SA experts to probe mass graves
2005-11-24 17:13
Pretoria - Five National Prosecuting Authority forensic experts are to be sent to Namibia next week to help with the investigation of mass graves recently discovered in the north of that country.
The five, members of the NPA's missing persons task team, would be accompanied by the head of the Argentinian forensic anthropology unit, Luis Fondebrider, said NPA spokesperson Lucinda Moonieya.
They would be in Namibia from next Tuesday to Thursday.
Moonieya said the team would meet their Namibian counterparts, visit the area and inspect the human remains.
They would make a presentation on how such cases were normally investigated and discuss further assistance required from South Africa.
This would be formulated into a memorandum of understanding.
"This is more of a preliminary assessment," Moonieya said.
At least five mass graves have been found near former South African military bases in northern Namibia.
The remains are thought to be those of fighters from the South West African People's Organisation's military wing, Plan, who may have been killed in the so-called nine-day war in April 1989.
Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba has reportedly asked for South Africa's assistance in probing the graves, while the South African government has repeatedly indicated its willingness to help where it can.
- SAPA