TRC: Episode 01, Part 04

Colonel Niewoudt's lawyer, Francois van der Merwe, faxed us his client's response to the allegation. He says: My client denies that he had any part in any action that led or could have led to the disappearance of the so-called Pebco Three or that he has any knowledge in this regard. It is significant that in three applications that were brought to the Supreme Court in this regard my client's name was not mentioned once. The lawyer then quotes from Mr Justice Van Rensburg's judgement in the last of these applications where the judge said: If these facts are taken into consideration it seems to me that the probabilities are in favour of some organisation other than the police being responsible for the disappearance of Godolozi and his two companions. But in the Truth Commission this week, Col. Niewoudt's name was also linked to another well-known Eastern Cape murder mystery: the Cradock Four. Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli were the leaders of the Cradock ratepayers' association, like PEBCO an affiliate of the UDF, and therefore targets of the state.

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