Special Report Transcript Episode 13, Section 3, Time 11:15

Groenewald warns against believing every claim reported in the papers, although the IFP hit squad allegations are being followed up. One prisoner who came forward was so authentic his confession was videoed and he was asked to show the police the scene of the murder. // ‘IFP self protection unit member Sibusiso Mbhele, who is on trial in the Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg on four counts of murder, two counts of robbery and two counts of illegal possession of firearms, has told The Natal Witness how members of his unit planned Hadebe’s assassination and how Hadebe, Harry Gwala’s right hand man, was identified to the killers. // Mbhele said a prominent tribal figure in the Ixopo district, his two sons – one of whom was in the SPU and whose name is known to The Natal Witness – two members of the KwaZulu Police and himself were watching the evening news on television during which Hadebe said he would be attending the peace meeting in Ixopo the next day. He said the chief pointed Hadebe out and said: ‘This is a man who we must kill.’ // Mbhele said it was then discussed that Hadebe’s car should be ambushed at Umkomaas and the one son formulated a plan to ‘block and attack’ Hadebe. The son also decided that the people who were to execute the killing should travel in a separate vehicle from the chief and arrive at Ixopo first. // Mbhele said that on the day of the meeting, he arrived with the chief and found that the chief’s son and two other people were already at the hall. // He said the chief went forward and shook Hadebe’s hand. // ‘The plan was for the chief to shake Reggie’s hand so that those who don’t know him would be able to see who he was to make sure they don’t hit the wrong person.’’

Notes: Newspaper clippings