Vlok: 'Prime Evil' will testify

2007-07-17 21:41

Johannesburg - The former Vlakplaas commander, Eugene de Kock, says he is willing to testify against apartheid-era police minister Adriaan Vlok, ex police chief Johann van der Merwe and three others at their upcoming trial.

The decision to prosecute them was largely welcomed, but the Freedom Front Plus however took exception to the National Prosecuting Authority's decision, saying it was a mistake.

De Kock told Radio 702 from Pretoria Central Prison that he had already given a statement to the necessary authorities and would co-operate fully.

He was adamant that this was only the beginning and other senior apartheid era officials also needed to be charged.

He said former president FW de Klerk in particular, had a lot to answer for.

The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation said it was "particularly pleased" that the matter would be heard in an open court instead of being negotiated in private.

The centre's programme manager of transitional justice, Hugo van der Merwe, said: "We hope this approach sets a clear precedent for dealing with similar human rights abuses."

He said while it was regrettable that prosecutions were being launched 13 years into a new democracy, and more than four years after the completion of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it was not yet too late to fulfil victims' rights to justice and truth.

'The State has an obligation'

The SA Human Rights Commission cautioned that the decision to prosecute Vlok and others should not be seen as a witch hunt.

Chairperson Jody Kollapen said those who committed crimes during the apartheid era and failed to take advantage of the TRC process knew they could be prosecuted.

"The state has an obligation to prosecute those who have committed criminal offences and this must not be seen a witch hunt."

FF+ leader Pieter Mulder said from the outset the reconciliation process had been skewed in favour of the ANC.

About 22 000 ANC members who were involved in acts of violence were released as part of negotiations before the TRC was set up.

"Following the TRC process 7 000 people, mainly from the side of the former NP government, did not receive amnesty.

"If the current government intends to prosecute everyone who did not receive amnesty... South Africa will be busy with these kind of court cases for the next twenty years," he said.

"The Pebco Three were never burnt"

The charges against Vlok, Van der Merwe and three former high-ranking police officials relate to an alleged plot to kill Frank Chikane in 1989 when he was secretary-general of the SA Council of Churches, by lining his underwear with poison.

Ex-Vlakplaas security policeman Joe Mamasela told the SABC that he felt vindicated following news that the remains of the Pebco Three may have been found.

Mamasela in 1997 old the TRC hearing into the murder of Sipho Hashe, Champion Galela and Qaqawuli Godolozi that the security policemen applying for amnesty were lying. The three were never burnt and thrown into the nearby Fish River as suggested by the applicants.

Mamasela said: "The police are lying when they said they shot those people and burned their bodies and threw their ashes into the sea... I refute that... in the TRC, I was branded a liar and an opportunist."

The TRC refused amnesty to policemen Herman du Plessis, Johannes Van Zyl, Gideon Nieuwoudt and Johannes Lotz because they failed to make full disclosure. Mamasela himself refused to apply for amnesty.

- SAPA