Amnesty Hearings — Cape Town — 2000-06-21

MR LAX: Sorry, can I just intervene for a second.   Isn't it so that you saw this as an opportunistic target, you didn't even know that there was a plan, you didn't even know there was a project?

EDWARD WEBB: That is correct.

MR LAX: Nobody told you that?

EDWARD WEBB: That is right, as I said that is the knowledge that I have now.

MR LAX: Yes, but at the time you had no idea that these chaps had done a "pre-study", that there had been "in-houses", nobody related that to you?

EDWARD WEBB: That is correct.

MR MARTINI: Correct, you had no knowledge of that?  Now, Mr van Zyl's evidence was that one of the objectives in using a limpet mine, was that where it blew up, it would create the impression that this was a bomb used by the Youth  Movement, it was one of their own bombs that exploded, the police would come on the scene and start suspecting "why was this bomb here in the first place, why had this bomb gone off".  Were you aware of that?

EDWARD WEBB: No, I wasn't.

MR MARTINI: Now, Mr van Zyl prepared the plan, are you able to dispute that evidence?

EDWARD WEBB: No, I cannot dispute it.

MR MARTINI: So then yesterday when you answered that it was not to create, make it appear that the bomb was left by the organisation, wasn't totally correct?

EDWARD WEBB: My order was to the effect that the bomb had to explode as soon as possible, so that these people could be intimidated and frightened off.
	What was decided on the ground finally, that I am not aware of.

MR MARTINI: But yesterday Mr Bizos put to you, he said
"... so this bomb, it wasn't intended to make it appear that it was left by the Kewtown Youth Movement",
	and you conceded that, that concession is not totally correct?

EDWARD WEBB: If the Kewtown Youth Movement had their own bomb exploding while they were in the hall, this really is stupid.

MR MARTINI: What is stupid?

EDWARD WEBB: That their bomb is exploding while they are in the hall or just leaving the hall, to me that is not, it doesn't make common sense.

MR MARTINI: Mr van Zyl says that that was what the intention was, to create that impression, that one of their own bombs in the building went off, the police would come on the scene and start asking questions "well, why is the bomb here in the first place, what is going on"?

EDWARD WEBB: That is possible that that is Mr van Zyl's perception, but it wasn't my impression.

MR MARTINI: Mr van Zyl says that that was one of the objectives, can you dispute that?  Can you dispute his evidence?

EDWARD WEBB: I don't know what was told to Mr van Zyl on the ground, so I cannot dispute that.

MR MARTINI: You cannot dispute it, is that correct?

EDWARD WEBB: That is right.

MR MARTINI: Thank you.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MARTINI

CHAIRPERSON: Mr van Eck?

MR VAN ECK: I've got no questions, thank you sir.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR VAN ECK

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Coetzee?

MR COETZEE: I've got no questions, thank you sir.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR COETZEE

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Bizos, any questions arising?

GEORGE BIZOS: No questions.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR BIZOS

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Williams?  Mr Hockey?  Ms Coleridge?
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR WILLIAMS
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR HOCKEY
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS COLERIDGE

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, Mr Sibanyoni wants to ask another questions.

MR SIBANYONI: Gen Webb, if you were told this project, the object is to make the bomb to appear as if it was left by the Kewtown Youth Movement, would you have approved it?

EDWARD WEBB: Depending on how this plan would have been put in front of me.  If we had to discredit them in that way, it is quite possible, yes.

MR SIBANYONI: But as you are sitting now, you think that would have been stupid?

EDWARD WEBB: Well, that was not my, it wasn't my order.  What happened lower down the ranks, I don't know.

MR SIBANYONI: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you General, that concludes your testimony, you may stand down now.

EDWARD WEBB: Thank you Mr Chairman.

MR H DU PLESSIS: It is a pleasure leaving the hot seat.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr du Plessis.
WITNESS EXCUSED

MS COLERIDGE: Chairperson, the next amnesty applicant is Mr Daniel Burger.