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

DR MIJBURGH: No thank you, sir.

MR VALLY: Chair, I ...(intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: Was that reply was that you don't have any statement you would like to read into the record?

MR VAN ZYL: Chairperson, let me put this on record, there is no pre-prepared statement which my client wants to read out, he's simply here to answer questions, there's no prepared statement.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Mr van Zyl.

MR VALLY: Mr Chair, maybe we should swear Dr Mijburgh in.

CHAIRPERSON: He has been sworn in.

MR VAN ZYL: Yes, as I understand it also he is still under oath.

CHAIRPERSON: I reminded him that he is still under oath.

DR MIJBURGH: (s.u.o.)

MR VALLY: Thank you, Mr Chair.  Dr Mijburgh, what are your formal qualifications?

DR MIJBURGH: I have a degree in medicine from the University of Pretoria and a B.Com from Unisa.

MR VALLY: So in effect, you are a medical doctor with an accounting degree as well?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: Do you have any special qualifications in the area of chemistry?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

MR VALLY: In the area of biology?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

MR VALLY: Can you briefly tell us when you were a member of the Special Operations team in Special Forces in the South African Defence Force?

DR MIJBURGH: Could you please repeat the question?

MR VALLY: Okay, were a member of the Special Operations team in Special Forces?

DR MIJBURGH: Mr Vally, I'm not aware of a Special Operations team, there was a medical section at Special Forces or a medical division of which I was a part and a member.  The Special Operations terminology is not known to me.

MR VALLY: Fair enough, when was this?

DR MIJBURGH: 1982 to '84.

MR VALLY: Now this special medical detachment of Special Forces, this was later constituted into the 7th Medical Battalion, is that correct?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: At the time when you were in Special Forces as the medical doctor, did you participate in Special Forces operations?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

MR VALLY: What was your role?

DR MIJBURGH: I was a medical officer, I gave medical support services, often at these Special Forces bases, such as Phalaborwa in the hospital section, and also head office, Special Head Office quarters in Pretoria.

MR VALLY: So you did not participate in any operations whatsoever of the Special Forces?

DR MIJBURGH: No, I was not a qualified Special Forces operative.

CHAIRPERSON: Is that your way of saying you did not?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes, that's right.

MR VALLY: Was your Officer Commanding in this medical unit at Special Forces Dr Wouter Basson?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes it was Dr Wouter Basson and I think Dr Wynand Swanepoel at some stage when Dr Wouter Basson went on a course.

MR VALLY: And Dr Wynand Swanepoel is the dentist who later became Managing Director of Roodeplaat Research Laboratories?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: And when the Seventh Battalion was formed, Dr Wouter Basson was the Officer Commanding of the Seventh Battalion?

DR MIJBURGH: I think so.  When the Seventh Medical Battalion was established I was only a civil force member.  I think he was in that position, yes.

MR VALLY: Regarding other doctors in Special Operations, was there a Dr Chris Blunden there?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: Was there a Dr Gerrie Odendal?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: Dr Deon Erasmus?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: Dr Hennie Bester?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: Dr Ben Steyn?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: And you've mentioned Dr Wynand Swanepoel.  Are you aware of Block C, which is located I believe at Military Headquarters or close to Military Headquarters?

DR MIJBURGH: It was a laboratory at Special Forces Head Office at Voortrekkerhoogte.

MR VALLY: Were you involved in any work at Block C?

DR MIJBURGH: Not personally, but Delta-G produced some substance whilst the plant was being built at Midrand.

MR VALLY: Are you aware that Block C was in operation before the establishment of Delta-G?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

MR VALLY: But you were working for Special Forces at the time?

DR MIJBURGH: That's right.

MR VALLY: So you're not aware of what happened at Block C?

DR MIJBURGH: No, apart from what Delta-G did there.

MR VALLY: And what did you hear about what happened at Block C from other doctors, it was part of the Special Operations unit?

DR MIJBURGH: Not was far as I know.

MR VALLY: Well, we'll come back to that at a later stage.  When did you leave Special Forces?

DR MIJBURGH: I was never a member of Special Forces, I was a member of the South African Medical Services and I resigned in 1985.

MR VALLY: And when you resigned in 1985 where did you go?

DR MIJBURGH: I was then appointed as Managing Director at Delta-G Scientific.

MR VALLY: And are you aware that Delta-G Scientific was a military front company at the time?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: Now these doctors, these other doctors I've mentioned, we know Dr Wynand Swanepoel was also in a military front company which was RRL, do you confirm that?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: And Dr Ben Steyn?

DR MIJBURGH: I'm not aware that Dr Steyn was ever involved in any front company.

MR VALLY: Are you aware at some stage - well, let me ask you about Project Coast, are you aware of Project Coast?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: Who was the project manager?

DR MIJBURGH: Dr Wouter Basson was the project officer.

MR VALLY: And the project manager?

DR MIJBURGH: I assume he was the project manager and the whole project fell under the Surgeon-General.

MR VALLY: I think it's the other way around - the project manager was the Surgeon-General, I think the project officer was Dr Basson, would you accept that.

DR MIJBURGH: Yes, that's fine by me.

MR VALLY: And are you aware that Dr Ben Steyn took over as project officer of Project Coast from Dr Basson?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes.

MR VALLY: So if he took over as project officer then he was involved in some of the military front companies?

DR MIJBURGH: Not as a member of a front company as far as I know.

MR VALLY: Fine.  Dr Hennie Bester, can you tell us if he was involved in any of the military front companies?

DR MIJBURGH: I'm not aware that he was involved in any front companies.

MR VALLY: Dr Deon Erasmus?

DR MIJBURGH: Dr Erasmus was employed at Infladel, which is one of the front companies.  What exactly his involved was I don't know.

MR VALLY: Dr Gerrie Odendal?

DR MIJBURGH: I don't know what his involvement was in front companies, or that he was so involved?

MR VALLY: Dr Chris Blunden?

DR MIJBURGH: I'm not aware that he was involved in any front companies.

MR VALLY: You say you left in 1985 and you were appointed the Managing Director of Delta-G Scientific - Delta-G, what company were you first involved with, I just need clarity on that because we have a myriad of companies and I'm trying to place you?  Which company did you first get involved in after you left SAMS, South African Medical Services?

DR MIJBURGH: Delta-G Scientific.

MR VALLY: Were you not first involved in Medchem Consolidated Investments?

DR MIJBURGH: No.

MR VALLY: Did you not become a director of Medchem Consolidated Investments on the 26th of January 1989?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes, that's very possible.  Medchem was established much later than Delta-G Scientific, well the company was bought much later.

MR VALLY: And wasn't Dr Willie Basson the first Managing Director of Delta-G Scientific?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes, that's correct.

MR VALLY: So when you worked for Delta-G Scientific, you're saying you were not the Managing Director?

DR MIJBURGH: I was the Managing Director.

MR VALLY: At which stage?

DR MIJBURGH: From '85, May '85.

MR VALLY: Because according to my information you took over as Managing Director from Dr Willie Basson, are you aware of that?

DR MIJBURGH: Yes, I was appointed after Dr Basson had resigned.