hrvtrans STATEMENT BY DR VAN HEERDEN 1996-06-26 WORCESTER 3 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=56184&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/worcest/heerden.htm MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA [indistinct] evidence about his experience of torture in prison mentioned dr Van Heerden in a particular context which Wendy is going to explain and dr Van Heerden requested that the Commission gives him opportunity to make a statement in regards to the context in which he was mentioned. So I give over to Wendy - thank you Wendy. DR ORR Thank you Chair, just to explain to you on Monday afternoon one of the witnesses Mr Dyantyi named dr Van Heerden and alleged that dr Van Heerden had colluded with police and giving the police advice about how to hide the fact that Mr Dyantyi had been tortured and how to make it appear that his condition was in fact due to other circumstances. I have spoken to dr Van Heerden a few times on the phone since and asked him if he would like to come and make a statement to the Commission because he denies that he ever acted in the way in which the witness alleged. Unfortunately dr Van Heerden is very busy, he is operating this morning and then has a full list of patients, so he has asked me to read out a statement on his behalf which I will now do. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Thank you Wendy and thank you all - shall we stand please as the witnesses leave for tea.