Special Hearings — Health Sector Hearings — 1997-06-17

GEN M KNOBEL: Yes.  All the instructions that were given by myself, and certainly as far as I am aware by my predecessors, were totally in line with what the Geneva Convention provided.  Any member of the Medical Service who acted outside those instructions have done so either on their own initiative or under the influence of the military components which they were supporting.

ADV POTGIETER: But did you in fact, did SAMS visit prisoners of war, specifically?

GEN M KNOBEL: Yes, we also treated prisoners of war.

ADV POTGIETER: And were you aware of instances where prisoners of war were turned to join the SADF or allied forces?

GEN M KNOBEL: Exactly what do you mean by "turned", what do you mean by "turned"?

ADV POTGIETER: Well we've listened to Sean this morning.

GEN M KNOBEL: I know I have also listened to Sean, I would like to know exactly what is meant by "turned".  Are you talking about hearts and minds?

ADV POTGIETER: Exactly captured - no, no, no, no, apart from that, captured enemy that were turned into supporting the Defence Force, SA Defence Force, did you take note of that kind of instance?

GEN M KNOBEL: Yes I did.

ADV POTGIETER: And how that happened.  How these people were persuaded.

GEN M KNOBEL: How they were persuaded?

ADV POTGIETER: To join you as their enemy.

GEN M KNOBEL: Advocate Potgieter I assure you, as far as the Medical Service is concerned they had only one concern and that was to provide medical support to every person who came under its care.  It was not involved in any activities that was part of the rest of the Defence Force that may have been the type of things that you and Sean have described.  Never at any time was any member of the Medical Service involved in such activities.
 If you, however, have evidence to that effect, now I'm talking about evidence, I would very much like to have that and I will have it investigated and I will refer it to the necessary statutory councils to deal with it in the way that they should deal with such activities of professionals.

ADV POTGIETER: So we should understand that you haven't taken note of any of these kind of instances and any irregularity that went with that?  You are not aware of any irregularities?

GEN M KNOBEL: I am not aware of any Medical Service member transgressing, in any way, what you describe as the Geneva Conventions or the stipulations and the ethical norms and standards of the particular councils to which these members are members or registered with.

ADV POTGIETER: Can I refer to the next question which has been formulated for you, and that is asking you to explain what the indirect effects of the war were with respect to issues such as nutrition etc.  Are you able to shed any light on that or do you need some time to consider that?

GEN M KNOBEL: I would certainly need some time to consider that.  Are you referring to Angola or to Namibia or?

ADV POTGIETER: To both of them.

GEN M KNOBEL: Yes I think we will be able to give you some answer to that.

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: I think for the record General let me put the questions, read the questions so that they go on the record.  This refers to Advocate Potgieter's question on the issue of Namibia and Angola.  First question ...(intervention)

WENDY ORR: If I may just interrupt.  What Dr Ramashala is going to do is read the questions out to go on the record and we will then ask you to take your time to respond to those in writing, make a supplementary submission.  We don't expect you to answer those questions now.