Tangeni Amupadhi and Wally Mbhele
Former Civil Co-operation Bureau (CCB) operative Johan Niemoller, named in court this week as the mastermind behind a recent spate of arms heists from military bases, has a long history of supplying military equipment and other assistance to the Angolan rebel movement, Unita.
Niemoller was in 1995 named as the head of one of several South African groups still supplying Unita with arms – in contravention of a United Nations ban and South African government policy on arms sales to the rebel movement.
Although Niemoller has been identified as the brainchild behind the recent theft of weapons, the police this week said they ”have taken note” of the allegations against him but have not started to investigate his involvement with Unita.
He appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court this week charged with dealing in uncut diamonds worth R1-million. His R10 000 bail was extended.
Speculation is rife that a huge number of arms stolen from Bloemfontein were destined to go to Unita, which is currently gearing up for a renewed war with the ruling MPLA government.
Contrary to evidence which emerged during this week’s bail application of one of the suspects, Marius Swanepoel, that arms were stolen to overthrow the South African government, the weaponry could be destined for Unita’s depleted armoury.
It emerged during Swanepoel’s bail application that two other suspects have fled to Angola.
Angolan government armed forces intelligence chief ”General Itha” in 1995 revealed to the Mail & Guardian a list of companies, individuals and aircraft he claimed were involved in ”covert” support of Unita ”in spite of the transition to democracy in South Africa”.
Itha alleged food, medicine and military means from South Africa had been flown mostly to the then Zaire. Mobutu Sese Seko, then president of Zaire, would redirect them to Unita leader Jonas Savimbi. Sese Seko was known for his support for Savimbi.
One aircraft registration supplied by Itha was traced to Niemoller Pharmaceuticals in Windhoek, which is owned by Niemoller’s father. He also owned a factory manufacturing military gear in Upington.
Swanepoel testified this week that he had organised several meetings for Niemoller in the Free State. After the hijacking and kidnapping of two soldiers who were later found dead, he went to Johannesburg to inform Niemoller about the events in Bloemfontein.
Swanepoel denied that Niemoller was going to fly him to Angola and said when Niemoller failed to turn up for the meeting, he went back to Bloemfontein and handed himself over to the police.
It is understood that in the early 1990s, when the fighting in Angola was gaining renewed momentum, Niemoller’s aircraft was grounded by the Namibian authorities. They seized large quantities of expired medical supplies destined for Unita.
Niemoller was also named in a botched attempt in 1984 to kidnap four top African National Congress leaders, including the late Oliver Tambo, in London.
In 1994 an inquest into the assassination of South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo) leader Anton Lubowski named Niemoller as one of several apartheid agents involved in the planning – if not the act – of assassinating Lubowski.
The inquest heard that Niemoller was given R600 000 by the CCB to ”establish himself” in Namibia and set up a front company. His work for the CCB was to gather information and make videos of ”everything that was important for use by the CCB”.
Shortly before Lubowski’s assassination, it emerged that Niemoller visited the Swapo leader several times under the pretext of seeking advice on mining operations. He also video-recorded Lubowski’s house from within.
Using Namibia as a base, Niemoller and several of his friends with strong ties to the South African military have for a long time been shipping medical supplies to Angola. It is believed ammunition was concealed among the supplies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week said it was not aware of any South Africans still supporting Unita with weaponry. Representative Marco Boni said the ministry knew of only five South Africans recently arrested in Angola.
”The United Nations has decided to extend sanctions against Angola, and we are going to adopt them immediately. Whoever is arrested contravening those provisions will be left to face the Angolan justice system,” said Boni.
Various attempts to reach Itha in Angola were unsuccessful. The police investigating arms heists ruled out any possibility that they will explore Niemoller’s alleged links to Unita.
He is expected to appear in court again on October 9.