CHAIRMAN: Today is 2 July 1997 and we are proceeding with the same matter of
Erwee et al.
WILLEM JOHANNES VAN DER MERWE: (Still under oath).
CHAIRMAN: Mr Van der Merwe is being recalled at the request of Mr Visser. Mr
Visser?
FURTHER EXAMINATION BY ADV VISSER: Thank you, Mr Chairman. Mr Van
der Merwe, there is something which I forgot when you were testifying. You told us
that after the events there was a Press conference or a Press statement was released,
regarding these events, and in this Press statement it was said that seven terrorists had
entered the country in the mini-bus and that one of them or that six had been killed and
that one had escaped.
MR VAN DER MERWE: That is so, Chairperson.
ADV VISSER: Could you say who was responsible for that Press statement?
MR VAN DER MERWE: I made the statement to the then SABC.
ADV VISSER: Yes, the facts are not entirely correct, because the seventh person
who escaped was not a so-called terrorist but a policeman namely Matthews
Sehlwana.
MR VAN DER MERWE: That is entirely true, it was done in order to conceal the
true facts, namely that a policeman had been present.
ADV VISSER: And why would you have wanted to conceal that fact?
MR VAN DER MERWE: To protect Sehlwana and to conceal his involvement in the
matter.
ADV VISSER: That is all the evidence in this regard. It is fact that happened and I
thought you should be aware of it.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr Van der Merwe.
ADV VISSER 61 W J VAN DER MERWE
PIETERSBURG HEARING AMNESTY/NORTHERN PROVINCE
