THURSDAY, 8.30AM
FORMER policeman and Civil Co-operation Bureau operative Ferdi Barnard appeared briefly in the Pretoria Regional Court on Wednesday, where his charge sheet gave the first details of how the state has reconstructed the 1989 murder of anti-apartheid activist Dr David Webster.
The state says that Barnard, who had monitored Webster’s house for some time, drove past the house on May 1, 1989, accompanied by fellow CCB member Carl “Calla” Botha, who was driving. Barnard pointed a shotgun out of the window to murder Webster as he unloaded some plants from his car. Several other CCB members have also been implicated in the plot, in unknown roles. But the charge sheet makes no mention of Mark Nielsen, the prisoner who recently claimed in papers before the Truth Commision to be the man who murdered Webster.
Barnard is also charged with the attempted murder of Justice Minister Dullah Omar, also in 1989. Barnard was allegedly called in after two other hired assassins had failed to kill Omar, but he too failed in an attempt for reasons unexplained in the charge sheet.
The case was postponed to September 17 to determine a date for high court hearing. Barnard was remanded in custody and is expected to bring a bail application on Monday. His legal representative said he will ask the judge president of the Pretoria High Court to hear the case next January.