A key witness, who could provide explosive evidence in the trial of General Magnus Malan and other officers, is under protection overseas
SEVERAL men, including at least one white former officer, are overseas on a witness protection programme and will be key players in the murder trial of General Magnus Malan and his co-
According to senior political sources, one of them could emerge at the trial as important as policeman Charlie Kloppers, alias Q, was when the Goldstone Commission of Inquiry made startling claims about the Third Force just before last year’s democratic
The Mail & Guardian knows the identity of the witness who will testify against his former bosses.
He and others on the witness protection programme overseas will give evidence to support information contained in a top-secret file which was handed to Natal’s elite Investigative Task Unit earlier this year by military intelligence officers in the South African National Defence Force.
Three weeks ago the M&G published details of some of the allegations contained in the documents which will be put to Malan and his colleagues – that a secret sub-committee of the State Security Council established a military training project in the Caprivi Strip for at least 200 Inkatha members.
Now a string of witnesses who are under state protection will be called to support the allegations in the secret file.
The indictment will be handed down to Malan, in his capacity as former minister of defence, and nine senior officers in the former SADF next Friday. Also joined in the indictment are six former KwaZulu policemen accused of killing 13 people including six children at KwaMakhuta in 1987.
Among other prominent figures who feature on the list of the accused are Inkatha Freedom Party secretary general MZ Khumalo.
There are 27 witnesses named so far. Among the less well known
l Brigadier Willem van Deventer, still serving in counter intelligence within the Department of Military Intelligence.
l Brigadier Hattingh Pretorius, former officer commanding Natal Command.
l General Benade, a former secretary of General “Kat” Liebenberg, who is accused of chairing the secret sub-committee which allegedly facilitated the Caprivi 200 project.
l National serviceman at the time, Jakoos Olivier.
l Colonel Anton Niewoudt who worked for both South African and Ciskeian military intelligence and who retired recently.
l Brigadier Hennie Blaauw, formerly of military intelligence who left the SADF and now works in Angola for the controversial military company, Executive Outcomes.
l General Jan Buchner, former head of the KwaZulu Police and a former senior security policeman who specialised in interrogating suspected ANC members.
l Detective Warrant Officer Mbhele who originally investigated the KwaMakutha massacre.