Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1999-10-08

CHAIRPERSON: Morning everybody.  Yesterday when we adjourned, Mr Dehal indicated that Mr Pearce would be testifying today.

MR DEHAL: Thank you, Mr Chairperson.  Mr Chairperson, this morning we had time, and I'm indebted to you for that time, endeavours were made by Mr McBride to meet, I think with Ms Welgemoed.  Mr Richard has been talking with them with a view to facilitating that.  I don't think that has happened as yet.  Perhaps we can take it up later.  We thought it prudent to begin first.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, thank you.

MR DEHAL: Ms Kooverjee is going to lead Mr Pearce and after him out other client, Mr Andrews, and then I would address you, Mr Chairperson, on the future witnesses.  Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Kooverjee?

MS KOOVERJEE: Thank you, Mr Chairperson.  I have prepared statements of Mr Allan Pearce.  May I have leave to hand them
in?

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, thank you, that will be Exhibit Q.

MR DEHAL: Correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, thank you.

MS KOOVERJEE: Thank you, Mr Chairperson.
	Mr Pearce, is it correct that you have brought about an application for amnesty?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: Yes, it is.

MS KOOVERJEE: I refer you to bundle A1, on page 187 to 189.  Is that your application for amnesty?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: Yes, it is.

MS KOOVERJEE: Okay.  Will you please explain to this Committee, was this application completed by yourself?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: Yes, it was.

MS KOOVERJEE: Were you assisted in any way?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: No.

MS KOOVERJEE: Okay.  I refer you now to your statement.  Will you please read from Annexure Q on your general background.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Pearce, if you can just bear in mind that the interpreters will be translating simultaneously when you're reading, so if you can just read slow enough for them to keep up with you.  Do they have a copy of the statement?  Thank you.

MS KOOVERJEE: Sorry, Mr Chairperson.
MR PEARCE
"I am presently employed as a security officer for the African National Congress and still a member of the ANC.
		I have been convicted of all the acts/operations that I seek amnesty on and have served an effective sentence of three years, six months.
		During the course of operations I acted as a combatant with comrade Robert McBride.  Robert and I grew up together in the Wentworth area and we got to know each other well.  As we grew up we became increasingly politicised.  Our people in Wentworth and generally in South Africa were suffering.  There was either no education or very poor education, jobs were scarce.  Many of the comrades in my area who suffered as I did, shared the same political perception and we generally met in Ogal Road on numerous occasions and held discussions about our plight."

MS KOOVERJEE: Sorry, Mr Pearce, is Ogal Road in Wentworth?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: Yes, it is in Wentworth.

MS KOOVERJEE: Please go on.
MR PEARCE
"Some of those who attended these meetings were Matthew Lecordier and Antonio du Preez, Naziem Kassiem and Marson Sharpley.  Robert also attended these discussions and supplied us with political material, which I read."

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, Mr Pearce, just before you proceed.  During what period would this be, more-or-less?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: 1985.
"In 1986, Robert invited me to join his unit and informed me that in the near future he will arrange for me to be trained outside the county as an MK cadre.
		In our various discussions we discussed the various ways and means that we could use to get back at the then government for the way they were oppressing us and our people.  One such idea was to burn down schools in Wentworth, so that bigger and better schools could be built.  I was frustrated at the inequalities in this country and the impoverished state we were in."

JUDGE PILLAY: Mr Pearce, were you trained as a cadre eventually?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: No, Sir.

MS KOOVERJEE: Mr Pearce, you now go onto the arson attack at Fairvale Secondary School, which is referred to in bundle A1, page 6, item 4, being an incident which occurred on the 3rd of September 1985.  Is that correct?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: That's correct.

MS KOOVERJEE: Okay, will you please read on.
MR PEARCE
"The attack on Fairvale Secondary School was an idea that Robert up, with which we agreed.  Matthew Lecordier and I were doing night school at the time at the same Fairvale School.  The school was falling apart.  This was a prefab building.
		Robert and another comrade, whose name I cannot recall, earlier left petrol on the school premises.  That evening Robert, Matthew Lecordier, Naziem and Marson Sharpley and I got together and went to the school to carry out the operation. 
		Whilst Matthew, Marson Sharpley and I kept guard, Robert and Naziem broke the window of the school with a view to entering the classroom.  I'm not too sure who entered.  After the petrol was spilled we left Naziem who was to have lit the match and to have thrown it into the classroom to set it alight.  He was chosen as he was the fastest and the fittest and could run away easily.
		The next day I learnt that the school had suffered damages arising from the arson, but they were superficial burns only."

MS KOOVERJEE: Mr Pearce, you now go on to the attack on the industrial water supply pipe in New Germany.  That is referred to in bundle A1 on page 10, item 21.  Do you confirm that?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: Yes, I do.

MS KOOVERJEE: Okay, please go on.
MR PEARCE
"Robert and Matthew Lecordier advised me that they would pick me up at 1 o'clock in the morning as there was something we needed to do.  They picked me up and drove me to New Germany.  We operated on a strictly need-to-know basis.  This was discipline explained to me by Robert and we had to strictly adhere to this.
		The reconnaissance of the area was first carried out and the route was checked out and it was established that there were no roadblocks.  We then returned to Wentworth, where Robert picked up two limpet mines.
		The arranged plan was that Robert would stop on the freeway, whilst Matthew and I would get out and climb up the bank.  Matthew and I carried a limpet mine each, given to us by Robert.  It was arranged that Robert would go to the next turnoff and return to the other side of the freeway.
		Matthew and I got out and went to the pipes.  We had some difficulties with the pipes and Matthew suggested that we place the limpet mines on the valves itself.  We did so.  We pulled the pins and left and returned down the bank, where Robert met us and we left.
		The next day I learnt that the limpet mines had exploded.  There were no persons injured or killed in this operation."

MS KOOVERJEE: Mr Pearce, is it correct that you were charged with illegal possession of arms and ammunition?

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: That's correct.

MS KOOVERJEE: And you were sentenced for this.

EDWARD ALLAN PEARCE: Yes, I was.

MS KOOVERJEE: Okay, will you please explain this.
MR PEARCE
"If I can correctly recall it was shortly after June 1986, that Matthew gave me two limpet mines and one handgrenade and requested that I should keep it safely.  He said he would later discuss with me as to what I was to do with it.  I was subsequently arrested during 1986.  The handgrenade and limpet mines were buried behind a shopping centre.  These were all later discovered by the Security Police and taken away by them."

MS KOOVERJEE: Thank you.  Mr Pearce, there was some suggestion made about, at the time when the book "Until Babylon Falls" was discussed, that you were a member of the Vultures Gang.  Can you please explain that?

CHAIRPERSON: A member of?  I didn't catch the ...

MS KOOVERJEE: The Vultures Gang.

CHAIRPERSON: The Vultures Gang.

MS KOOVERJEE: That is correct, Mr Chairperson.