amntrans AMNESTY HEARINGS 2000-07-12 PRETORIA 6 C J DU PREEZ SMIT AM4386/96 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=54336&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/amntrans/2000/200712pr.htm CHAIRPERSON What's his name, de Smit or Smit? MR VISSER C Du Preez Smit. He's got a double-barrelled name, Chairperson. Well du Preez is his christian name, but it's surname christian name, but his surname is Smit. And his application in regard to this incident is at page 25. C J DU PREEZ SMIT (sworn states) EXAMINATION BY MR VISSER Mr Smit, you also incorporate Exhibit A and B in your application and do you confirm the content of this written application? MR DU PREEZ SMIT That's correct, yes. MR VISSER Concerning the incident of Mr Mnisi, can you say at what date this occurred? On page 24 you mentioned a period from 1982 to '89 where there were various operations in which you took part, can you maybe just tell us with more accuracy when you think this incident took place? ...(transcriber's interpretation) MR DU PREEZ SMIT I think it was in '80 or '86. MR VISSER What was your knowledge of Mr Johannes Mnisi before this incident? MR DU PREEZ SMIT That he was a prominent MK member who was actively involved in the bringing in of transportation and planning of sabotage in South Africa. MR VISSER You said you were field worker, did you as a field worker also attempt to gather information concerning Mr Johannes Mnisi? MR DU PREEZ SMIT Yes. MR VISSER And if you received information, was this then conveyed to, amongst others, the Special Forces? MR DU PREEZ SMIT That is correct. MR VISSER What was the purpose of this? MR DU PREEZ SMIT That was to eliminate Mnisi. MR VISSER Mr Crause said that Mr Mnisi was a target since 1979, did you know about this? MR DU PREEZ SMIT Yes. MR VISSER What was your knowledge concerning this specific incident? MR DU PREEZ SMIT I received instructions to assist members of Special Forces who were under the command of Mr Naude, with the monitoring of a vehicle which was in Botswana. It came to my knowledge that the vehicle was sent in to eliminate Mnisi, that explosives were in the vehicle which could be activated by means of remote control and that there was also a radio transmitter in the vehicle ... (transcriber's interpretation) MR VISSER Did you then take part in this monitoring action? MR DU PREEZ SMIT Yes, initially when it started we were there regularly and we also received signals from this vehicle. MR VISSER Was there anybody else with you there? MR DU PREEZ SMIT It was Frik Crause, my co-applicant. MR VISSER Were you there together or did you work alternatively? MR DU PREEZ SMIT Yes, we worked alternatively. MR VISSER What happened with this monitoring? Did it continue? MR DU PREEZ SMIT Yes, it did. MR VISSER For how long? MR DU PREEZ SMIT For approximately three months. MR VISSER Did you receive signals from the vehicle? MR DU PREEZ SMIT Initially like I said, we did but afterwards it stopped. At some stage I was with Special Forces in a plane and we moved across the border to Botswana at a certain height to see if we could find a signal but we couldn't find any signal. MR VISSER What else do you know about this incident? MR DU PREEZ SMIT After we couldn't pick up any more signals we visited this house less often and I think it was on a Sunday morning when Gen Steyn contacted me and informed me that there was an explosion that took place at the Mochudi hospital and also requested us that we have to find out what happened there. MR VISSER And did you then try to find out? MR DU PREEZ SMIT Well we did find out that there was a vehicle that exploded there, that people were killed. I do not know how many and I do not know how many were injured, and that the hospital itself was damaged by this explosion. CHAIRPERSON How long were you at that monitoring house? MR DU PREEZ SMIT I was there periodically. Initially I was there very regularly. It was over a period of three months, Chairperson. MR VISSER That's the evidence from this witness, Chairperson. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR VISSER ADV STEENKAMP No questions, Mr Chairman. NO QUESTIONS BY ADV STEENKAMP WITNESS EXCUSED MR VISSER Mr Frik Crause, Chairperson.