amntrans AMNESTY HEARINGS 2000-10-03 JOHANNESBURG 2 CHRISTOFFEL JOHANNES DU PREEZ SMIT AM4386/96 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=54508&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/amntrans/2000/201003jb.htm CHRISTOFFEL JOHANNES DU PREEZ SMIT (sworn states) EXAMINATION BY MR VISSER Mr Smit, you are also an applicant in this application. MR SMIT That's correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER Your application appears on folio 192 and following of bundle 1. Do you confirm, subject to the evidence that you will deliver today, the truth and correctness of the contents thereof, as far as your convictions go? MR SMIT That is correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER You deal with attacks with regard to Botswana, on page 196 and 198, is that correct? MR SMIT That is correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER Was it your intention to apply for amnesty for the present attack of 14th of June 1985, which fell within the time period which you indicated there? MR SMIT That is correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER You say on page 196 that you apply for your involvement in the commission of unlawful acts, for acts in Gaberone, Botswana between 1982 and 1989, is that correct? MR SMIT That is correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER And then on page 198, you refer to June 1985. MR SMIT That is correct. MR VISSER And targets that were attacked in Botswana. MR SMIT That is correct. MR VISSER You have heard what Mr Crause had to say about your position and your role in Zeerust in the Western Transvaal, do you concur with his evidence? MR SMIT That is correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER And that you obtained information - were you a field worker? MR SMIT Yes, I was a field worker. MR VISSER And you collected information with regard to the activities of revolutionary organisations in Botswana. MR SMIT That is correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER And you conveyed this to Mr Crause. MR SMIT That's correct. MR VISSER Was that your part, the supply of information that was used in the attack of the 14th of June 1985, according to the best of your knowledge? MR SMIT That is correct, Chairperson. MR VISSER That's the evidence, Chairperson. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR VISSER MR COETSER No cross-examination, thank you. NO QUESTIONS BY MR COETSER MR CORNELIUS No questions, thank you Chair. NO QUESTIONS BY MR CORNELIUS CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR BERGER Thank you, Chairperson. The information that you - or let me ask you, when did you discover that there was going to be a raid by the SADF against the ANC in Botswana? MR SMIT This was also approximately three weeks before the raid. I heard from my branch Commander, Capt Crause, at that stage. CHAIRPERSON Did you hear it from him? MR SMIT That's correct, Chairperson. MR BERGER And the information that you passed on to him about the activities of certain ANC personnel in Botswana, was passed on before you had any idea that there was going to be a raid by the SADF into Botswana, is that correct? MR SMIT Correct, Chairperson. MR BERGER Thank you, I have no further questions. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR BERGER RE-EXAMINATION BY MR VISSER Chairperson, perhaps I should just for clarity's sake, just for the sake of the Committee, ask this question. It doesn't flow from cross-examination, but if you'll allow me. Were you ...(intervention) CHAIRPERSON ...(inaudible.) MR VISSER It just involves the question of what he did on the day of the raid. Were you involved in any way in any facet of the attack of the 14th of June? MR SMIT As Col Crause said, I was with him at the gate and at the monitoring of the radio, Chairperson. MR VISSER Did you perform any function or were you just there for monitoring? MR SMIT Only for monitoring purposes, Chairperson. MR VISSER Thank you, Chairperson, I have no further questions. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR VISSER WITNESS EXCUSED CHAIRPERSON ...(inaudible) MR VISSER Chairperson, I would have liked to say yes, but unfortunately we now have to lead a witness from Soweto before I could ask the other short witnesses to agree with him. First of all, could the people from the Western Transvaal be excused, Chairperson? Thank you, Chairperson. MR VISSER And then perhaps we can kick off with Mr Pretorius tomorrow morning first thing. CHAIRPERSON ...(inaudible) Mr Olifant's position? It seems that the tragedy that we have experienced has taken its toll more than we would have liked it to and his condition is not too grand to testify, I'm not happy to put him through that. It seems that once we've finished with all the other witnesses, we'd have to adjourn the matter and get another date for the purposes of Mr Olifant. It's something beyond our control. We'll adjourn till half-past nine tomorrow. COMMITTEE ADJOURNS