amntrans AMNESTY HEARINGS 1997-07-02 PIETERSBURG 3 WILLEM JOHANNES VAN DER MERWE 4380/96 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=54787&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/amntrans/pburg/vdmerwe2.htm 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