TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

AMNESTY HEARINGS

DATE: 2 JULY 1997

HELD AT: PIETERSBURG

NAME: WILLEM JOHANNES VAN DER MERWE (cont)

NUMBER: 4380/96

DAY 3

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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.

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ADV VISSER 61 W J VAN DER MERWE

PIETERSBURG HEARING AMNESTY/NORTHERN PROVINCE