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'Speak out on apartheid crimes'
17/07/2007 14:06 - (SA)
Pretoria - Perpetrators of apartheid crimes should come forward and speak about their crimes so that the victims could find closure, Frank Chikane, director-general of the Presidency, said on Tuesday.
"I'm interested in knowing what happened to me and other victims (and) targets of apartheid," Chikane said.
His comment came after the NPA announced on Monday that it would go ahead with the prosecution of apartheid-era police minister Adriaan Vlok, ex-police chief Johann van der Merwe and three former high ranking police officials.
The NPA has filed papers with the Pretoria High Court and the matter would be heard on August 17.
The charges related to an alleged plot to kill Chikane in 1989 when he was secretary-general of the SA Council of Churches when his underwear was lined with a poison.
The State has an obligation
Meanwhile, the National Prosecution Authority's (NPA) decision to prosecute former police minister Adrian Vlok must not be seen as a witch hunt, the SA Human Right Commission (SAHRC) said on Tuesday.
SAHRC chairperson Jody Kollapen said those who committed crimes during the apartheid era and failed to take advantage of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process knew they could be prosecuted.
"The TRC process was a time-bound opportunity and those who did not apply within the prescribed time were well aware that they could be prosecuted at a later stage.
"The State has an obligation to prosecute those who have committed criminal offences, and this must not be seen a witch hunt," he said.
Vlok, ex-police chief Johann van der Merwe and three former high ranking police officers will appear in court for attempted murder next month.
NPA spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi said on Monday papers had been filed with the Pretoria High Court and the matter would be heard on August 17.
The charges related to an alleged plot to kill Frank Chikane, now director-general of the Presidency.
Vlok could not be reached for comment, and Van der Merwe declined to comment. They would be joined as accused in the case by Christoffel Smith, Gert Otto and Johannes Van Staden, all former high-ranking policemen.
Nature of the case
Lesufi said the five face various charges including attempted murder.
Vlok and Van der Merwe were meant to stand trial in the Pretoria High Court in 2004 after failing to apply for amnesty from the TRC, but the NPA reversed its decision to prosecute them.
The NPA has since had discussions with lawyers for the two, which Lesufi described as meaningful.
"We however decided that due to the nature of this case it can not be solved in a board room and it must be dealt with in the public domain in open court," he said.
Last September, Vlok asked Chikane's forgiveness and washed his feet.
Commenting on the decision, former president FW de Klerk said he had no further information about the NPA's reasons for its decision, or the views of Vlok and Van der Merwe.
He repeated his view that any prosecutions related to the conflict of the past should be approached with "the greatest sensitivity and circumspection" because of the negative consequences that unbalanced action might hold for national reconciliation.
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