Human Rights Violation Hearings — Pietermaritzburg — 1996-11-20

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Sorry, just repeat that.

WITNESS:   I am the unit commander of the Investigation Task Unit.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Now, at the time that is under examination here, March/April 1990, where were you stationed and what rank were you holding?

WITNESS:   During that period I was a lieutenant in the South African Police and I was second in charge at the Riot Investigation Unit at Edendale.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Now, you've given us a short statement.  Can you please just tell us of your experiences during this period, using your statement as a basis from which to proceed.

WITNESS:   Yes, I'll do that, Mr Chairman.  Thank you.  During the period of violence in the Edendale area, which was then commonly known as Death Valley, I served as a lieutenant in the South African Police, and second in charge to the commander of the Riot Investigation Unit at that time.  During that period 87-91 I regard as the worst outbreaks of violence in the Pietermaritzburg/Midlands area.  The incident referred to as the Seven Day War during March/April 1990 was in fact in my experience the most serious series of violence during that period.  Prior to the Seven Day War I was on investigation in the Natal Midlands.  I looked at my diary, and the date was the 23rd of March 1990.  Whilst in the New Hanover area I saw approximately six bus loads of people coming from the direction of Greytown.  The buses were fully laden with people, and they were armed with weapons.  At that stage I used to conduct inspections and investigations throughout the Natal Midlands as far afield as Greytown and Wartburg.  Being curious I stopped the lead bus and inquired as to what was going on.  I learned that they were IFP supporters that were en route to a meeting in Edendale.  I then contacted the Riot Unit and informed them of the situation.  I was asked at that stage to allow them through.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Do you recall who you spoke to at the Riot Unit?

WITNESS:   Mr Chairman, unfortunately, you know, I would be taking a guess if I say that I remember.  I cannot really remember who I spoke to.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  And when you made the report to the Riot Unit did you advise them that this was six bus loads of heavily-armed people?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  And you said that you were asked, or - were you instructed or were you asked by your unit to let the vehicles through.

WITNESS:   No, I was informed to allow them through.  You see, at that stage whenever the police had seen anything with regard to crowds or people in groups or large gatherings we reported it to the Riot Unit.  And because of this peculiar incident of six buses coming towards 'Maritzburg it had raised my suspicion and therefore I had contacted them.  During the investigation at the Riot Investigation Unit we experienced a number of problems with regard to investigation.  There was no co-operation from people, from both the UDF and the IFP sides.  During the Seven Day War I myself attended a number of scenes of murders.  The areas in which the murders had occurred were deserted at that stage, and we had received no information from the people when called upon to do so.  During that period, 1990, shortly after the Seven Day War, I investigated a number of killings, numbering about between 20 and 24 murders and attempted murders, where a serial killer was convicted and sentenced to seven life terms of imprisonment.  During the same period, the same year in October, I also investigated the killing of Ololo Lombo, who I knew at that stage was seen in the vicinity of the Seven Day War killings, and arrested the - the suspects or the killers of Mr Lombo were arrested on the same day and appeared in court.  They subsequently escaped and went abroad.  Mr Chairman, ironically I have re-arrested them two weeks ago and they are now awaiting trial.  Soon after these incidents of investigation I was called up to at that stage regional headquarters in Durban, and paraded before the then General Steyn, who was the head of the Security Branch in KwaZulu Natal.  When I introduced myself to him he called me a communist dog, and he informed me that I was being followed, and that the Security Branch had been keeping surveillance on me for about a year.  He told me that I should refrain from arresting members of the IFP.  If I did not refrain I would commit suicide.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Just to interrupt there, Superintendent.  Are you saying that he called you a communist dog because you had been involved in the investigation and arrest of IFP people?

WITNESS:   That is correct, Mr Chairman. Is that what he told you, or is that what he implied?   ---   Yes, Mr Chairman.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  And he told you that you should stop arresting IFP people.

WITNESS:   That is correct, Mr Chairman.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  And that if you didn't that you would commit suicide.

WITNESS:   That is correct, Mr Chairman.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  What did you understand by that?

WITNESS:   Well, at that stage I was not a little child in the police, and I know from experience that people mysteriously committed suicide in custody, and I was under the impression that somebody would come along and murder me.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  And then they would disguise it as a suicide.

WITNESS:  And then it would be made to look as a suicide.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  What was your response to General Steyn.

WITNESS:   I informed that as far as I am concerned I would not stop doing my work, and informed him that I'll work in accordance with the law.  Mr Chairman, not so long thereafter my home was petrol-bombed, and fortunately of us - or my family was injured.  I did a check on the vehicle that the occupants were in, and it proved to be an IFP leader from KwaNdengezi, who had since sold his vehicle, and eventually along the line we could not trace who had the vehicle at that stage.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Now, is there anything else that you want to add about the activities of the police during, before, or after that period?  I understand that you were not directly involved in the Seven Day War other than the incident which you advised us about earlier on in your testimony.

WITNESS:   During that period, Mr Chairman, I was busy with the investigation of that case which I referred to, which was in court and the accused had got seven life terms of imprisonment.  I had in fact visited certain scenes of crime on the Seven Day War, and did initial investigations there, but as I explained the difficulties that the police experienced during that time.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Just a few questions.  By the way, Brigadier Bertus Steyn, is he retired or is he still an active member of the force?

WITNESS:   Sorry, Mr Chairman?

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Brigadier Bertus - you have mentioned here in your statement - Steyn, is he still an active member of the force?  The one you reported the incident.

WITNESS:   No, I am given to understand that he had since retired.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  He is a retired person?

WITNESS:   That's correct, Mr Chairman.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Let me just ask you a very pragmatic question.  You say that you were one and there were six buses.  You were just alone, but you managed to stop one bus, the leading bus.  What was the reaction of these people because you were just by yourself?

WITNESS:   Your Worship, I put on my blue light - sorry, Mr Chairman, I put on my blue light on the top of the vehicle and made it known that I was a policeman, and when I stopped in front of the lead bus the buses stopped, and there was no reaction from them in respect of confrontation or anything of that sort.  They stopped and I questioned them.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  So in your own opinion you think that the police - they could stop the people if they were moving to a direction if they wanted to?