DURBAN 27 September 1999 - SAPA
MAGOOS BOMB MEANT FOR SECURITY PERSONNEL: TRC
The 1986 Magoos bar car bomb which killed hree people and wounded 73 others on
the Durban beachfront in 1986 was intended for apartheid security force
personnel who frequented the establishments, the Truth and Reconciliation's
amnesty committee heard on Monday. The bomb was planted by Robert McBride, who
was at the time a unit commander of the African National Congress' special
operations unit under the command of Aboobaker Ismail. McBride received three
death sentences for the bombing but was given a reprieve when the ANC demanded
an end to political executions as a precondition to negotiations with the
National Party government, almost 10 years ago. McBride is currently a director
in the Department of Foreign Affairs and is applying for amnesty for the
bombing. In applying for amnesty for a number of incidents in and around Durban
between 1981 and 1986, Ismail told the committee he accepted political
responsibility for all the acts committed by former ANC operatives under his
command. Ismail and McBride are among nine former Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)
operatives applying for amnesty for these incidents at the Durban Christian
Centre. In his testimony on Monday, Ismail said the Magoos bar bombing was to
commemorate the June 16, 1976 uprising which began in Soweto, and in which
hundreds of youths were shot dead by police countrywide. It was also to
commemorate the June 14 raid on the Botswana capital, Gaberone in 1985 in which
12 people, including a six-year-old child died. Ismail said that during
discussions with McBride in June 1986 they had talked about the possibility of
carrying out an attack on the Natal Command military base on the Durban
beachfront. McBride told him that security around the base had been stepped up.
McBride was then instructed to identify other areas with high concentrations of
"enemy personnel", whether they were on duty or not. Ismail said
McBride raised the possibility of civilian casualties and was then referred to a
decision taken at the Kabwe conference in June 1985, where it was decided that
civilian casualties should not stand in the way of executing the struggle
against apartheid. McBride then informed Ismail that a number of possible
targets had been identified which were frequented by off-duty security force
members. Ismail said he instructed McBride to select a final target after
further reconnaissance and to proceed with the operation. He said McBride was
instructed in the construction of a car bomb and was supplied with the
appropriate material, which McBride then brought into South Africa from
Botswana. McBride was expected to testify in detail about events leading to the
bombing after Ismail's testimony. Advocate Tony Richards, acting on behalf of
the victims, questioned Ismail extensively over what constituted a legitimate
target. Ismail said it was policy that while civilian casualties should be
limited, they should not stand in the way of further operations. Ismail also
testified on his role in the May 1984 attack on the Mobil refinery, the
explosion at the Jacob's electrical sub-station in January 1986, and the escape
from hospital of operative Gordon Webster in May 1986. Ismail said he did not
know what had actually occurred during the attack on the Mobil refinery but had
gathered from newspaper reports that RPG rockets had been used. All the
operatives involved in the operation died. Ismail said he had recruited Webster
into the special operations unit and Webster was sent on a course in Angola. He
returned towards the end of 1985. "Comrade Gordon was instructed to strike
at transformer sub-stations including power lines in the power network, to carry
out operations against other strategic targets such as oil refineries, fuel
depots and government infrastructure, and to carry out attacks on enemy
personnel," Ismail said. This was decided on to hamper the former
government's ability to function properly. Ismail said McBride was recruited
into the special operations unit by Webster, who was then a unit commander, and
was sent on a crash training course in Gaborone, Botswana. When he returned he
joined Webster's unit, which carried out several operations. "The specific
targets were not chosen by special operations command. The unit operated with a
measure of autonomy and discretion within the ambit of the policies and
guidelines of the ANC. The unit commander and the operatives on the ground had
authority to decide upon each target," Ismail said. His testimony continues
on Tuesday.
© South African Press Association, 1999
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