Percy Yutar’s summary indictment of Breytenbach, Schuitema et al (Nov. 1975)1. This is a trial against the accused who is charged in the main for offences under the Terrorism Act, with the alternative of two charges under the Suppression of Communism Act.
2. The State will endeavor to prove the acts alleged in the indictment were in fact, committed by the accused and his fellow conspirators; for the purposes of action stated in that indictment.
3. For the convenience of the Court, it is proposed to briefly outline what evidence will be led to show what these acts were and what purposes they were intended to serve.
4. At some stage in 1972 or earlier, Barend Schuitema, Jobst Grapow, Donald Moerdyk John Makatini and other unknown persons, at the request of the banned organization known as the African National Congress, formed or founded another organization in Europe, which they named “Atlas”. Its purpose was to assist the ANC in achieving the overthrow of the White Government in the Republic by any means at its disposal, and, if necessary, by way of revolution and armed struggle. The White Government would of course, be replaced by a Black Government consisting of members of the ANC and probably members of the South African Communist Party.
5. The ATLAS organization at that stage comprised mainly white persons. It was only in 1975 that this organization changed its name to OKHELA and decided to limit membership to whites.
6. It must be conceded that, as far as Okhela was concerned, violence would be used only as a last resort. Nevertheless, its use continued to fall within their scheme for the storing of finance, literature and, in the future, preliminary activities to promote change in the Republic.
7. Their immediate aim was inter alia to recruit whites in the Republic to join Okhela / Atlas; among persons recruited were:-
Norman Lewis, Nicholas Martens, Laurence Dworkin, and Robert Young. There were others with whom I shall deal in due course, but those to whom I have referred actually received training in Europe in the art of espionage and intelligence. This training is fully described in the indictment and needs no further elaboration at this stage, except to mention that such training was arranged for them either by the accused personally or on or more of other co-founders of Atlas. The trainees are all young men and all were university students at some or other stage of their careers. Lewis and Martens attended the University of the Witwatersrand, Dworkin, Rhodes University, and Young the University of Cape Town.
During 1974, when Barend Schuitema paid his clandestine visit to the Republic using the name “Nico Waterbalk”, he was introduced to Lewis by Jeanette Curtis, (the sister of Neville Curtis), and by the former to Martens. After ascertaining their political views, he (using the codename “Jan”) informed Lewis that his mission was to recruit white members for “a clandestine support group, which was aligned to the banned ANC of South Africa and which would function under auspices of the ANC”. He further stated that he, himself, had been recruited by the ANC and that the aims of his group were the same as those of the ANC, namely, “the overthrow of the present white government, to be replaced by a black Government in the form of the ANC - to be effected by armed struggle. Suffice to say, he succeeded in recruiting Lewis and Martens, after explaining to them how his organization would set about achieving its aims, e.g. “providing an infrastructure for the storing of finance, literature and, in the future, arms and ammunition”.
Lewis and Martens left for Europe by air on 5/2/75, and shortly thereafter they made contact with the accused (who used the code-name “Dick”) in Amsterdam, and Schuitema (who used the code-name “Jan” and was involved with the European Anti Apartheid Movement), as well as “Jack”, whose real name was Donald Moerdyk.
After their indoctrination (e.g. reading “Namibia News and “Sechaba” and training, most of which was given by members of an anarchist organization called “Solidarité”, certain of its members were also members of a group called “The Resistance”), first Lewis and then Martens returned to the Republic - after clashing with the accused and Schuitema, but still ostensibly members of OKHELA, as Atlas was now called. They still communicated with the organization by way of coded letters and “safe addresses”. They were also instructed to endeavor to find someone to man the SACTU office in Amsterdam and also promote Trade Union Movement in South Africa.
Dworkin first met Schuitema in January 1975 at the offices of the Anti Apartheid Movement in Amsterdam. He then requested Dworkin to furnish him with the latest information from South Africa, as this was to be used by the movement, and also to go to Paris to meet members of the AAM there who would instruct him on the type of information required. Dworkin, at Schuitema’s suggestion, adopted a code-name, viz. “Harry”. When he reached Paris he met the accused who was still using the code-name, “Dick”. The latter arranged for training for Dworkin and also gave him books to read regarding evasive tactics when being pursued by the police. The accused also requested Dworkin to provide him (accused) with a safe address to which he could write, and provided Dworkin with an address in Paris. Dworkin arrived back in SA on 15/2/75.
During July/August 1975, Schuitema, again with false papers, arrived in South Africa, and made contact with Dworkin, telling that the accused was in the country, and asked Dworkin to be his telephone contact, and Dworkin agreed to this.
Robert Young first met the accused in Cape Town early in 1973, when the latter intimated that he was willing help NUSAS when he (accused) returned abroad. Young was appointed to the post of NUSAS executive in March 1973 and remained so until the end of November 1973. Thereafter Young himself went abroad and telephoned the accused in Paris sometime in January 1974. At their meeting they discussed various Anti Apartheid Movements, accused showed Young and ANC publication and intimated that he (accused) had some contact with the ANC and particularly with someone in the Algerian Branch of the ANC. (This would be John Makatini, code-name “Eric”).
At a later meeting the accused and Young discussed the difficulties encountered by opposition groups in South Africa. Accused “stressed the need for measures to be adopted by people working for change in South Africa that would make their activities and organizations watertight”. He suggested also that there could be two levels of organization, namely one “open” and one “clandestine” and elaborated on this theme. He hinted that this was the way he and his friends were operating in Europe, and made allusions to a group which “had people” in various parts in various places. He gave Young an address to which to write, and asked for Wages Commissions publications, etc. At accused’s suggestion, Young took a code-name, namely “George”.
Accused made arrangements for Young to receive training in the use of secret inks and offered to do something for anyone whom Young recommended. Accused also gave Young a briefcase with a secret compartment in it.
After leaving Paris, Young continued his travels and made contact with Donald Morton (a Methodist Church Minister who formerly resided in Pretoria) in New York. The latter gave Young an address to send publications to and the name of the addressee was to be “James Moeller”. After his return to South Africa, Young wrote to the accused, used the invisible ink, used the code-name “George”, and provided an address to which the accused could write.
Schuitema, who was in the Republic with a false passport, contacted Young at this selfsame address during 1974, attempted to recruit Young to join his organization and put certain projects (which he, Schuitema had in mind) to him. When referring to Maré and Tip, Schuitema called them “Tom” and “K” respectively.
The involvement of Tip, (a former president of NUSAS) and Maré (a former Executive member of NUSAS) is largely set out in the indictment. Evidence will further disclose some additional facts which may well be mentioned now.
During August 1975, Schuitema, who was travelling incognito in South Africa, made contact with both Maré and Tip, and informed them that the purpose of his visit was to recruit members for his organization which he referred to as ATLAS and asked them to obtain a Pass-book for blacks for him. He also informed them that ATLAS intended, inter alia, to establish a quasi-intelligence network in South Africa which would feed ATLAS with political and economic information on developments in the country, etc. In Durban, Schuitema met Maré and then handed him a sum of money in US dollars, approximately R 3000 in value. This money was later divided and deposited by Tip and Maré in their respective bank accounts. (Incidentally, Tip used some of the money to buy a motor cycle and later a car, whilst Maré invested about R 70 of this money in a lens for his camera).
Some time later, namely August 1975, the accused arrived in this country and made contact with Tip and Maré with results mentioned in the indictment.
Dr. Ampie Coetzee was involved to the extent described in the charge sheet, as was the Reverend James Polley, a Minister in the Methodist Church and the lady living with him, namely Megan Riley.
The accused even persuaded an air hostess, namely Anna van Schalkwyk, to agree to post letters, with overseas addresses, on his behalf. These letters will, ofcourse, be handed in as exhibits.
Finally, the involvement of Mrs. Durten Rohm requires mention. Her dealings with the accused and, to some extent, with her brother (Jobst Grapow) are set out in the indictment. Evidence, however, will also be led to show further dealings with Grapow, Schuitema, and another conspirator, namely Donald Moerdyk, alias Jack. Jobst Grapow informed her that ATLAS had contact with the World Council of Churches and that he had been to the head quarters of this organization in Geneva. He described the WCC as “the most militant organization you can get”. He described his visit to the offices of the Christian Institute in Braamfontein where he met Horst Kleinschmidt, whom he said had joined ATLAS. Grapow mentioned how they went onto the roof to avoid being overheard through hidden microphones. He added that ATLAS could obtain valuable information via Kleinschmidt from the Christian Institute, and also gave her Spro-Cas publication “Fear is the Key”, telling her to read it and show it to other people.
During July 1974, Grapow, whose permanent residence is Rome, Italy and whose code-name is “Juliet”, telephoned her and informed her that someone would be contacting her shortly. This person was Moerdyk. He did telephone her, using the name “Jack”, basically using her as a “telephone-exchange”, but also spoke to her in person. When she criticized ATLAS and the accused, he told her that they were “better organized now”, and that they had started tapping telephones.
Schuitema telephoned her towards the end of July 1974 from Salisbury.
The accused again made contact with her on or about 1 August 1975 by telephoning her, and thereafter also made use of her as a “telephone exchange”, as stated in the indictment.
*****
Transcribed from !SSG (Amsterdam) Solidarite Files:
No comments:
Post a Comment