ON1 THE 25th O C T O B E R 19B2

ON R E S U M P T I O N : A P P E A R A N C E S AS B E F O R E

R UL ING ON A D M I S S I O N OF A F F I D A V I T S

BY COURT

On the 2nd Ma rc h, 1982 the first date of the h e a r i n g

in p u b l i c of this I n q u es t, the p r e s i d i n g m a g i s t r a t e r e m a r k e d ;

"..I d o n' t wa n t to be d o g m a t i c a bo ut this but I t hi nk

it w o u l d be very h e l p f u l if you c o u l d f u r n i s h such

s t a t e m e n t s as you p r o p o s e to p l a ce b e f o r e me by the

26th Ma rch , w o u l d that be s u i t a b l e to e v e r y b o d y ? " (101

Mr B i zo s r e s p o n d e d -

It is a go o d date to w o r k to your W o r s h i p , but

as your W o r s h i p has i n d i c a t e d , t h er e may be d i f f i c u l

ty, but we wi l l c e r t a i n l y try w h a t e v e r s t a t e m e n t s

we hav e r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e to us, to file t h e m w i t h

your W o r s h i p b e f o r e or On that da t e . "

On the sam e date Mr B i z o s i n d i c a t e d tha t the l a w y e r s for

the A g g e t t fa m i l y w a n t e d to o b t a i n s t a t e m e n t s from f e l l o w -

d e t a i n e e s of the late Dr A gg e t t , w h i c h m i g h t t h r o w l i g ht on

the c i r c u m s t a n c e s of his death. It a p p e a r s from a c o p y (201

of a t e l e x d a te d 3rd M a r c h , 1982, a d d r e s s e d to the M i n i s t e r

of Law and Or de r, that the p e r s o n s they had in m i n d were

A u r e t van H e e r d e n , K e i t h C o l e m a n , E l i z a b e t h Fl oy d, P h i r o s

K g a t s h a l i a , Sisa N j i k e l a n e and T h o m a s i l e Kw e t h a .

In this t e l e x it was r e q u e s t e d , i n t e r a l i a , that an

a s s u r a n c e be g i v e n by you that no d e t a i n e e at p r e s e n t in the

c u s t o d y of the S o u t h A f r i c a n Po l i c e , wi l l b e a p p r o a c h e d or

i n t e r r o g a t e d in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h he

has or g i v e s in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the In qu e s t . In r e p l y to

the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d te le x, the M i n i s t e r o b e r s e r v e d i nt er a l i a ; ( 3 0 ̂

" . . I f you are in p o s s e s s i o n of any r e l e v a n t i n f o r

m a t i o n /

m a t i o n w h i c h you b e l i e v e w o u l d as s is t the m a g i s t r a t e

in h o l d i n g a m e a n i n g f u l e n q u i r y , you are r e q u e s t e d

to c o n v e y the i n f o r m a t i o n to the i n v e s t i g a t i n g

o f f i c e r c o n c e r n e d . He will i n s t i t u t e a p r o p e r i n

v e s t i g a t i o n and s u b m i t his f i n d i n g s to the P u b l i c

P r o s e c u t o r as p r e s c r i b e d by S e c t i o n A of the I n q u e s t

Act, 195 9."

It a p p e a r s from f u r t h e r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e that the l a w y e r s

for the fa m i l y were not p r e p a r e d to a p p r o a c h the i n v e s t i g a t i n g

o f f i c e r , see for i n s t a n c e the t e l e x sent to the M i n i s t e r of ( 10J

J u s t i c e on the 3rd Ma rc h, 1982, p a r a g r a p h 4.3, in s pit e of

the fact that S e c t i o n 3 of the I n q u e s t Act p l a c e s a duty on

the p o l i c e to i n v e s t i g a t e the c i r c u m s t a n c e s of the death.

W he n the I n q u e s t was r e s u m e d b e f o r e us on the 13t h of

A p ri l 1982, no a f f i d a v i t by an e x - d e t a i n e e or a d e t a i n e e had

bee n s u b m i t t e d for c o n s i d e r a t i o n . On thi s date an a f f i d a v i t

by Mr M a u r i c e S m i t h e r s was h a n d e d in. N e v e r t h e l e s s , we

b e g a n to hear e v i d e n c e .

D u r i n g the p r o c e e d i n g s it b e c a m e o b v i o u s that a d e c i s i o n

u n de r the n o t i o n of s i m i l a r facts, w h e t h e r a d m i t t e d or not, (20

w o u l d g r e a t l y a f f e c t the c o u r s e of the p r o c e e d i n g s e x p r e s s l y

the s co pe of e x p l a n a t i o n of the w i t n e s s e s . In s p i t e of

this, and in s p i t e of u n d e r t a k i n g s by the l eg al a d v i s e r s ,

t h e s e a f f i d a v i t s w e r e th e n st ill not s u b m i t t e d . I then

p o s t p o n e d the p r o c e e d i n g s for a n u m b e r of days, to a f f o r d

the l a w y e r s for the A g g e t t f a m i l y the o p p o r t u n i t y to s u b m i t

the a f f i d a v i t s for c o n s i d e r a t i o n .

A n u m b e r of a f f i d a v i t s by d e t a i n e e s or e x - d e t a i n e e s w e r e

then s u b m i t t e d . All the p e r s o n s a f o r e m e n t i o n e d , e x c e p t

A u r e t van H e e r d e n s u b m i t t e d a f f i d a v i t s . I was then in- (31

f o r m e d that A u r e t van H e e r d e n was not p r e p a r e d to s u b m i t a

w r i t t e n /

w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t at that stage. T her e was no s p e c i f i c

m e n t i o n of a f f i d a v i t s by any o t h er d e t a i n e e i n t e n d e d to be

h a n d e d in, in future.

A ft er h e a r i n g the a r g u m e n t of both C o u n s e l I a n n o u n c e

my r u l i n g on the a d m i s s i b i l i t y on e a c h one of the a f f i d a v i t s .

So me o f . t h e a f f i d a v i t s , i n c l u d i n g t h os e of Ph i r o s K g a t s h a l i a ,

S a m s o n Nd ao and M o n t g o m e r y N a r s o o w er e not a d m i t t e d and it

was not d i r e c t e d that they be c a l l e d to give oral e v i d e n c e .

The p r o c e e d i n g s were then p r o c e e d e d with, and e x a m i n a - (1C

t io n a l l o w e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h es e r u l i n g s . On the 29th

June, 1982 the m a t t e r was p o s t p o n e d to the 13th S e p t e m b e r ,

1982. The a t t o r n e y s for the A g g e t t f a m i l y t h e r e a f t e r

s u b m i t t e d the f o l l o w i n g f u r t h e r a f f i d a v i t s ; on the 13t h

S e p t e m b e r , 1982 an a f f i d a v i t by E ri c N t o n g a , on the 15th

S e p t e m b e r , 1982 a s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t by M o n t g o m e r y N ar s o o .

On the 20th S e p t e m b e r , 1982 a s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t by

P h i r o s K g a t s h a l i a , and a n o t h e r one by S a m s o n Nd ao, and an

a f f i d a v i t by Frnk C h i k a n i and a n o t h e r a f f i d a v i t by A u r e t

van H e e r d e n . On the 23 r d S e p t e m b e r , 1982 an a f f i d a v i t by (20

B a r b a r a Anne Hogan. On the 5th of O c t o b e r , 19 8 2 an

a f f i d a v i t by G i l b e r t J oh n M a r c u s , a f f i d a v i t s by D e n i s A n t h o n y

van H e e r d e n , Ru t h E s t e l l e B e c k e r , and G i l b e r t J o h n M a r c u s

a t t a c h e d to it. On the 1 3 t h of O c t o b e r , 19 82 an a f f i

d a v i t by Dr Ivan Cohen.

It may be m e n t i o n e d that r e c e n t l y I al s o r e c e i v e d

a f f i d a v i t s by p o l i c e m e n i m p l i c a t e d by the e x - d e t a i n e e s who

t e s t i f i e d , Dr J a c o b s o n and A d v o c a t e S w a n e p o e l . But

the c i r c u m s t a n c e s of t h e s e a f f i d a v i t s are c l e a r l y d i f f e r e n t

from t h o s e s u b m i t t e d by the a t t o r n e y s , and it is not (30

n e c e s s a r y to deal w i t h t h e m in d e t a i l in the p r e s e n t c o n t e x t .

It/

It goes w i t h o u t s a y i n g that this delay, the s u b m i s s i o n

of a f f i d a v i t s by the a t t o r n e y s , w h e t h e r done d e l i b e r a t e l y or

not, c a n n o t be a p p r o v e d of. It m i g h t s e rv e the p u r p o s e

of the d e p o n e n t or s o m e b o d y else, but it c e r t a i n l y c a u s e s at

le ast m u c h i n c o n v e n i e n c e to the o t h e r s who are t a k i n g part

in the p r o c e e d i n g s .

I n T imo l & Ano vs The M a g i s t r a t e , J o h a n n e s b u r g . 1972 ( 2 )

5 A 7 B 1 T the L e a r n e d J u d g e s o b s e r v e d at page 290 C -

"The m a g i s t r a t e m us t ha ve all the d o c u m e n t s in his

p o s s e s s i o n , not only to d e c i d e on w h e t h e r he s h o u l d (loj

hold an I n q u es t, but also to ta k e v a r i o u s ot her

d e c i s i o n s and to e x e r c i s e his d i s c r e t i o n in a n u m b e r

of r e s p e c t s . "

An d at pa ge 292 B -

"O t h e r d u t i e s of the m a g i s t r a t e such as e n s u r i n g

that the c o n d u c t of the I n q u e s t does not pa ss out of

his han ds, ha v e a l r e a d y bee n m e n t i o n e d " .

The p r o c e d u r e a d o p t e d by the a t t o r n e y s , t e nd s to i g n o r e t h e s e

o b s e r v a t i o n s and to m a k e it very d i f f i c u l t for the p r e s i d i n g

o f f i c e r to e x e r c i s e his f u n c t i o n p r o p e r l y . It al s o t e n d s (20

to f r u s t r a t e the p o l i c y e x p r e s s e d in the m a x i m u m i n t e r e s t

res p u b l i c a e ut cit f i n is l i t i u m (?). H o w e v e r , I r e c e i v e

the a f f i d a v i t s , a g a i n I a f f o r d e d bo th C o u n s e l the o p p o r t u n i t y

to a d d r e s s me on the q u e s t i o n me on w h e t h e r the d e p o n e n t s

s h o u l d be c a l l e d to give e v i d e n c e or not.

A g a i n I c o n s i d e r e d each a f f i d a v i t on its m e r i t s in the

l i gh t of the i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e to me. I wi l l now deal

w i t h ea c h one of the a f f i d a v i t s .

P h i r o s K q a t s h a l i a : It a p p e a r s that the s u p p l e m e n t a r y

a f f i d a v i t s u b m i t t e d by Mr K g a t s h a l i a , is done w i t h the in- (30

tent to m a n o e u v r e a r o u n d the R u l i n g I h a v e m a d e p r e v i o u s l y

a f f e c t i n g /

a f f e c t i n g him. It mu st be b o r ne in min d that he was

in d e t e n t i o n when he c o m p i l e d the i n i t i a l a f f i d a v i t , a p p a

r e n t l y w it h the a s s i s t a n c e of an a t t o r n e y . On his own

a d m i s s i o n he w i t h h e l d v i t al i n f o r m a t i o n in his i n i t i a l a f f i

d a v i t to s er ve his own p u r p o s e s . When I r u l e d the i n f o r

m a t i o n c o m i n g from him i n a d m i s s i b l e I r e m a r k e d , i n te r alia,

he does not m e n t i o n the n a m e s of the p e r s o n or the p e r s o n s

r e s p o n s i b l e . In his s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t he s ta te d,

and I q u o t e :

" . .I n p a r a g r a p h 13 of my p r e v i o u s a f f i d a v i t I

d e s c r i b e d the u n l a w f u l t r e a t m e n t to w h i c h I was s u b

m i t t e d by m e m b e r s of the S e c u r i t y P o l i c e w h i l e I

was un der i n t e r r o g a t i o n at John V o r s t e r Sq ua re .

H o w e v e r , I p u r p o s e l y did not na m e the m e m b e r s of

the S e c u r i t y P o l i c e who c o m m i t t e d the u n l a w f u l

acts, for the f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s -

1. At the tim e of m a k i n g my p r e v i o u s a f f i d a v i t

the legal r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the A g g e t t fa m i l y

who w e r e u n a b l e to a d v i s e me w i t h any d e g r e e

of c e r t a i n t y , that I w o u l d be c a l l e d u p o n to

gi ve e v i d e n c e at the I n q u e s t ,

2. H a v i n g a l r e a d y bee n d e t a i n e d t h r e e t im e s , I

c o u l d not d i s c o u n t the p o s s i b i l i t y that I w o u l d

have f u t u r e c o n t a c t wi th the S e c u r i t y Po l i c e ,

and in p a r t i c u l a r I c o u l d not d i s c o u n t the p o s s i

b i l i t y of b e i n g d e t a i n e d and i n t e r r o g a t e d by

the S e c u r i t y p o l i c e at some time in the futur e.

3. At the time of m a k i n g my p r e v i o u s a f f i d a v i t , I

was of the v i e w that by n a m i n g the S e c u r i t y

p o l i c e m e n w h o s e u n l a w f u l c o n d u c t is d e s c r i b e d

in p a r a g r a p h 13 of my p r e v i o u s a f f i d a v i t I -

w o u l d /

w o u l d be e x p o s i n g m y s e l f to the a d d i t i o n a l risk

of b e in g m a l t r e a t e d by the S e c u r i t y p o l i c e , so

na med , d u r i n g my f u t u r e p e r i o d of d e t e n t i o n w h i c h

I co uld u n d e r g o . "

A f t e r this s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t was s u b m i t t e d , I re-

q u e s t i o n the s e n i o r .P u b 1 ic P r o s e c u t o r to m ak e a s t a t e m e n t ,

ma de by Mr K g a t s h a l i a to S e r g e a n t Bl om and r e f e r r e d to in

p a r a g r a p h 1 0 . (b) of his a f f i d a v i t a v a i l a b l e . In this

s t a t e m e n t , he r e l a t e d to his t r e a t m e n t d u r i n g his d e t e n t i o n

and s t a t e d i nt er a l i a ; (11

"The p e r s o n w h o a s s a u l t e d me is the same p e r s o n

who b r o u g h t me to D e t e c t i v e - s e r g e a n t B l o m who to o k

my s t a t e m e n t on the 9th of J a n u a r y , 1982. I d o n' t

kn ow what his n a m e is and I w i l l ( w o n ' t ? - not c l e a r

a e r o p l a n e fl y in g o v e r h e a d ) . . . be able to i d e n t i f y

him a g a i n if I s h o u l d see hi m."

And f u r t h e r , in his s t a t e m e n t ,

"I wa nt to say tha t the f ir st a s s a u l t was not as bad

as the s e c o n d o c c a s i o n , and th at C a p t a i n S w a n e p o e l

was p r e s e n t on the s e c o n d o c c a s i o n as well as a n o t h e r ( 2

p e r s o n w h o m I c a n ' t r e m e m b e r , as well as the o f f i c e r

in q u e s t i o n , w h o m I was a s s a u l t e d by."

Now it is r e m a r k a b l e tha t f i r s t l y Mr K g a t s h a l i a did not

k n o w the na me of his a s s a i l l a n t w h e n he m a d e the s t a t e m e n t to

S e r g e a n t Blom, c o n t r a ; his s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t w h e r e he

did m e n t i o n it w i t h o u t e x p l a i n i n g how he got to k n o w it.

And s e c o n d l y , he did gi v e a c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n of the i d e n t i t y

of his a s s a i l l a n t , and l at er m e n t i o n e d C a p t a i n S w a n e p o e l as

b e i n g p r e s e n t w h e n he was a s s a u l t e d . This t e n d s to m a k e

n o n s e n s e of the r e a s o n s a d v a n c e d for not n a m i n g the p o l i c e - (3

men i n v o l v e d .

N o t w i t h - /

N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d o b s e r v a t i o n s , I

a gai n c o n s i d e r the i n f o r m a t i o n c o m i n g from Mr K g a t s h a l i a .

. Sa ms o n Ndao : Thi s a p p e a r s to be a n o t h e r case w h e r e

a s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t was fi led to m a n o e u v r e a r o u n d the

R u l i n g I have made p r e v i o u s l y a f f e c t i n g him. Wh en I

a n n o u n c e d that r ul in g, I r e m a r k e d in ter a l i a , 'he m e n t i o n s

a s s a u l t s but d o e s n ' t s t a t e w h e r e and by wh o m . " In his

s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t , the n a m e s I have m e n t i o n e d - and

he s a y s , I q u ot e :

" . .I n p a r a g r a p h 10 of my p r e v i o u s a f f i d a v i t I de- (1C

s c r i b e d the u n l a w f u l t r e a t m e n t to w h i c h I was s u b

m i t t e d by m e m b e r s of the S e c u r i t y p o l i c e w h i l e .in

d e t e n t i o n . H o w e v e r , I p u r p o s e l y did not name

the m e m b e r s of the S e c u r i t y p o l i c e who c o m m i t t e d

the u n l a w f u l acts, b e c a u s e at the time of m a k i n g

my p r e v i o u s a f f i d a v i t I was not c e r t a i n w h e t h e r

my a f f i d a v i t w o u l d be us e d in the p r o c e e d i n g s and

was a c c o r d i n g l y of the o p i n i o n t h a t to ri sk m a k i n g

any m e n t i o n of the S e c u r i t y p o l i c e t h a t some c e r

t a i n t y th a t I w o u l d m a k e a m e a n i n g f u l c o n t r i b u t i o n ( 2

to the In qu es t, w o u l d not be in my i n t e r e s t . "

A f te r thi s s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t was s u b m i t t e d , I

r e q u e s t e d the S e n i o r P u b l i c P r o s e c u t o r to m a k e a s t a t e m e n t

r e f e r r e d to in p a r a g r a p h 9(b) of the i n i t i a l a f f i d a v i t by Mr

Nd ao , a v a i l a b l e .

In thi s s t a t e m e n t , d a t e d the 25 t h J a n u a r y , 1982, he

s t a t e d i n t e r a l i a :

" . .O n T u e s d a y 12t h J a n u a r y , 1982 at a p p r o x i m a t e l y

7 . 0 0 a.m. t h r e e of the i n v e s t i g a t i n g o f f i c e r s came

to me at my cell, and to ok me to the 4th floor of (3

the same p o l i c e s ta ti o n . Th ey w er e all W h i t e

m a le s and t hei r n a m e s are u n k n o w n to me."

And f u r t h e r on -

".. The said p e r s o n s had no ri gh t to a s s a u l t me,

and I will be able to i d e n t i f y the m at any time.

I d e s i r e p o l i c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n and p r o s e c u t i o n

a g a i n s t the m a t t e r . "

Now it is c l e a r that Mr Naisoo said f i r s t l y he did not kno w

the n a me s of the p e r s o n s i n v o l v e d , c o n t r a : In his s u p p l e m e n

tar y a f f i d a v i t w h e r e he did m e n t i o n the n am es w i t h o u t e x p l a i n

ing how he got to know them, and s e c o n d l y he did give a ( 1 0

c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n that he is able and p r e p a r e d to i d e n t i f y

them, and that he w a n t e d s t ep s to be t a k e n a g a i n s t them.

This is h a r d l y r e c o n c i l e a b l e w i t h the r e a s o n s g i v e n in the

s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t , for not n a m i n g the p e r s o n s in his

i n i t i a l aff i d a v i t .

The s t r i k i n g s i m i l a r i t y b e t w e e n the r e a s o n s a d v a n c e d

by Mr Naisooand Mr K g a t s h a l i a as a f o r e m e n t i o n e d , is r e m a r k a b l e .

On his own a d m i s s i o n , MrNaisoo w i t h e l d vital i n f o r m a t i o n in

his i n i t i a l a f f i d a v i t , to s e r ve his own p u r p o s e s , n o t w i t h

s t a n d i n g this o b s e r v a t i o n , I a g a i n c o n s i d e r the i n f o r m a t i o n ( 2 0

c o m i n g from Mr Naisoo.

M o n t g o m e r y Naisoo : Mr N a r s o o is one of the p e r s o n s

I p r e v i o u s l y d e c i d e d not to call to giv e or a l e v i d e n c e . In

a s u p p l e m e n t a r y a f f i d a v i t he g i v e s m o r e d e t a i l s , and s e e m s

to give full r e a s o n s why my r u l i n g a f f e c t i n g him s h o u l d be

r e c o n s i d e r e d .

B o t h the a f f i d a v i t s by Mr Naisoo are again considered.

Eric N t o n q a : I p e r u s e d his a f f i d a v i t c a r e f u l l y . So m e

of the i n f o r m a t i o n h e r e is c l e a r l y h e a r s a y and of no e v i d e n

tial value, and f u r t h e r m o r e he has n o t h i n g new to say (30

w h i c h m i g h t a s s i s t us on the l e ga l i s s u e s b e f o r e us. He was

n o t /

not a s s a u l t e d but a l l e g e d that he was t h r e a t e n e d .

F ran k C h i k a n i : It a p p e a r s from his s t a t e m e n t that

he has n o t h i n g new to say ab out the late Dr Agg ett .

B a r b a r a A n n e H o g a n : Her nam e was f r e q u e n t l y m e n t i o n e d

d u r i n g the p r o c e e d i n g s b e f o r e us. She a l l e g e s that she

was a s s a u l t e d on the. 22n d of O c t o b e r , 1981 and the 14th.

N o v e m b e r 1981 - t h a t ' s p ri or to the d e t e n t i o n of Dr Ag ge tt .

It is well k n o w n that two p o l i c e m e n we re t r i e d on t h e se a l l e

g a t i o n s in a c r i m i n a l co urt , and that t h e y we r e a c q u i t t e d .

It is also no w k n o w n that she is at p r e s e n t s e r v i n g a sen- ( 1 0

t e n c e of i m p r i s o n m e n t r e s u l t i n g from a c o n v i c t i o n in the

S u p r e m e Co urt , of i n t e r alia Hi g h T r e a s o n .

T h er e is n o t h i n g in her a f f i d a v i t i n d i c a t i n g that she

ev er saw Dr A g g e t t in p e r s o n , and that she k n o w s a n y t h i n g

a b o u t t r e a t m e n t he r e c e i v e d at Jo h n V o r s t e r S q ua re .

It a p p e a r s from the a f f i d a v i t s by M e s s r s C h i k a n i , N t o n g a ,

N a r s o o , Ndao, K g a t s h a l i a and M i s s Ho ga n, that n o n e of th em

w i t n e s s e d and a s s a u l t of any kind of i l l t r e a t m e n t o n r. Dr A g g e t t .

It is o b v i o u s that t h ei r a f f i d a v i t s are t e n d e r e d to give

e v i d e n c e on t h e i r own t r e a t m e n t , and in so me c a s e s to gi ve (2C

an a c c o u n t of o b s e r v a t i o n s of Dr Ag g e t t .

It mu st be p o i n t e d out that we h a v e a l r e a d y h e a r d a

n u m b e r of e x - d e t a i n e e s t e s t i f y i n g on the c o n d i t i o n of Dr

A g g e t t , and of t h e ir o b s e r v a t i o n s of him, and I i n t e n d to

ca l l a n o t h e r one, one who s e e m s to h a v e had c l o s e c o n t a c t

w i t h Dr A g g e t t d u r i n g his d e t e n t i o n .

I w a n t to e m p h a s i z e that I c o n s i d e r e v e r y k in d of i n

f o r m a t i o n w h i c h th ey can p o s s i b l y give. That was a ls o the

ca se w h e n I p r e v i o u s l y c o n s i d e r e d t h e i r a d m i s s i b i l i t y . I

t h i n k it is not n e c e s s a r y to s t r e s s the fact th a t w h e n I (3C

e x e r c i s e my d i s c r e t i o n on w h a t to adm it , not on ly the n a t u r e

a n d /

and q u a li ty , but also the q u a n t u m must be b o rn e in mind.

I do not i n t e n d to call M e s s r s C h i k a n i , Nt o n g a , N a r s o o , Ndao,

K g a t s h a l i a and Miss H o g a n to give e v i d e n c e in this I n q u e s t ,

and th eir a f f i d a v i t s are not a c c e p t e d as p r o o f of the facts

s t a t e d t h e r e i n .

It' is my c o n s i d e r e d o p i n i o n that the e v i d e n c e of the

e v i d e n c e of the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d 6 p e r s o n s wil l not a s s i s t us

to mak e a f i n d i n g on the i s s u e s b e f o r e us. I i n t e n d to

say more on the value, if any, of e v i d e n c e a d m i t t e d u n d e r the

n o t i o n of s i m i l a r facts, at a la ter stage. That I b e l i e v e (10

w i l l t h ro w mo re light on this ru li ng .

A u re t van H e e r d e n : I was i n f o r m e d tha t Mr van H e e r d e n

was a p p r o a c h e d to make a w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t r e l a t i n g to the

t r e a t m e n t of Dr A g g e t t at John V o r s t e r S q ua re . H o w e v e r ,

a f te r c o n s u l t a t i o n s with his legal a d v i s e r s he d e c l i n e d to do

so. He was at that time d e t a i n e d as a p r o s p e c t i v e w i t

ne s s for the p r o s e c u t i o n in a c r i m i n a l case. He was r e l e a s e d

on the 9th of July, 1982. O n l y on the 20th of S e p t e m b e r ,

1982 he m ad e and s u b m i t t e d the a f f i d a v i t now u n de r c o n s i d e r a

tion. ( 2 0

A f f i d a v i t s by G i l b e r t John M a r c u s and D e n i s A n t h o n y van

H e e r d e n , R u t h E s t e l l B e c k e r and Dr I Co h en , w e r e a l s o s u b

m i t t e d by the l e g al a d v i s e r s for the A g g e t t f a m i l y in s u p p o r t

of the a f f i d a v i t of A u r e t van H e e r d e n . An a f f i d a v i t by

A d v o c a t e S w a n e p o e l r e l a t i n g to his d e a l i n g s w i t h Mr van H e e r d e n

was also s u b m i t t e d .

Now it is c l ea r th a t i n f o r m a t i o n c o m i n g fr om Mr van

H e e r d e n 1s a f f i d a v i t can be d i v i d e d into tw o c a t e g o r i e s , n a m e l y -1

1. His c o n t a c t w i t h and o b s e r v a t i o n s of Dr A g g e t t in

d e t e n t i o n , and (30

2 . T r e a t m e n t s w h ic h he r e c e i v e d at the h a n d s of the

S e c u r i ty/

S e c u r i t y police.

As r e g a r d s to the t r e a t m e n t , I have come to the c o n

c l u s i o n that f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e of this n a t u r e c a n n o t a s s i s t

us to d e c i d e the i s s u e s on w h ic h we have to p r o n o u n c e , and

s hal l t h e r e f o r e not be ad mi t t e d .

H o w e v e r , Mr van H e e r d e n s h a ll be c a l l e d to g iv e e v i d e n c e

on his e n c o u n t e r s w i t h and o b s e r v a t i o n s of Dr A g g e t t at John

V o r s t e r S q u a r e p o l i c e s t a t i o n at the time of his d e t e n t i o n .

His a f f i d a v i t , p a r a g r a p h s 1 to 24, that is p a g e s 1-11 is

a d m i s s i b l e , and may be h a n d e d in when he is c a l l e d to give (10

e v i d e n c e . The rest is not a d m i s s i b l e .

It f o l l o w s that the a f f i d a v i t s by Mr G i l b e r t John M a r c u s ,

D e n i s A n t h o n y van H e e r d e n , Ru th E s t e l l e B e c k e r , Dr Ivan C o h e n

and Mr S w a n e p o e l r e s p e c t i v e l y , c a n n o t c o n t r i b u t e in any way

and are not a d m i t t e d as e v i d e n c e in t h e s e p r o c e e d i n g s .

I w o u l d also like to add that the nam e of Dr J a c o b s o n

was m e n t i o n e d w h e n C o u n s e l a d d r e s s e d me on the a d m i s s i b i l i t y

of e v i d e n c e - I have a l r e a d y d i r e c t e d that he also be c a l l e d

to giv e e v i d e n c e . T h a n k y o u , I will now a d j o u r n to get

the a t t e n d a n c e of the t e s t i m o n y . (20

AT THIS S T A G E C O UR T T A K E 5 A S H O R T A D J O U R N M E N T

ON R E S U M P T I O N :

A U R E T D E N I S VAN H E E R D E N Sw or n, s t at es :

E X A M I N E D BY ADV DE V R I E S

You w e r e d e t a i n e d from the 24th S e p t e m b e r , 1981 u n t i l

the 9th of July, 1982 u n d er v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s of v a r i o u s a c ts ?

--- That is c o r r e c t .

B e f o r e yo u r i n i t i a l d e t e n t i o n , did you kn ow the d e c e a s e d

D r A g g e t t ? --- I d i d .

Ho w we ll did you k n o w h im ? --- R e a s o n a b l y well. (30

On w h a t b a s i s did you k n o w h i m ? --- I k n e w him as a f r i e n d

a nd /

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Collection Number: AK2216 AGGETT, Dr Neil, Inquest, 1982 PUBLISHER:Publisher:- Historical Papers Research ArchiveLocation:- Johannesburg©2013

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