Amnesty Hearings — Pietersburg — 1997-06-30

MAROPENG MATTHEWS SEHLWANA: On that particular year I was stationed in Pietersburg at the "Veiligheidtak".  I was a sergeant under Koos van den Berg as a Warrant officer.  I worked with Koos van den Berg as a field worker.  We were to start from Makwelering to the border up to and along the border up to Platjen(?).  And also stretching up to Pontdrift.  We used to leave on Monday and come back on Friday and we were working in contact, collecting information at different places.
	It was during 1986, I was working with my contacts from Botswana and Kenya.  One of my contacts by the name Ata Mabena he was a person I used to visit in Botswana.  One day I met him at the place where we used to meet at the border, he gave me information that he met one ANC member who told him that they are looking for someone who can have transport to transport people from other countries, from Botswana, those were MK soldiers, to infiltrate the country, South Africa.
	I accepted the information and I said to him I will try to get you into contact with the men who can help with the transportation of these people.  I went back on Friday.  I wrote a statement and I also explained to Koos van den Berg as to the developments.  I told him about this story and about this contact of Ata Mabena.  Koos van den Berg wrote whatever he wrote and I told him during the following week I am supposed to meet Ata Mabena and this ANC member who wants this transport.  
	On that particular week I went to the place and I used to stand on the other side of the border, however I had to cross the river and enter the Botswana region.  There I met Mabena at the usual meeting place.  When I arrived there was a car standing by.  It was a 4 X 4 Toyota, I don't remember the registration numbers, it was a new car.  
	I found Mabena at the place and this young man of the ANC.	When I arrived he told me this is the person I have been telling you about. I greeted the person and he told me his name is Teboga Boyikanyo(?).  I told him that I am a Rupele from Turfloop. He asked me how is the situation in South Africa?  I told him the situation is bad, we get beaten, things are not becoming better and the Whites are beating us.  And he said to me, "look here man I would like to work with you.  I have some people whom I want to send to South Africa.  These people see as to how they infiltrate the country but I will like you to take them to Pietersburg".  I said to him I will try to talk to my dad or my father because my father is a taxi owner.  I will talk to him to see if he might assist.  
	We came into agreement and I left the place.  I went back home and I told him that I would tell him on the following week when I come back as to what was the agreement.  
	On that particular week I went back and met him and I told him my father wants R1 500 for the transport.  He gave me some money which was in R50,00 notes.  He gave me the size of these six people, telling me what they want, one wanted a shirt and the other wanted a jersey and so many different clothes, and he gave me about R700,00 to buy those clothes.  He said I must go and buy clothes with the money for these people.  
	I went back to the office and gave a full report as to what was happening.  I told him I met this Teboga Boyikanyo, he was from Lusaka.  I went to the shops looking for those clothes, I was comparing prices and I managed to buy some clothes for them.  
	On the following week I went back to meet this Teboga, he was together with Mr Mabena.  I gave him the clothes.  That was the date I explained to him, I would say if I am correct, that's the particular date on which I have to come and collect the other people, and he said you will meet them here in this spot where we used to meet and that's where you are going to find them because they will be sleeping in that particular place.
	When I asked about the money he said I will give the money to one of the commanders, and the commander will give the money to you.  
	On that particular day we sat, if I remember well, I hope I will remember everything and all the things I will say are things that happened, he gave me the date to come and collect these people.  
	I came back, it was on Friday, I went back to the office to explain or give a full report.  I was working with Mr van den Berg and I explained to him and he went further to explain to his seniors about the situation and the issue of trying to find the transport for the six people.  He came back to me and said they will find a combi which can transport these people and Teboga told me that there were six people.  He told me that I must come and ferry six people and they need the combi because they have some luggage to carry.	I told Koos that we need a combi to go and collect these people.

MR ROSSOUW: Sorry Mr Sehlwana when you refer to Koos who do you refer to?

MAROPENG MATTHEWS SEHLWANA: I am referring to Koos van den Berg.  He was in charge of the operation, I was working under him.  He is the person I have to give the report, he has personally to give to the seniors.
	They told me that I have to go and collect the people as planned between me and the people.  And we agreed that I have to drop in Pietersburg at the bridge at Ennerdale.  I was supposed to drop them there.  That's what I knew from the beginning.
	We tried to finalise the transport issue.  We used one combi which we use at the Safety department.  It was used by the Vakbond group under the instruction of John Loubser.
	They came on that particular date, they said to me the day has come you have to go and collect the people and they said they will accompany me and they went.  I was in the company of - I don't remember well who was with me, but I had some people with me when we left Pietersburg.  
	We arrived in one farm.  I was together with Captain Erwee and another White man whom I didn't know.  We went to the farm by the name of Eenvogelpan.  It was on the way towards where I was going to collect these people.  When we arrived there there was this place which had a drift, it was made of cement and it looks like it's a small river.  
	When we arrived there we where three.  It was myself, Captain Erwee and this unknown, the person, this White man who I didn't know.  When we arrived there they said to me, the person whom I didn't know, he said I want to show you what you have to do when you arrive at this scene when you are coming back with these people.  I said am I not taking them to Pietersburg because that's what I was told?  So I couldn't say anything because they my seniors so I have to follow what they were saying. 
	The other one got into the combi to drive it.  When we arrived at the drift he stopped the car, applied the brakes so quickly and he started running out of - he jumped and ran out of the car and he said that's what I should do when we come back.	Captain Erwee also told me you have to listen to this man because this is how you are going to do it when you come back.

MR ROSSOUW: Mr Sehlwana, sorry to interrupt you, this other person that you are referring to, was he a police person or can you identify him more than what you have done just now?

MAROPENG MATTHEWS SEHLWANA: I found out the following day, after the whole operation was over, that he was a colonel in the army.  I don't know whether you understand me.
	I didn't know who he was and where he was from.  As they were showing me what to do we went back to the farm where we slept ...(intervention)

MR ROSSOUW: Mr Sehlwana sorry, you said that only three people, two others and yourself were present at the place where this incident took place a day prior to the operation, when you went back to the farm were there other people present there?

MAROPENG MATTHEWS SEHLWANA: No.  Some people were left at the farm where we were sleeping and I had to continue with these two people to Eenvogelpan.