON: And when you went to Delta-G was it your evidence that he went into Infladel?

DR MIJBURGH: Please repeat?

CHAIRPERSON: When you were at Delta-G was it your evidence that Deon Erasmus was involved in a company called Infladel?

DR MIJBURGH: I think at that stage he had the responsibility for medical emergency services and the equipment and so forths were purchased by Infladel. I don't think he was a director but he had an office there as far as I know.

CHAIRPERSON: Did he do any work for Delta-G Scientific?

DR MIJBURGH: Not that I am aware of.

CHAIRPERSON: Where did he work? Did he work at the laboratory at Roodeplaat?

DR MIJBURGH: Not as far as I know. He was a defence doctor the whole time as far as I know. He was not a paid member of a front company as far as I am aware.

CHAIRPERSON: I see. Once you were at Delta-G were you aware of any liaison between scientists at that plant with members of the CCB?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

CHAIRPERSON: Did you ever yourself maintain any liaison with members of the CCB?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

CHAIRPERSON: Did you know of Dr Basson having a liaison with members of the CCB?

DR MIJBURGH: I don't know.

CHAIRPERSON: You are not saying that he was not. You are saying you were not aware if he was?

DR MIJBURGH: No I don't know.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Vally?

MR VALLY: One question. In all the time that you worked for Delta-G can you tell us what you think the achievements of Delta-G were to justify spending that money from the public account?

DR MIJBURGH: I think it developed a chemical capacity for the defence force and as far as my knowledge goes and what I read in the press about other countries' chemical warfare capacities and programmes it was developed at a fairly low cost.

MR VALLY: Specifically what achievements?

DR MIJBURGH: It established a capacity.

MR VALLY: Yes what capacity?

DR MIJBURGH: A capacity to develop chemical substances to be used (...intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: Specifically what?

DR MIJBURGH: And to prepare the defence force (...intervention)

MR VALLY: Specifically what chemical substances?

DR MIJBURGH: CR which was a new irritant.

MR VALLY: Teargas? Is that a sum total of its achievement?

DR MIJBURGH: No there were also analytical capacities established. I would like to say it could analyse virtually any substance in the world if necessary and that in itself was a major task.

MR VALLY: Thank you Mr Chair.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Mijburgh just to finish up on Mr Erasmus. You said he was your friend. At one stage you also played rugby together. Is that correct?

DR MIJBURGH: At university yes.

CHAIRPERSON: And that friendship how long did it, over what length of time did it span?

DR MIJBURGH: I think it was from the mid-seventies until Dr Erasmus went to Canada. I can't remember exactly it was sometime in the nineties.

CHAIRPERSON: And throughout that period you maintained a relationship, a friendship?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: Did you know his wife, Antoinette?

DR MIJBURGH: Do I know his wife?

CHAIRPERSON: Yes.

DR MIJBURGH: Yes his first and his second wives.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you maintain any links now that he is in Canada?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

CHAIRPERSON: I see. Well thank you very much Dr Mijburgh I must thank you for having come and for having made yourself available. As far as I am aware you are now released and you are excused.

WITNESS IS: .

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Vally are you calling further evidence?

MR VALLY: Yes Mr Chair. We want to continue with General Knobel but I would ask for a short break, for 10, 15 minutes just to organise ourselves if we are going to start with General Knobel today.

CHAIRPERSON: You will start with him today you can be sure of that. We will adjourn until five to three. We are adjourned.

COMMITTEE ADJOURNS: .