Former security policeman Gideon Nieuwoudt is receiving treatment for health problems and will not be able to continue testifying at his amnesty hearing this week, his lawyer, Jan Wagener, said on Tuesday.
He said Nieuwoudt would ”hopefully” be able to take the stand again during the next session of the hearing, which would probably be in June or July.
The current session being held in the Port Elizabeth High Court ends on Friday.
Nieuwoudt’s last appearance was on Thursday, when he was still being cross-examined by Advocate Kessie Naidu, appearing for the families of three of the victims of the 1989 Motherwell car bombing.
On Friday morning Wagener told the three-person amnesty panel headed by Judge Ronnie Pillay that Nieuwoudt was unable to continue, and the hearing carried on with the testimony of Nieuwoudt’s co-applicant Wahl du Toit instead.
Wagener said on Tuesday he had since given fuller medical details in chambers to the panel and the families’ legal team.
Agreement was reached that his client would be excused from giving further evidence now.
”It would be fair to say that his health is not in a condition to proceed with his evidence.”
Wagener declined to say what Nieuwoudt’s problem was but confirmed that he was receiving treatment.
He also confirmed that Nieuwoudt was evicted last week from his rented accommodation in Port Elizabeth. — Sapa