Stefaans Brmmer
FLIGHT SA 232 from Johannesburg to London on February 6 1993, two months before Chris Hani was assassinated, had three passengers of note – the South African Communist Party leader himself; right-wing journalist Arthur Kemp, who was later arrested in connection with his murder; and Inkatha Freedom Party militarist Philip Powell.
This “coincidence” was discovered by the Mail & Guardian amid allegations that Hani’s assassination had been part of a plot that went beyond right-wing politician Clive Derby-Lewis and Polish immigrant Janusz Walus.
Kemp gave the tip-off about the South African Airways passenger list to a London Sunday paper a number of weeks ago during an attempt to sell new evidence on Hani’s assassination. The flight details were verified by M&G.
Kemp was not charged with the murder, but was used as a state witness in the trial – he had supplied address details for the “hit list”. This week, he remained mum, saying only: “I have a story to sell. I am prepared to negotiate the price.”
In a letter to the M&G this week, Kemp invited the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to revisit the assassination – claiming it would find nothing new as “there is nothing to hide”.
Kemp, now resident in London, also denied he had been associated with the old National Intelligence Service (NIS), as claimed in the M&G last week. The allegation that he had been a source for the NIS had been confirmed by members of the police and the new National Intelligence Agency before publication. He did not deny he had earlier been with the police security branch.
SACP deputy secretary general Jeremy Cronin confirmed Hani had been on the flight, saying he had been with a delegation en route to Cuba.
Powell confirmed he had been on the same flight, saying he was on a holiday to London. He had encountered Kemp at Johannesburg International Airport before boarding, and had only realised Hani was on the same flight when he saw him at passport control in London.
Powell’s alleged role in IFP military activities – and links to the apartheid security forces – was highlighted last year in the trial of Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock. Testifying in mitigation of sentence, De Kock said Powell had been a security branch agent and was later associated with the Military Intelligence front company Longreach. De Kock implicated Powell in Vlakplaas-backed gunrunning to IFP military units in KwaZulu-Natal.