Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
16 July 1997
STATEMENT BY HEAD OF THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, ACTING DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON DUMISA NTSEBEZA
The Investigative Unit (IU) of the TRC last night subpoenaed three former Civil Cooperation Bureau (CCB) members to appear at in camera inquiries in August. They are the first CCB members served with notices for such inquiries by the Commission.
They are requested in terms of the act to give evidence and/or answer questions in relation to various unsolved matters currently under investigation by both the Western Cape IU and the IU's National Task Team.
The three are: Former CCB Managing Director, Mr Joe Verster; and two members of the CCB's region six - Mr Abram "Slang" van Zyl and treasurer Mr Wouter Jacobus Basson, alias Christo Brits. (Basson is not to be confused with Mr Wouter Basson of the former SADF's Seventh Medical Battalion, who will also testify before the TRC in due course on other matters.)
Among the alleged violations the three CCB members will be questioned about are: the bombing of the Early Learning Centre in Athlone in August 1989, the death and role in the CCB of Mr Edward "Peaches" Gordon, and the parcel bomb that maimed Father Michael Lapsley of the Anglican Church in Harare in 1990. All three former CCB members testified before the Harms Commission of Inquiry during 1990.
The will appear before the Commission's IU in Cape Town between 18 and 20 August this year. They are entitled to appoint legal representatives. If they are not financially capable of doing so, the TRC may appoint legal representatives to assist them.
For more information media can call Christelle Terreblanche at 0824588461 or 021-245161.