Vlakplaas

MR VAN DER MERWE: Thank you, and tell me, the regular practice when you worked with members of Vlakplaas and askari members, was it the practice for them to participate in interrogations or any possible assaults on people who were being interrogated?

MR VAN DYK: From 1981 to 1993 I was stationed at Vlakplaas.

MR VALLY: Did the Soweto Security Branch conduct joint operations with the members of Vlakplaas?

MR BOOYENS: And were you in your own mind satisfied that the operation was necessary and that it was part of the tasks of the Vlakplaas' Section C10 to fight terrorism and that this was part of that operation?

to clear it with Head Office first, however he informed me that we could continue with the planning of the operation. Lt-Col Coetzee and I went to Vlakplaas the following morning where we discussed the content of the proposed operation with Col de Kock. We discussed the political motivation ...

MS PILLAY: Now I refer you to Mr de Kock's testimony yesterday, when he testified that they were killed first, mostly to cover up Vlakplaas or any knowledge of Vlakplaas.

MR VAN DEN BERG: And I will point out to you that there is indeed a connection between you and Vlakplaas, is that correct?

MR LAMEY: Mr Gouws, when you were attached to the Security Police and afterwards at Murder and Robbery, did you know of the existence of Vlakplaas, under the command of Eugene de Kock?

MR CORNELIUS: You were part of Section C1, that is Vlakplaas and the activities appear from the two additional Bundles provided to the Committee?

... we received throughother sources. We also had a churches' section like the blackpower section, the C section where the much talked about "Vlakplaas"resorted under, we also had the churches' section and they broughtit to our attention that Father Makatshwa was very much involvedin ...

MR BOOYENS: On page 27, actually it starts at the bottom of page 26, from 1979 you were attached to the Special Task Force at Oshakati and attached to Koevoet and then from 1988, C1 at Vlakplaas, is that correct?

MR LAMEY: How long were you attached to Vlakplaas?

MR LAMEY: There's just something else that I would like to ask you. Before you went to Vlakplaas, you stated that you had worked at head office and that you were involved in computer information.

MR JANSEN: You were stationed at Vlakplaas.

... given instruction, because of his personal knowledge of Cosatu House and of what happens there, to contact, for him to contact Eugene de Kock of Vlakplaas and Eugene de Kock was then told, was given the task to execute this operation in assistance with the members of the Explosives Unit in ...

... he was killed he was no longer working for the police.  All the applicants were members of the South African Security Police Special Unit, the Vlakplaas Unit, when the events referred to herein occurred.  They worked under the command of De Kock who was the Operations Commander.  We have ...

... that at the time they were working directly and jointly with Bophuthatswana Intelligence, almost permanently. They jointly made arrests. At Vlakplaas the 1st Applicant instructed him to go to Mafikeng to receive the person. he was not though to be brought to Vlakplaas. He had to be ...

MR JAGGA: Chairperson, I am speculating now. Askaris were always attached to Vlakplaas, or connected to Vlakplaas and I think that is why, right from the start, she said no, not an askari.

The amnesty committee is accordingly satisfied that De Kock and the Vlakplaas team which can be regarded as foot soldiers comply with all the requirements of the Act.  They acted under orders.

Amnesty is accordingly hereby GRANTED to the Applicant in respect of all offences directly resulting from the destruction of documents at Vlakplaas during the term of office of the Harms Commission of Inquiry.