Apartheid assassin and former Vlakplaas unit commander, Major Eugene de Kock, took the stand to respond to claims about his involvement in the murder of four Chesterville anti-apartheid activists 13 years ago. De Kock told the amnesty committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission sitting in Durban that the entire Vlakplaas unit descended on the city to deal with "terrorists" who had murdered three white policemen.
Applying for amnesty for the killing are Warrant Officers Butana Almond Nofemela and Nicholas Vermeulen, who were part of the contingent which killed the United Democratic Front (UDF) members. Although he gave the orders to kill, De Kock did not apply for amnesty but he was implicated by Nofemela and Vermeulen. He merely testified to state his version of the events. The purpose of the operation was also to eliminate Charles Ndaba, who was reported to be responsible for the murder of several policemen.
In a spectacular turn of events at the hearing, an askari (ANC-turned-informer), Simon Radebe, shocked the committee when he said he was the driver of the minibus which transported the contingent that attacked the UDF members at Chesterville in 1986. Radebe said: "I am telling the truth because I know what I was doing that day. You can say whatever you want, but I was the driver." But in a contradictory statement, Nofemela said: "I was the driver of the minibus that day. When I drove the men I did not know they were going to be killed."
Radebe's evidence corroborated De Kock's testimony. Radebe was De Kock's confidant and both have given testimony which contradicts Nofemela's statements. Nofemela fell out of favour when he was left to "feel the pain" for robbing and killing a farmer. De Kock did not cover up for Nofemela, who later exposed Vlakplaas unit activities which got De Kock into trouble.
Source: IoL
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