Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times, South Africa - Sunday, June 21, 1998
Tvette Van Breda
The truth commission is investigating allegations that HIV-positive Askaris - turned former members of Umkhonto weSizwe - were operating from Vlakplaas. It is also looking into claims that some military intelligence operatives were HIV-positive.
The commission has apparently heard evidence of blood being taken from a sick MK cadre in the late 80s by an unidentified agent. Evidence before the commission has been that, during the last years of apartheid, the military's special forces - which included the CCB and the chemical and biological weapons programme - military intelligence substructures such as the Directorate of Covert Collection and the National Intelligence Service played a part in the state's broader policy of implementing its programme of maximum disruption, which was to "kill, destroy or compromise".
Apparently, a person closely linked to the chemical weapons programme may have been involved in taking blood from the HIV-positive MK cadre.
When the commission's special hearing into the chemical weapons programme reconvened this week, more questions were raised about its key figures, its secret military intelligence funds and its links to other special forces such as the CCB and the NIS.
Shocking evidence was heard, including that Dr Wouter Basson, former head of the military's covert weapon's programme Project Coast, had been in Croatia allegedly buying 500kg of methaqualone, the active ingredient in mandrax, at a time when the former Yugoslavia was embroiled in a civil war. It also raised questions as to why he was buying methaqualone when it was allegedly being made by the military's front companies - which were run by him.
Defence force surgeon general Neil Knobel, who took over as leader of the project in 1988, testified Basson had been entrusted with hundreds of thousands of US dollars in SA government funds to bribe airport and border officials and buy substances internationally, even after suspicions were raised about his alleged misuse of state funds.
Knobel said a major investigation into Basson's actions was launched in 1994 following a joint d marche (the highest form of political protest) by the British and US governments to former president FW de Klerk and his successor, Nelson Mandela, following Basson's Croatian venture.
He was arrested in Switzerland on his way home from Croatia in March 1994 and had to pay $36 000 to a Dr D Chu, Knobel testified.
Basson was one of a small group aboard a plane carrying tons of mandrax, ecstasy and cocaine in 20kg drums which were dropped into the ocean off Cape Agulhas.
He carried out several missions to Europe, the US and Africa, transporting samples and materials aboard chartered planes or air force craft as he could not take dangerous substances on passenger carriers.
The commission has not heard evidence from Basson, who has applied to the Cape Town High Court not to give evidence for fear of jeopardising his criminal trial.
Dumisa Ntsebeza, the head of the commission's investigative unit, refused to comment on any of the allegations.
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