amntrans AMNESTY HEARINGS 1999-09-29 PRETORIA 3 DANIEL LIONEL SNYMAN https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=53717&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/amntrans/1999/9909271005_pre_990929pt.htm MR CORNELIUS Cornelius, Mr Chairman, I call D L Snyman. MR SIBANYONI Your full names, Mr Snyman. DANIEL LIONEL SNYMAN (sworn states) EXAMINATION BY MR CORNELIUS Thank you, Commissioner Sibanyoni. Mr Snyman, you completed an application and handed it in, which serves before this Committee, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct, Chairperson. MR CORNELIUS At all times you were in the service of the South African Police, as it is defined in Section 20(2)(b) and 20(2)(f) of Act 34 of '95, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct, Chairperson. MR CORNELIUS You were attached to Section C1 at Vlakplaas, of which the general background has already been submitted to the Committee, the so-called Annexure C, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct, Chairperson. MR CORNELIUS You confirm in general the contents of your amnesty application as it serves before this Committee, as well as the introduction of your application from page 38 to page 62, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct, Chairperson. MR CORNELIUS It is common cause that you received instructions from your commander, Col de Kock, to attend an operation in Swaziland, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct. MR CORNELIUS What was your rank at that stage? MR SNYMAN I was a Warrant Officer. MR CORNELIUS You acted as a so-called footsoldier and executed the instructions from Col de Kock on a need-to-know basis, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct, Chairperson. MR CORNELIUS What were you informed was the purpose of the operation in Swaziland? MR SNYMAN We were informed by Col de Kock that ANC terrorist would bring weapons from Swaziland to South Africa. MR CORNELIUS And the instruction was, it's also common cause, to go and kill these people, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct, Chairperson. MR CORNELIUS To shorten your evidence, you were part of the men at the ambush in the cul-de-sac in the bush in Swaziland? MR SNYMAN That is correct, Chairperson. MR CORNELIUS Did you also fire on the vehicle? MR SNYMAN Yes, I also fired on the vehicle. MR CORNELIUS And three people were killed, according to your application. MR SNYMAN That is correct. MR CORNELIUS An aspect which bothers me, on page 63 you say you heard afterwards, although you were not involved in the search, that weapons and explosives were found in the vehicle. Is this allegation of yours correct? MR SNYMAN I thought it was so, I may be mistaken. MR CORNELIUS You did not place any documentation or anything else in the vehicle? MR SNYMAN No, I did not. MR CORNELIUS At other instances where you were involved, it happened that weapons and ammunition were planted, but according to - in this instance, according to your knowledge did it happen? MR SNYMAN I may have just assumed it, I may have confused it with other incidents. MR CORNELIUS Except for your salary did you receive any form of reward, as described in Section 20(3) of the Act? MR SNYMAN No, I did not. MR CORNELIUS Did you understand that the instruction came from higher seniority? MR SNYMAN Definitely, because other divisions were also involved. MR CORNELIUS And you refer to Security? MR SNYMAN That is correct. MR CORNELIUS You did not have any feelings of vengeance or malice towards these people? MR SNYMAN No, Chairperson, I only heard that they're ANC terrorists and that they were enemies of the Republic. MR CORNELIUS So you apply for amnesty for your participation in the murder of these three people in Swaziland and for any other criminal offence or delict which might flow from this, is that correct? MR SNYMAN That is correct. MR CORNELIUS Thank you, Chairperson. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR CORNELIUS MR HATTINGH Hattingh, Mr Chairman, I have no questions, thank you. NO QUESTIONS BY MR HATTINGH MR BOOYENS Booyens, no questions, Mr Chairman. NO QUESTIONS BY MR BOOYENS MR NEL Nel, Mr Chairman, no questions. NO QUESTIONS BY MR NEL MR ROSSOUW Rossouw, Mr Chairman, I've got no questions. NO QUESTIONS BY MR ROSSOUW MR BOTHA Botha, Mr Chairman, I've got no questions. NO QUESTIONS BY MR BOTHA MR VISSER Visser has no questions, thank you, Mr Chairman. NO QUESTIONS BY MR VISSER MR VAN HEERDEN Van Heerden, Mr Chairman, no questions. NO QUESTIONS BY MR VAN HEERDEN ADV STEENKAMP No questions. NO QUESTIONS BY ADV STEENKAMP MR SIBANYONI I've got no questions, Mr Chairperson. ADV SANDI No questions, Chair. CHAIRPERSON Excused on the usual basis. WITNESS EXCUSED