Signed by Mat Joubert.
He looked at the document, typewritten A4 pages, stapled together in the top left-hand corner.
Transcription of interrogation of Michael Venter, also known as Gerhardus Basson.
Sunday, July 16, 11:45, Groote Schuur Hospital.
Present: Superintendent Mat Joubert, Superintendent Leon Petersen.
He turned over the first page.
Q: Superintendents Mat Joubert and Leon Petersen in interrogation of suspect Michael Venter, also known as Gerhardus Basson, in the investigation of the murders of Rupert de Jager, aka Johannes Jacobus Smit, and John Arthur Schlebusch, aka Bushy Schlebusch, aka…er…Jonathan Archer, and attempted murder of Colonel Bester Brits of the South African Defence Force. The interrogation is being taped and the suspect has been so informed. Official permission from Dr. Laetitia Schultz has been obtained. The doctor has already certified that the suspect is not under the influence of any medicine or drug that could affect his comprehension or consciousness.
Q: Could you please give your full name and surname for the record?
A: Fuck you.
Q: Are you Michael Venter, who is also in possession of a forged South African identity document in the name of Gerhardus Basson?
A: Fuck you.
Q: The charges against you have already been read to you. Do you understand them?
A: Fuck you. I’m not saying another word.
Q: Your rights as a suspect in this investigation have already been read to you. Do you understand them?
A: (No reply.)
Q: Let the record show that the suspect did not respond to the question. You have the right to have a legal representative present during this interrogation.
A: (No reply.)
Q: Let the record show that the suspect did not respond to the question. You are aware of the fact that this interrogation is being taped and that anything you might say during it may be used as evidence in a court of law.
A: (No reply.)
Q: Let the record show that the suspect did not respond to the question. Mr. Venter, can you recall where you were on the night of September thirtieth last year?
A: (No reply.)
Q: Let the record show that the suspect did not respond to the question. Were you in, or near, the home of one Rupert de Jager, also known as Johannes Jacobus Smit, on Moreletta Street, Durbanville?
A: (No reply.)
Q: Let the record show that the suspect did not respond to the question. Were you…
Q: We’re wasting our time, Mat.
Q: I know.
A: Fucking right, you’re wasting your time. Fucking cunts.
Q: Will you answer further questions?
A: (No reply.)
The transcript of the first interrogation ended.
Transcription of interrogation of James Vergottini, also known as Peter Miller.
Sunday, July 16, 14:30, Interrogation Room, Murder and Robbery, Bellville South.
Present: Superintendent Mat Joubert, Superintendent Leon Petersen.
Q: Superintendents Mat Joubert and Leon Petersen in interrogation of suspect James Vergottini, also known as Peter Miller, in the investigation of the murder of Rupert de Jager, aka Johannes Jacobus Smit, and John Arthur Schlebusch, aka Bushy Schlebusch, aka Jonathan Archer, and attempted murder of Colonel Bester Brits of the South African Defence Force. The interrogation is being taped and the suspect has already been advised of this as well as of his rights.
Q: Could you please state your full name and surname for the record.
A: James Vergottini.
Q: You are also in possession of a forged South African identity document in the name of Peter Miller?
A: Yes.
Q: The charges against you have already been read to you. Do you understand them?
A: Yes, but I had nothing to do –
Q: We’ll get to that in a moment, Mr. Vergottini. Your rights as a suspect in this investigation have already been read to you. Do you understand them?
A: Yes.
Q: You have the right to have a legal representative present during this interrogation, but you have already waived that right.
A: Yes.
Q: You are aware that the interrogation is being taped and that anything you may say during it may be used as evidence in a court of law.
A: Yes.
Q: Mr. Vergottini, where were you on the evening of September thirtieth last year?
A: At home.
Q: And where is that?
A: 112 Mimi Coertse Drive, Centurion.
Q: Near Pretoria.
A: Yes.
Q: Can someone confirm that?
A: Listen, can’t I take this whole thing from the beginning?
Q: Mr. Vergottini, can anyone confirm that you were at home that evening?
A: My wife.
Q: You’re married?
A: Yes.
Q: Under which name?
A: Miller. Please, I’ll tell you everything I know. I had nothing to do with Rupert’s death. It’s a long story, but I swear it was Speckle and Bushy.
Q: Venter and Schlebusch?
A: Yes, but I hadn’t seen them in years. It was only when the picture appeared in Beeld –
Q: When last did you see them?
A: Last year.
Q: But you said you were with them in ’seventy-six?
A: That’s what I’m trying to tell you. You must understand the whole thing. The whole story.
Q: Tell us, Mr. Vergottini.
A: I don’t know what you know. Where shall I start?
Q: Assume that we know nothing.
A: It was in 1976. That’s where it all started…
∨ Dead at Daybreak ∧
58
There were eight of us in the squad and Bushy was squad sergeant…”
“A total of nine?”
“No, eight, with Bushy. We had a – ”
“What year are you talking about?”
“’Seventy-six.”
“You were all Recces?”
“Yes. Bushy had already completed a year and then he signed for another two. He wanted to turn PF, but he said he’d have to see first because they took a stripe away in ’seventy-five because he was in a fight in a bar…”
“PF?” Petersen asked.
“Permanent Force.”
“And the rest of you?”
“We were only troops, doing our military service. We were the first intake to do two years. Clinton Manley complained about it – he wanted to go to university, he already had a rugby scholarship to the University of Stellenbosch. We had – ”
“Who were the other members of the squad?”
“Bushy, Manley, Rupert, Speckle, Red, Gerry de – ”
“Red?”
“Verster, he came from Johannesburg…”
“Did he have another name?”
“Yes…um…um…I can’t remember, he was just Red.”
“Carry on.”
“Gerry de Beer, have I mentioned him? Koos van Rensburg – wait, let me count, Bushy, Speckle, Rupert, Clinton, Red, Koos, Gerry. And me. Eight.”
“Good.”
“We had a supply route, in the north, between Mavinga and wherever the Unita bases were – ammunition, food, sometimes a few documents in an attaché case. Every six weeks or so we were back in Katima Mulilo. It was hot and dry and we walked or rode at night. It was rough, in the dark, you couldn’t see a thing, and when the moon shone everything was gray and then suddenly shots rang out or you saw something coming and you lay in ambush and then it was LPs or goats…”
“LPs?”
“Local populace…or even Portuguese from the mines in the north who were still trying to get through. Sometimes it was Swapos and contact and then you wondered if you were going to die when the bullets hit the ground next to you or sang over your head and you lay behind a shrub. But the Swapos avoided us, they were on their way to South West, they lay low. It was only when we met virtually face-to-face…