Truth Commission Special Report
Amnesty Hearing - 54787

Type: AMNESTY HEARINGS
Starting Date: 02 July 1997
Location: PIETERSBURG
Day: 3
Names: WILLEM JOHANNES VAN DER MERWE
Case Number: 4380/96
URL: https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=54787&t=&tab=hearings
Original File: https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/amntrans/pburg/vdmerwe2.htm
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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