31 May 2000
The TRC amnesty hearings in Pretoria on Thursday on the killing of six ANC members in Lesotho on December 19 1985, will resume with the role played by the former Department of Foreign Affairs as well the National Intelligence Services in the months before the raid and after.
Former Director of Foreign Affairs Mr. Neel Van Heerden will clarify the role of foreign affairs ministry in terms its warnings to Lesotho about harbouring ANC fighters in its country. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Pik Botha testified in February about his ministerial interactions with his counter-part in Maseru in 1985.
Van Heerden's testimony and cross-examination will begin on Thursday and possibly end on Friday.
On Monday, the amnesty hearings will hear evidence from Dr Niel Barnard in his capacity as former Director General of the intelligence department as well as his intelligence service agents role in the attack. His testimony is expected to finish on Tuesday. The hearings will be held at the Idasa Centre at corner Prinsloo and Visagie Streets in Pretoria.
Proccedings for the next two weeks will be made known in due course, however Pik Botha, former Police Commissioner Johan Van Der Merwe, Brigadier Willem Schoon and Willem Coetzee have already testified in the last sitting.
Still to testify is Vlakplaas Commander Eugene de Kock, Willie Nortje, Izack Bosch and Nicholaas Snor Vermeulen.
The hearing was postponed in February to give sufficient time to implicated persons to study the record of the last sitting.
Thirteen persons have been implicated by the 8 amnesty applicants for their roles in the planning and execution of the raid. Those implicated included Joe Coetser, Anton Adamson, Dr Neil Barnard, Minister Louis Le Grange (now deceased), Basie Smit, Askaris Letsatsi, Thabiso and Gregory Radebe, Captain Fouche (SB Ladybrand) former President P.W Botha and Elvis Vincent McCaskill (an informer)
In the attack, Leon Meyer and his wife Jackie Quinn were murdered at their house and Nomkhosi Mini, Vivian Mathee, Joseph Mayoli and Lulamile Dantile were killed. Three other Lesotho nationals, Makaelane Mohatle, Boemo Tau and Amelia Lesenyeho were also killed in the raid.
At our last sitting in February, there was a dispute as to whether former State President PW Botha should be subpoenaed in his capacity as chairman of the now defunct State Security Council (SSC). Presiding Judge, Ronnie Pillay has ruled against such a move.
The attack on the ANC members in Lesotho in 1985 took place against the background of soured relations between Pretoria and the Maseru governments with the latter accusing the former of harbouring "terrorists". Proceedings will start at 10.00am
For more information, call Mbulelo Sompetha at 082 452 7870.