amntrans AMNESTY HEARINGS 2000-03-15 PRETORIA 15 JOHAN HENDRIK TAIT 3922/96 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=54080&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/amntrans/2000/200315pt.htm MR VAN DER MERWE Thank you, Mr Chairman. I intend to call the three clients that I represent at this stage. The first client to be called will then be Mr Johan Hendrik Tait. He prefers to give his evidence in Afrikaans, and is ready to proceed. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Page 47, Mr Chairman. JOHAN HENDRIK TAIT (sworn states) EXAMINATION BY MR VAN DER MERWE Thank you, Mr Chairperson. Mr Tait, just your personal background for the assistance of the Committee. You are currently not in the South African Police anymore and because of medical reasons you left, due to the post-traumatic stress that you underwent. MR TAIT That is correct, yes. MR VAN DER MERWE You are currently using medication specifically for this condition and you daily have to take this medication. MR TAIT That is correct, yes. MR VAN DER MERWE Thank you very much. Let us continue. Your application starts on page 47 of the bundle, bundle 1 in this matter, is this correct? MR TAIT That is correct, yes. MR VAN DER MERWE Page 47, 48 up until page 50 at the top, you give information or the background of this application. Do you confirm that it is correct? MR TAIT That is true. MR VAN DER MERWE Then on page 50 you give your recollection of the incident and how it occurred, is that correct? MR TAIT Yes. MR VAN DER MERWE You confirm that you yourself cannot remember the date, but are willing to accept as the evidence was given, that this was on done on the 11th of December 1988. MR TAIT That is correct. MR VAN DER MERWE You also further confirm that you were not present at the scene where they executed the operation, but that you as you mentioned on page 51 in the second paragraph, that you were only involved to transport the members to and from the border post during the operation, is that correct? MR TAIT Correct, Chairperson. CHAIRPERSON Did you know why you were going there? MR VAN DER MERWE I'm sorry, Mr Chairperson, maybe I should just take him through the application. CHAIRPERSON You said that you were not present at the scene, you only dealt with the transport of you (...) that you would like to tell the Committee concerning this person? MR TAIT I believe that I confused him with a previous Botswana operation and I would agree that he was not present. MR VAN DER MERWE Thank you. Your political objective that you wanted to achieve was then to take part in this operation, as you described on page 52, that you wanted to destroy the premises of where the MK cadres stayed, is that correct? MR TAIT Yes. MR VAN DER MERWE Who was in charge of the operation itself? MR TAIT It was W/O Ras. MR VAN DER MERWE And you'd also then confirm that Col de Kock was also present when this operation was executed. MR TAIT That is correct. MR VAN DER MERWE Do you also confirm the rest of your application up until page 54? MR TAIT That is correct, yes. MR VAN DER MERWE Is there anything else you'd like to add? MR TAIT No, Chairperson. MR VAN DER MERWE Thank you, Chairperson. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR VAN DER MERWE CHAIRPERSON Mr Lamey. MR LAMEY I've got no questions, thank you. NO QUESTIONS BY MR LAMEY MR NEL Thank you, Chairperson, I have no questions for Mr Tait. NO QUESTIONS BY MR NEL MR CORNELIUS Cornelius for the applicant Vermeulen, I've got no questions, thank you. NO QUESTIONS BY MR CORNELIUS MR HUGO Thank you, Mr Chairman, I've got no questions. NO QUESTIONS BY MR HUGO MR JANSEN Thank you, Chair. Jansen on behalf of Ras, I've got no questions. NO QUESTIONS BY MR JANSEN MR MARIBANA Thank you, Chairperson, I've got no questions for the applicant. NO QUESTIONS BY MR MARIBANA MR PATEL I don't have any questions, thank you. NO QUESTIONS BY MS PATEL ADV BOSMAN I've no questions, thank you. JUDGE KHAMPEPE Mr Tait, is it not so that even though Mr Ras was in charge of the operation, you were involved in this operation at the instance of the instructions you received from Col de Kock? MR TAIT That is correct, yes. JUDGE KHAMPEPE Thank you. CHAIRPERSON Thank you, you are excused. WITNESS EXCUSED MR VAN DER MERWE Chairperson, may I ask at this stage, Mr Tait's got personal problems, if he can be excused of further attendance. CHAIRPERSON As long as it is necessary he must be able to be contacted. MR VAN DER MERWE Yes, that is something in the family. CHAIRPERSON Yes, I understand that. I do not believe that there would be something coming up. MR VAN DER MERWE Thank you, Chairperson. The next applicant, Chairperson, is Mr Wilhelm Riaan Bellingan. His application appears on page 146 of the bundle.