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The outgoing Chief of the Defence Force, General Georg Meiring, and the former army general "Kat" Liebenberg, will appear on Monday at an investigative inquiry on the 1993 Umtata raid.

They have been subpoenaed by the Investigative Unit to provide information and/or answer questions relating to the deaths of five minors who were asleep in the house in Umtata targeted by the former South African Defence Force. The former government said at the time that they had information that the house was used as a base for the Azanian Peoples Liberation Army (APLA).

The Section 29 Inquiry will be held in camera at the TRC's Cape Town offices on Monday, May 4.

Generals Meiring and Liebenberg will be questioned on all operational orders and instructions to the twelve member team who carried out the cross-border raid into the former Transkei in the early hours of the morning. The TRC also wants them to name the people involved in the planning of the operation and to provide details of the intelligence reports that led to the operation.

The five minors who died in the house at 47 AC Jordan Street in Umtata on October 8, 1993 are Samora Mpemdulo, Sadat Mpendulo, Mzandile Mfeya, Sandiso Yose and Thando Mtembi.

Last month South African Police sergeant, Thapelo Johannes Mbelo, gave testimony on the Umtata raid to a closed TRC inquiry. He was involved in the former SAP's investigation into APLA activities at the time.

Meiring and Liebenberg are entitled to legal representation, and if they cannot afford to, the TRC may appoint lawyers to assist them.

Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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