Articles culled from News24.com and Independent Online

Copyright South African Press Association

May 19

BASSON TRIAL HEARS BIZARRE DETAILS OF DEALINGS WITH DEADLY TOYS

The Pretoria High Court on Friday heard evidence by the designer of a series of deadly "toys", developed for the SA Defence Force on the instructions of chemical warfare expert Dr Wouter Basson in the 1980s.

Mechanical engineer Dr Jan Lourens, who specialised in the biomedical field, testified that he joined the SADF special forces in 1984 and worked at special operations under the command of Basson.

He was closely involved with front company Roodeplaat Research Laboratories since 1985, where he designed instruments to restrain animals during experiments.

He also assisted in the construction of the sophisticated manufacturing plants of a second front company, Delta G, in Midrand.

In 1986, he started specialising in chemical warfare and defensive systems, forming a company called System Research and Development (SRD) -- which manufactured tapping and detection devices and had a chemical section. The company was started with money provided by Basson.

In March 1988, Lourens resigned from SRD and defensive systems became his life under the company Protechnik, of which he was the managing director.

Part of his top-secret job at Protechnik was to manufacture so-called "applicators" or "screwdrivers" for Basson. He delivered most of these applicators to Basson, but also delivered a few to Roodeplaat Research Laboratories.

The first applicator that he made was literally a screwdriver. It had a tiny hole in the front, through which poison could be applied to someone when stabbed with the screwdriver.

There was also a knife/spoon-type applicator that could be hidden in a cigarette packet, walking sticks and umbrellas that could be used by firing poisoned darts or micro-balls, a bicycle pump equipped with a special poison applicator, and a special signet ring with a hidden compartment, in which toxic substances could be hidden.

Lourens had met Civil Co-Operation Bureau operator Danie Phaal on several occasions. Basson had introduced Phaal and CCB managing director Joe Verster to him.

He had supplied Phaal with bugs for surveillance on a few occasions and Phaal in turn supplied him with sheets of explosives, letter bomb mechanisms and two packets of special washing powder, which were primed to explode when handled.

He had also worked on a project to design a special helmet for parachute soldiers, which would give ballistic protection and protection against toxic gasses.

Lourens revealed that the special applicators were tested at RNL and that Basson, amongst others, had reported to him about the test results. The manufacturing process was then adapted accordingly.

Lourens had travelled overseas on numerous occasions in connection with South Africa's chemical and biological warfare programme. His bank account was used on several occasions by Basson to channel money overseas.

According to Lourens, Basson had on one memorable occasion asked him to take a special applicator -- a specially adapted British umbrella -- to London, where it had to be delivered to CCB agent Trevor Floyd.

The umbrella was sent to London in different parts. One part was posted and Lourens took some of the key components, including the poison, with him.

The poison, contained in two glass phials, was carefully packed and transported in Lourens' bath bag as part of his hand luggage.

He met Floyd at a train station and from there took him to a nearby cottage, which was used by him and Basson. There, he showed Floyd how the umbrella worked. In the process, some of the poison accidentally landed on his finger, which he licked, and he became very ill and worried.

He lost his sight for a few hours, started shivering and later threw up after drinking a lot of milk, but eventually survived his deadly encounter.

Lourens left Protechnik on a very unfriendly note in March 1993, because of serious differences with Basson and his other colleagues. Politics in South Africa had also started to change by then.

He admitted that his relationship with Basson had deteriorated because of his suspicions that Basson was having an affair with his wife, Antoinette.

This partly led to his divorce. "I had talked to Basson on more than once occasion about our work. I wrestled with what we were doing and if it was morally justifiable. He referred to God as 'the big boss'. He said he had sorted it out, and I should sort it out myself with the Big Boss."

Because he had left on anything but an amicable note, Lourens decided to keep some of the applicators, which he had helped to manufacture. He later handed his collection, which he had buried on a farm, to the investigating team.

Lourens said he had tried to talk to then Surgeon-General General Niel Knobel about aspects of the project, which made him uncomfortable. One of these was the special poison applicators, but Knobel told him he knew nothing about them and didn't want to know anything.

Lourens eventually made an appointment to see the Minister of Defence at the time, Roelf Meyer, but was again referred back to Knobel. Knobel this time told him to go and see the head of the Defence Force, General Kat Liebenberg.

"General Liebenberg said we had nothing to discuss. The case was closed. He would sort it out and he wanted his toys back." Lourens' decision to testify against Basson was "entirely his own doing".

He initially did not want to reveal his knowledge, but later decided to tell all about his contribution to the chemical and biological warfare project.

May 22

COURT HEARS OF DEADLY 'TOYS' FOR APARTHEID SECURITY FORCES

An Australian businessman who used to manufacture deadly "toys" for the SA Defence Force on Monday told the Pretoria High Court how chemical warfare expert Dr Wouter Basson experimented on a baboon with a liquid destined for use in a specially manufactured dart-injecting umbrella.

The 60-year-old witness, known only as "Mr Q", testified that he had designed and manufactured a special umbrella, with a spring-loaded plunger which forced liquid into four needles mounted in the front --presumably to inject someone.

He had received word late one afternoon that Basson, whom he knew from various operations at the SADF's special forces, wanted to test the umbrella on a baboon.

The umbrella was not yet finished, but Basson had insisted.

Mr Q drove to the offices of Rhoodeplaat Research Laboratory (RRL) outside Pretoria with Dr Basson, but on arrival found that he had forgotten the cocking mechanism for the umbrella, which greatly upset Basson.

Basson was nevertheless able to test the liquid (used in the umbrella) on a baboon, which was held in a cage at RRL.

Mr Q at a later stage handed the fully completed umbrella to either Basson or Dr Phillip Mijburgh.

Mr Q, who used to work at various SADF front companies before joining the Civil Co-Operation Bureau, told the court that he did not want to be identified because he feared for his life.

He used to be an armourer for the now defunct Rhodesian Sealous Scouts and still dealt with Southern African Development Community countries and also had family there.

He testified that special forces commander General Kat Liebenberg had in the late 1980s asked him to take leave because he wanted Mr Q to perform clandestine work at home.

He was told that Basson would visit him and inform him of what was required.

On Basson's instructions, Mr Q manufactured a walking stick capable of discharging a small ball, into which a liquid or powder could be injected.

He presumed that it would be used to shoot someone to inject the liquid into the person's body.

Basson regularly checked his progress and also gave him guidelines.

He joined a front company, headed by mechanical engineer Dr Jan Lourens, in 1988 at Basson's request.

There, he performed some weapon modifications and worked on the doctors' cars.He also made several "special applicators", which included a range of screwdrivers, containing spring-loaded plungers capable of releasing a liquid into a person's body.

Mr Q also designed and manufactured letter-bomb mechanisms for the SADF.

One of his less intricate designs was that of a ring, capable of dispensing a powder, which was manufactured at Basson's request and handed to Dr Jan Lourens.

Another deadly device consisted of a blade, powered by a blank cartridge, which was hidden in a cigarette packet and was capable of carrying a liquid.

Answering questions posed by defence counsel Tokkie van Zyl, Mr Q admitted that he never knew what the end purpose of the applicators would be.

He said he had no knowledge of the possibility that Dr Basson had decided to investigate the manufacture and use of such devices because it could be used against South African troops.

He said it was possible that the applicators could also be used "in self defence".

May 22

PLOT TO KILL MANDELA AND SLOVO REVEALED AT THE BASSON TRIAL

A highly-qualified veterinary surgeon told the Pretoria High Court on Monday that he and chemical warfare expert Dr Wouter Basson had often discussed ways of killing former President Nelson Mandela and the late SA Community Party leader Joe Slovo in the 1980s.

Dr Danie Goosen, also a toxicology specialist, said these assassination discussions took place at the Roodeplaat Research Laboratories (RLL), which he helped Basson to establish after resigning from the Pretoria Academic Hospital's animal research laboratory.

The RLL was a private company which mainly did research and development for SA Defence Force (SADF) chemical and biological agents, he said.

"There were repeated discussions about, amongst others, important figures in the African National Congress and SACP, and who and what one could use to take them out," said Goosen.

"We talked, for example, about leaders such as a Joe Slovo or a Nelson Mandela, to whom access might be limited to a few minutes.

From our point of view it would have been good if such a person could, for example, develop cancer before he was released."

He said they did "that sort of development and research" and thought about carrying out "such projects (of eliminating Mandela and Slovo)".

Goosen said it was natural for him to leave the hospital and join the SADF front company because there were many national servicemen working at the laboratory.

At the time, he was involved in several research projects with countries such as the United States, France, Germany and Austria, and already had several scientific publications to his name.

In 1983, he was approached by the SADF front company, Delta G, claiming it manufactured chemicals used in swimming pools, and wanted him to carry out basic experiments on laboratory animals.

He and Basson, who later became a confidante, often discussed his (Goosen) research on trauma injuries and about using certain substances in a war situation.

"At that stage, South Africa was involved in a confrontation. There was internal conflict that could not easily be controlled. We were all involved in the military effort and often talked extensively about the possibilities and uses of chemical and biological weapons."

Goosen said in mid-1993, Basson talked to him about forming a facility to test chemical and biological weapons.

"It was clear then that we would need sophisticated facilities and top scientists. It's accepted worldwide and justifiable today to create such a facility."

He said initially it was decided they only test substances provided from outside, but it later changed. "In August 1983, Basson asked me to provide him with mamba toxin...they had access to an enemy of the state. At the time, our enemies were many and I didn't have problems with fighting them.

"Basson said they had means to get close to the enemy to give him something in a drink. They would then push him down and inject him with Mamba toxin. They would press his teeth in and then kill the mamba.

"At the time we were working on a project about snake bites for the SADF, and we had mambas and cobras available. It was easy to get mamba toxin and test the dosages on a baboon."

One morning, he met Basson and another scientist at the RLL, they injected the baboon with mamba poison and it died within minutes, he said.

"I was very nervous, and spilt the remaining toxin on the floor, but was able to recover a deadly dose with a syringe because I did not want to milk the mamba.

"I handed the poison, the mamba and a few mice to Basson with instructions on how to feed the snake, known as Fielies."

It was later shot dead because it no longer served a purpose. Several other witnesses testified that they severally saw the snake in a cage at SADF's special forces offices.

Testifying in exchange for possible indemnity, Goosen said Basson eventually concluded that the scientists should never know the intended victims' identities, but they would be provided with other details, such as the conditions under which the product would be used.

He said: "We worked on a need to know basis, but one can accept that most people knew broadly with what and for what we were working.

"The scientists were worried about how the victims were chosen. Basson and I sometimes agreed that it should be legitimate targets and they be State enemies. I accepted that Basson and the persons higher up would carry out that responsibility."

He admitted that he supplied Basson with a toxin which, when tested on baboons, it caused them to develop the same symptoms and a quick fatal pneumonia as some trauma patients.

"Basson and I looked at possibly using this toxin as a weapon."

Goosen was closely involved in animal experiments at the RLL and he later helped in the research and development of biological weapons.

"Sometimes one knows that you do things under circumstances that you should not have done."

He said he and Basson talked about developing a physiology laboratory where they could increase the population, but limit the number of "people of colour".

Although the private laboratory was directly funded from the secret fund controlled by former State PW Botha with the SADF as its main client, it was decided that it should be established as a clandestine operation which used private contract work as a front, he said.

The RLL were equipped with the best and most sophisticated equipment, and top scientists were lured by attractive salaries and the opportunity to do private research, he said.

"My main contact with the SADF was Basson, but there is no doubt that the Surgeon General at the time, General Niel Knobel, was fully aware of the activities."

He said he and Basson had often discussed developing a James Bond type of biological agent which could, for example, install a door handle which would kill anyone who touched it.

The research project that followed focused on making a toxin which often caused farm animals and even people to die.

"It was very important to them that the toxin could not be traced and --most importantly -- that it would not be traced back to the SADF," said Goosen.

The RLL began intensive tests and research in 1986.

Goosen was suspected of receiving a R25000 kickback from the architect who designed the RLL at the end of 1985.

Basson investigated the matter and fired Goosen as managing director of the laboratories.

May 23

SADF FRONT COMPANY TESTED POISON ON ANIMALS: BASSON TRIAL

The Pretoria High Court trial of chemical warfare expert Dr Wouter Basson on Tuesday heard that an SA Defence Force front company tested chemicals and biological agents on laboratory animals.

Veterinary surgeon Dr Danie Goosen testified that Roodeplaat Research Laboratory (RRL), a private company which did research and development in the field of chemical and biological warfare for the SADF, had the ability to synthesise its own toxic chemical agents.

Research was also done into extracting poison from plants. Some of the toxins used were generally known and existing technology was applied.

One of the projects he described was research into a group of toxins used to control rodents. In laboratory rats it caused uncontrolled bleeding.

Another product that was considered for clandestine use on humans caused heart failure in horses.Even Vitamin D, if used in the right kind of quantities, could be deadly, Goosen said.

The use of super phosphates, which affected heartbeat and respiration, was also researched. In test baboons, these toxins caused anxiety, trembling, severe vomiting and diarrhoea within minutes. After a while, the animal developed respiratory distress and died.

Goosen had studied documents confiscated by the state at the house of an acquaintance of Basson, who claimed Basson had asked him to store the documents in four trunks.

The trunks contained documentation of RRL's highly classified experiments, which could cause severe harm if they fell into the wrong hands and would give unscrupulous users a short cut to the manufacture of chemical weapons.

Goosen said of 203 project files in one of the trunks, most had to do with the development of chemical and biological weapons. Very few had to do with the defence against such weapons.

He said RRL had developed especially biological agents which at the time were amongst the best in the world. He said the documents were classified according to a security system at RRL and were strictly controlled.

Goosen revealed that when he left RRL in 1986 because of allegations of financial discrepancies, he started a dog breeding facility that not only bred dogs for the SADF, SAP and Eskom, but also bred laboratory animals for RRL.

In 1988 he was asked to return to RRL to help with problems in the animal research department. He sketched in detail the problems created by unscientific methods and research in the department and claimed this had eventually caused him to part ways with RRL and the dog breeding facility in February 1989.

He admitted that he had been accused of causing a security breach at the time, and that there were also allegations that he was mentally unstable and had misappropriated RRL money.

"It was a very stressful time for me. I was refused all access to RRL's main sponsor, the SADF's surgeon general, and had nowhere to take my problems. RRL's managing director at the time felt that our lack of scientific research methods should be hidden, even from the surgeon general, and I did not agree with it.

"The person who investigated the so-called security breach had no scientific knowledge and did not know the circumstances under which it allegedly took place.

"...It ended up with the surgeon general, Niel Knobel, telling me that I could either go to jail or I could leave the project voluntarily. I had to sign a ten-year restraint of trade agreement as well as a confidentiality clause. In return, I received three month's salary and a small portion of my pension.

"I undoubtedly felt aggrieved about the way in which I was treated. I could not get any work and eventually started farming, but I you need a lot of money for that. Financially, I battled," he said.

Goosen eventually approached the ombudsman, Judge Piet van der Walt, but after an initial positive report, was told that the judge could not help him because the SADF had a legitimate reason to fire him.

Goosen, who also testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was approached by the investigating team shortly after Basson's arrest in 1997 and thereafter spent weeks studying the trunks full of documents.

In cross-examination by defence counsel Jaap Cilliers, Goosen admitted that he had used the same building contractor who had worked in RRL's laboratories for renovations at his house. He had his bond enlarged and applied for an increased subsidy on the strength of the improvements to his house, but never paid the contractor.

He claimed the contractor wanted to do the work for free, but said he had insisted on paying him. "If I can afford it, I will pay him," he said.

Goosen said he did nothing wrong and claimed he had paid back everything he owed to RRL.

He admitted that he had done private work without permission while working for RRL, but said he had not been aware of any unhappiness amongst the company's management about his conduct.

DEVELOPING CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ACCEPTABLE: COURT TOLD

A highly-qualified veterinary surgeon testified on Tuesday in the Pretoria High Court trial of chemical warfare expert Wouter Basson that it was acceptable to develop chemical and biological weapons.

Dr Danie Goosen, a toxicology specialist who did animal research for the SA Defence Force (SADF)in the 1980s, said he manufactured toxic substances to be used against "bona-fide enemies of the State".

"In my perception there was no misuse of the substances," he said.

"I may feel different about it today, but the use of chemical and biological weapons were not illegal at the time. Should you be threatened by chemical attacks, you were entitled to do this kind of research and development."

Goosen said he and Basson had extensive discussions about using such weapons, but no victims were specifically identified.

"We talked about former President Nelson Mandela and the late SACP leader Joe Slovo as possible targets, but no concrete projects were launched against these leaders."

He said in order to develop an adequate defence against chemical and biological weapons, one had to research the use and effect of such weapons.

He agreed with defence counsel Jaap Cilliers that there was nothing sinister about the chemical and biological agents developed at SADF front company Roodeplaat Research Laboratory.

"Such research was normal scientific practice, but the use of such substances was what created problems."

Goosen admitted that Basson could have possibly received mamba venom on more than one occasion from the laboratory and used it in his research on altering human emotions.

He earlier testified that he gave Basson mamba venom, along with the fully-grown live snake, to use on "an unspecified State enemy".

"I never really knew exactly for what purpose Basson wanted to use the venom," he said.

At the time, the venom was injected intravenously into a baboon which died within minutes. Goosen claimed that literature on the subject was not freely available at the time, necessitating the experiment on the baboon.

"The venom quickly lost its effectiveness and had to be stored in a fridge."

May 24

HIV BLOOD SAMPLE FROZEN FOR CHEMICAL WARFARE, BASSON TRIAL HEARS

A bacteriologist, who used to work for SA Defence Force front company Roodeplaat Research Laboratory (RRL), on Wednesday told the Pretoria High Court that he had freeze-dried HIV-infected blood for chemical warfare expert Dr Wouter Basson "for use against a political enemy".

Dr Mike Odendaal testified that, in the time when HIV was just starting to rear its head, he had received a small bottle with HIV-infected blood.

The laboratory's managing director Dr Andre Immelman had told him that Basson had put in a request for the blood to be freeze-dried and that it would be given to a political opponent.

Odendaal said Immelman had told him that the blood had come from a patient at One Military Hospital in Pretoria, who had died of Aids.

Defence counsel Jaap Cilliers said he found absurd the suggestion that one would "grab the enemy, inject him with the infected blood, and he would only die 14 years later".

"I suppose that is what one can call long-term planning," Cilliers said.

Odendaal first met Basson when he was still working at an animal research laboratory linked to the Pretoria Academic Hospital when an unknown substance was tested on a baboon, which was immobilised in a chair.

Immelman later recruited Odendaal for RRL's bacteriology research department.

In the beginning, he believed that their research mainly centred around a defensive capability against attacks with chemical and biological agents, but he later realised that the emphasis had shifted to the development of an offensive capability, using chemical and biological agents as weapons.

Because there was not a lot of literature available about bacteriological warfare at the time, Odendaal had built up a vast collection of deadly organisms, samples of which were handed to Immelman.

His studies, however, also included the development of a vaccine for cattle against lung ailments and he later obtained a master's degree with this vaccine as his subject.

Odendaal made it clear that he had received his orders from Immelman, but that RRL's main client was the SADF, represented by Basson, to whom Immelman reported.

His research had led him to the conclusion that the uses of bacteriological warfare was limited, because not all people were affected in the same way and not everyone would necessarily died if infected.

One of the situations that, however, drew his attention, was an incident in Russia when thousands of people died after an explosion during which they inhaled deadly anthrax organisms.

Odendaal had collected many samples of the deadly organisms, which were freeze-dried and handed to Immelman.

Immelman was never very specific about the use of the various organisms he received from Odendaal, but on one specific occasion asked Odendaal to provide him with salmonella, a form of food poisoning, which was used in sugar at an ANC meeting.

It was apparently very effective, because everyone became ill.

Odendaal had also tested the use of botulinum, one of the most toxic substances on earth, in liquids such as water and whiskey, which were then injected into laboratory animals.

At one stage, he infected the filters of cigarettes with anthrax at Immelman's request -- supposedly for distribution amongst "terrorists in Zambia or Angola" -- and he was also asked to put anthrax into soft-centered chocolates.

The paper of a letter was also impregnated with anthrax, which was almost instantly fatal if inhaled by humans and Odendaal on two occasions supplied Immelman with cholera organisms and other toxic organisms which caused deteriorating illnesses in humans and animals.

He said Immelman had at one stage told him about an incident when organophosphate was put on someone's clothes to poison him.

After reading newspaper reports about such an attack on Rev Frank Chikane, he came to the conclusion that Immelman was referring to Chikane.

To questions by Cilliers, Odendaal said he had at one stage received instructions to start a factory where biological agents could be produced in mass form. Although R200000 was spent on the plans, the factory --which would have cost millions of rand -- was never built.

Another veterinary surgeon, Dr Stian Wandrag, who worked at RRL for several years, said as far as he knew, the laboratory's research and development was aimed at developing defence mechanisms against

chemical and biological attacks, as well as against agents such as mustard gas.

In order to develop a defensive capability, the actual weapons first had to be produced.

He was, among others, involved in projects where laser beams were used and also tested the use of Vitamin D3, a commercial rat poison and presumably toxic toothpaste and whiskey and laboratory animals.