Mbeki’s office may testify in Equatorial Guinea coup plot

PRETORIA – Officials from President Thabo Mbeki’s office and the SA Secret Service (SASS) are likely to be called to testify in the case against eight men who were allegedly involved in an Equatorial Guinea coup plot.

State Advocate Torie Pretorius SC on Wednesday asked the Pretoria regional court for a postponement to call officials from the president’s office and the SASS to counter evidence given by the State’s own witnesses that the government gave approval for the plot. “The State disputes that the green light was given,” Pretorius told the court.He said he was already in contact with the Director-General in The Presidency, Frank Chikane, and officials from SASS.This comes after almost all the State witnesses called by Pretorius said the South African government knew about the plot, with several going further to say the government had approved of the plot.Last week state witness Crause Steyl, who was one of the pilots involved in the coup, told the court that the government knew what was being planned and was prepared to look the other way.”One cannot expect the South African government to give us a piece of paper.It was probably in the intelligence service or a nod from someone that (the plot was acknowledged),” Steyl told the court.Another state witness, Ivan Pienaar, who helped with aeronautical logistics for the coup last week testified he was under the impression that the South African government had approved the mission.He added that the US, British and Spanish governments had also allegedly given their approval for the coup.On Tuesday, Harry Carlse, who was to be the ground commander in the coup and who in a plea bargain pleaded guilty and turned State witness, told the court he still felt he had done nothing wrong.He said he believed the government approved of the plan and he only pleaded guilty because financially he could not afford to fight the State.The eight men before court – Raymond Stanley Archer, Victor Dracula, Louis du Preez, Errol Harris, Mazanga Kashama, Neves Tomas Matias, Simon Morris Witherspoon, and Hendrik Jacobus Hamman – have pleaded not guilty to a charge of contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Act.They were among a group arrested in March 2004 when they landed at Harare International Airport, allegedly to refuel and pick up military equipment.Zimbabwean authorities said they were on their way to join other suspected mercenaries arrested in Equatorial Guinea at about the same time.Sixty-one of the group returned to South Africa in 2005 after spending more than a year in a Zimbabwean prison for violating immigration, aviation, firearms and security laws.The case was postponed to today.Sapa”The State disputes that the green light was given,” Pretorius told the court.He said he was already in contact with the Director-General in The Presidency, Frank Chikane, and officials from SASS.This comes after almost all the State witnesses called by Pretorius said the South African government knew about the plot, with several going further to say the government had approved of the plot.Last week state witness Crause Steyl, who was one of the pilots involved in the coup, told the court that the government knew what was being planned and was prepared to look the other way.”One cannot expect the South African government to give us a piece of paper.It was probably in the intelligence service or a nod from someone that (the plot was acknowledged),” Steyl told the court.Another state witness, Ivan Pienaar, who helped with aeronautical logistics for the coup last week testified he was under the impression that the South African government had approved the mission.He added that the US, British and Spanish governments had also allegedly given their approval for the coup.On Tuesday, Harry Carlse, who was to be the ground commander in the coup and who in a plea bargain pleaded guilty and turned State witness, told the court he still felt he had done nothing wrong.He said he believed the government approved of the plan and he only pleaded guilty because financially he could not afford to fight the State.The eight men before court – Raymond Stanley Archer, Victor Dracula, Louis du Preez, Errol Harris, Mazanga Kashama, Neves Tomas Matias, Simon Morris Witherspoon, and Hendrik Jacobus Hamman – have pleaded not guilty to a charge of contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Act.They were among a group arrested in March 2004 when they landed at Harare International Airport, allegedly to refuel and pick up military equipment.Zimbabwean authorities said they were on their way to join other suspected mercenaries arrested in Equatorial Guinea at about the same time.Sixty-one of the group returned to South Africa in 2005 after spending more than a year in a Zimbabwean prison for violating immigration, aviation, firearms and security laws.The case was postponed to today.Sapa