Amnesty Hearings — East London — 1999-04-06

MR KNOETZE: Mr Chairman, we have also provided the Evidence Leader with a document which is the Brigadier's "bevelskrif", as it is known in Afrikaans.  We would have liked to refer to it now.  It is not a long document, but perhaps if you would allow the Brigadier to read that document into the record already, otherwise we will be missing ...

CHAIRPERSON: Is this part of this big bundle of documents that we got this morning?

MR KNOETZE: It is indeed, Mr Chairman, page 880.  General, would you please read the document into the record?

CHRISTOFFEL PIERRE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: This is the command document giving me the command of the Eastern Province Command, given to me on the 31st of January 1983 by the Chief of the Defence Force.
"Your appointment is hereby confirmed as the Commander of the Eastern Province ..."
...(intervention)

INTERPRETER: The interpreter requests the speaker to please slow down or provide her with a copy of the document, or both.

CHAIRPERSON: General van der Westhuizen, the Interpreters requested either a copy of the document or that you just read it a bit slower so that she can keep abreast with you please.

CHRISTOFFEL PIERRE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: My apologies, Chairperson, I forgot about the interpreter.
"Appointment:  You are hereby appointed as the Commanding Officer for the Command Eastern Province.
	Situation:  The policy of the RSA as far as the safety of the Republic is concerned, requires that Defence Force formations and units are deployed inside or outside the territory.  The SA Defence Force operational strategy requires offensive actions in neighbouring countries.  
		My command or instruction in respect of the security of the EP Command:  you have to ensure the  safety with conventional onslaughts as well as by using counter-military insurgence and by dealing with these, whether they come from inside or outside the country.
		Execution of Duty:  paragraph 5(a) - General:  The application of the SA Defence Force is subject to the Defence Force Acts, provisions, the regulations, the orders, the policy documents, the doctrines and various circulars, as laid down from time to time or proclaimed from time to time.
		Paragraph (b) - Actions outside the borders of the RSA takes place in terms of policy as far as external operations are concerned, as laid down from time to time and as supplemented or amended from time to time.
	6.  	Command and Charge:  You have been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the Eastern Province and you are under my command.  Forces needed for conventional operations will be allocated to you for that purpose by me.  
	Responsibility Area:  Your area of responsibility is covered by the current borders of the Eastern Province Command.  
	Sphere of Influence:  Includes the adjacent command areas, the neighbouring areas of Lesotho and Transkei.  Those are your areas of responsibility, or border your areas of responsibility.  Ciskei falls within your area of responsibility and the territorial waters bordering your command area. 
	Your Command Competence:  SADF units are allocated to you in terms of the affiliation specifically indicated next to each unit, and temporary units or allocations in respect of the Eastern Province Command will also be dealt with by me in separate instructions or orders.
	Joint Operations:  Other Defence Force units will, either on a permanent or temporary basis be allocated to you to support you.
	7.	Training:  I hold you responsible for maintenance of a high standard of training.  In  this regard you are responsible for:
(a) Training for the preparation of operational deployment in respect of units allocated to you for operations.
		(b)  The continued training of SADF formation units and staff allocated to you in order to maintain an effective military standard for combat.
	8.  	Communications Operations:  In respect of tactical 	communications operations and certain attitude areas 	of the local area, that is also within your area of 	command and this must be done in terms of the ..."
...(intervention)

MR KNOETZE: General, may I ask you to please turn to page ...(intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, Mr Knoetze before you proceed.  In my bundle I've only got the first page of that letter.  It goes from page 880 and then my next page is page 883.  I think it's the position with my two Panellists as well.  So if we could just get copies of pages 881 and 882 please.

MR KNOETZE: We will rectify the position, Mr Chairman, a soon as we can.

CHAIRPERSON: I think, Mr Mapoma, have you got the same difficulty?

MR MAPOMA: Yes, Chairperson, unfortunately I've got the same problem.

MR PENZHORN: Mr Chairman, I'm sorry to interrupt.  Could I just enquire what the position will be in regard to the copies that have been produced, because as far as myself and my colleagues here are concerned we haven't got any copies of these documents and I think they are relevant, especially to myself and colleague, Mr van der Hooven.  These particular documents as part of the evidence.   It might just cause a problem if we have to get it at a later stage.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Wagener, will copies be made available to Mr Penzhorn and those others requiring them? - at least of the documents referred to.

MR WAGENER: Mr Chairman, these two bundles consist of about 1 000 pages.

CHAIRPERSON: I know, I'm well aware of that and that's why I'm saying if it could be of specific - are you going to be referring to all 917 pages or only certain of them?

MR KNOETZE: No, we will not be, Mr Chairman, but we will be referring to all the documents.  We included the complete documents in order to give you a complete picture, but we will be referring to quite a number of pages from those documents.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, I think if arrangements could be made, Mr Mapoma, for copies to be made available to legal representatives.  We don't want anybody to be prejudiced by not having some documents.

MR MAPOMA: Chairperson, perhaps I may have to explain.  We have made copies of these documents which have just been referred to here now.  In fact three copies are for the Committee and there's a copy for me, there are I think two copies which are available to whoever may want to have access to those documents.  In fact those, volume 1 and 2 are the documents which have been referred to there.  If my learned friend can just have a look on those documents and peruse, those are the documents that are referred to.

CHAIRPERSON: I think perhaps what we could do is, we can have those two volumes to be shared and then if copies could be made of specific documents that have been referred to such as this letter now, for the individual representatives particularly if they request them.  So that will avoid making a number of other copies of the complete bundle.  Mr Penzhorn, perhaps we can work on that basis.  There is that document there that is available, and then if you require any specific document, if you could just request a copy and that will be made.  Thank you.   Mr Knoetze?