The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases Inquiry has heard testimony from former apartheid-era crime investigator Andrew Leask.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases Inquiry has heard shocking testimony from former apartheid-era crime investigator Andrew Leask, who revealed critical details regarding the mysterious disappearance of Nokuthula Aurelia Simelane, abducted by the Security Branch of the South African Police in 1983.
His testimony on Wednesday shed new light on the grim circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the alleged cover-ups that have plagued the investigation for decades.
During his testimony before Chairperson Justice Sisi Khampepe, Leask recounted how he was drawn into the investigation surrounding Simelane's case.
He shared that upon his briefing, he was swiftly able to ascertain, within two weeks, that Simelane had been lured into South Africa, subsequently kidnapped, and taken to the police accommodation at Norwood.
"I was directed to report to the director-general's office at the time, and based on that article, at the time, the article referred to a Mr X, whom I interviewed from there within two weeks. We were able to confirm the involvement of the security police at the time and concluded that Nokuthula had been lured into South Africa. She was kidnapped and taken to the police accommodation at Norwood," he stated.
Simelane, an ANC activist, disappeared after being abducted and tortured by members of the Security Branch of the South African Police (SAP) in 1983.
In 2001, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC’s) Amnesty Committee granted some of the perpetrators amnesty for her abduction.
However, none of the perpetrators applied for amnesty for her murder. In 2016‚ a prosecution was brought against Willem Coetzee‚ Anton Pretorius‚ Frederick Mong, and Msebenzi Radebe‚ formerly of the Soweto Special Branch police‚ for their alleged roles in her murder.
Furthermore, after the resumption of the investigation by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Leask revealed that he was not included in the probe, which led him to believe that the intentions behind reopening the investigation were not genuine.
"When the NPA resumed with the Nokuthula Simelane matter, and I was not consulted as the first investigating officer of the case, I knew it was a box-ticking exercise not meant to move the case forward... I travelled to Swaziland as an investigating officer and found no evidence that Nokuthula Simelane returned to Swaziland as it was alleged. She was last seen badly injured in the car of Colonel Coetzee in SA," he added.
Talks are under way to turn Vlakplaas, the base for Eugene de Kock's apartheid death squad, into a heritage site or museum.
Image: File
He further stated in his testimony that the person with the strongest lead to help police uncover what happened to Simelane, Adriano "Strong man" Bambo, was killed.
Eugene de Kock, Daniel Snyman, and Dawid Brits received amnesty for Bambo's killing.
Bambo is reported to have been an informer who was shot dead by Vlakplaas operatives near Nelspruit in November 1991, allegedly because he had intimate knowledge about the covert operations of the Soweto Security Branch.
Bambo, a Mozambican citizen, and several others had been apprehended by the SAP in the early 1980s as they crossed illegally into South Africa, and had been induced to work first for Koevoet and later for the Soweto Security Branch. Three Vlakplaas operatives were granted amnesty.
According to Leask, Bambo was secretly taken out of custody, but never made it alive, leading to reports that he was killed by the special branch operatives.
"Bambo was booked out of prison on a Sunday, the next thing we know, he was killed. I believe that when an inmate is booked out of prison, the matter needs to go through the court," he stated, questioning the procedure used to book Bambo out.
The inquiry continues.
siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za