Zara Nicholson, Aziz Hartley and David Michaels
forensic expert David Klatzow claims he has new evidence that could clear up the 24-year mystery about the fatal Helderberg crash – and is calling on President Jacob Zuma to reopen the investigation.
Klatzow said yesterday that he had an affidavit from a former South African Airways pilot, Clair Fichardt, about what had happened to tapes of the pilot’s conversation, and that this was the “missing piece to the puzzle” in the Helderberg investigation.
It is alleged the tapes were given to then SA Airways CEO Gert van der Veer, who had testified to the Margo Commission of inquiry into the Helderberg crash and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that he had no knowledge of the tapes. Called last night in the Netherlands, Van der Veer would neither confirm nor deny anything.
“And if anyone has any new information they should go to the relevant government department – in this instance, to the minister of transport.
“If you ask me for comments I will refer you to my submissions to the Margo Commission and the TRC. I will not comment on anything.”
The November 28, 1987 Helderberg crash became SAA’s most controversial accident when the Boeing 747 crashed into the sea near Mauritius after a fire started on board.
Commanded by Captain Dawid Jacobus Uys, the flight came from Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.
The flight was in the midst of the arms embargo against South Africa, and it has been strongly speculated that the fire was started because of illegal munitions and cargo on board. All 159 passengers were killed.
For years, allegations have made the rounds that cockpit voice recordings during this crucial time went missing.
Klatzow alleges that the missing tapes would prove that Uys asked to land earlier but was told not to.
Fichardt said fellow pilot James Deale approached him in 1996 about how Deale had taken the tapes and given them to Mickey Mitchell and Van der Veer.
“What happened on the flight was on the tapes, so they had to get rid of it,” Klatzow said. He believes the tapes have not been destroyed and are still in existence as someone’s “life insurance”.
Klatzow said he would institute a criminal case against Van der Veer.
Presidency spokeswoman Zanele Mngadi said they were not aware of Klatzow’s call for Zuma to reopen the probe.