Stefaans Brummer
PAUL Erasmus, former security policeman who admitted in=20 the Mail & Guardian his role in a 1989 death attempt on=20 cleric Frank Chikane, this week made peace with the=20 former general secretary of the South African Council=20 of Churches (SACC).
The approach by Erasmus followed a request by Chikane – – who has been tipped as possible head for the Truth=20 and Reconciliation Commission — to Safety and Security=20 Minister Sydney Mufamadi to reopen investigations into=20 his near-fatal poisoning in 1989 and into the 1988=20 bombing of Khotso House, headquarters of the SACC.
Chikane told Mufamadi in his written request on Monday:=20 “As you know, I am one of those few South Africans who=20 are prepared to forgive those who were responsible for=20 these hideous acts, but this must go with the=20 willingness to voluntarily disclose the said acts as=20 well as an indication of remorse on the part of the=20 perpetrators … Failure to do so should open (them) to=20 prosecution and punishment.”
Two days later Erasmus called Chikane to ask for=20 forgiveness. He said afterwards: “I had a lump in my=20 throat. It was a fantastic experience — and that a guy=20 I hated so much and wanted to kill.”
Erasmus told the M&G last week how he had suggested=20 Chikane be put on a list for “permanent removal”; how=20 he had participated in a scouting operation which he=20 believes preceded organo-phosphate poison being put on=20 Chikane’s clothes; and of his role in a scouting=20 operation which preceded the bombing of Khotso House.
Chikane said: “What an experience … I hope there are=20 more people who will join him for the sake of the=20 country. We are all prisoners and victims.”
But he said he still wanted to establish the “missing=20 link”, the person who had put the actual poison on his=20
Erasmus told Chikane he knew who did it, but prefers=20 that the man, also a security police operative, comes=20 forward of his own accord.
Chikane became seriously ill when he travelled to=20 Namibia in April 1989 and had to be evacuated by air to=20 Johannesburg, where doctors battled to keep him alive.=20 After he recuperated he travelled to the United States,=20 where he fell ill with similar symptoms three more=20
A university hospital isolated the cause as poisoning=20 by organo-phosphates from his clothes. He had used the=20 same unpacked suitcase on both trips.