A retired police officer, Col Louis Bester, has denied allegations that he met a senior prosecutor and told him that there was a solid case against former president Thabo Mbeki and the ANC 37. Bester was testifying at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry on Wednesday. The ANC 37 refers to a group of 37 high-ranking ANC members who had applied collectively for amnesty through the TRC.
Bester's cross-examination was previously deferred to allow legal teams time to access additional evidence, including a complete version of his investigative diary. The session followed recent testimony by former Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock. Bester rejected evidence from advocate Chris Macadam, a former deputy director of public prosecutions, that he and former investigator Sue Brits had approached him to prosecute Mbeki and the ANC 37.
Bester stated that he did not recall meeting Macadam and making the allegations about Mbeki and the other ANC members. He wanted to place on record that he was not involved in the matter in 2003 when Macadam claimed he had already been asked to provide evidence. Bester said he was not involved at all, and he wanted to put that on record.
The first time Bester became aware of the ANC 37 was when he read a newspaper report in August 2007, which triggered an inquiry into allegations that a memorandum linked to the matter had been forged. Bester said his involvement in the inquiry was limited to safeguarding the documents and arranging a forensic investigation to analyze the authenticity of a signature on the memorandum.
The investigation, which ran from August 22 to 31, 2007, ended after the forensic consultant found there was no forgery. Bester also denied having any prior knowledge of the ANC 37 dockets, saying they remained sealed and under the control of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). He stated that none of these encounters would have resulted in him having any knowledge in respect of the ANC 37.
Bester's testimony is part of the ongoing TRC cases inquiry, which aims to investigate apartheid-era crimes. The inquiry has previously heard testimony from Macadam, who stated that the executive branch of government interfered with and stalled the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes. Bester's testimony contradicts Macadam's evidence, adding a new layer of complexity to the investigation.
The TRC cases inquiry will continue to hear testimony from various witnesses as it seeks to uncover the truth about apartheid-era crimes and the role of various individuals and institutions in perpetuating or preventing these crimes. The inquiry's findings are expected to shed light on a dark period in South Africa's history and provide closure for victims and their families.
Key points
- Col Louis Bester denies meeting advocate Chris Macadam and making allegations about former president Thabo Mbeki and the ANC 37.
- Bester's involvement in the inquiry was limited to safeguarding documents and arranging a forensic investigation.
- The TRC cases inquiry aims to investigate apartheid-era crimes and the role of various individuals and institutions.
