Prooi. Deon Meyer
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belief and that I make this report voluntarily, knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I would be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything which I know to be false or that I do not believe to be true.
I have no conflict of interest of any kind in this matter.
Herewith, my statement: I undertook a holiday to South Africa from 19 July (the date of my flight from Schiphol to Johannesburg) to 8 August (the date of my return flight from Johannesburg to Schiphol).
During that time, I spent seven (7) days in the Royal Malewane safari lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park (20 July to 27 July), and nine (9) days in Cape Town as a guest of the Cape Grace Hotel (28 July to 5 August).
From 5 to 7 August, I travelled with the Rovos Rail train from Cape Town to Pretoria.
I found South Africa to be a beautiful, friendly, hospitable country, and I am deeply saddened by the events that transpired during my visit. I wish to extend my most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Johnson Johnson, and would like to request the investigating officer to forward me the telephone number or email address of his family. I would like to offer my sympathy personally.
During my stay in Cape Town, I had daily contact with the daytime concierge of the hotel, a lovely man by the charming name of Vinnie Adonis. I do apologise for not knowing his full and proper name. Mr Adonis was very helpful in organising the various day trips I undertook during my stay, inter alia to Cape Point, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and up Table Mountain. He constantly urged me to be careful while exploring the city and peninsula, as men often do when confronted by a woman of my age, I presume. He also mentioned, on several occasions, the services of a personal security expert he could recommend.
I would like to hereby clearly state that Mr Adonis never overstepped or intruded in any way, and was always at his most courteous and professional in all his dealings with me.
However, being a well-travelled and world-wise nonagenarian, I surmised that this personal security expert was a friend of Mr Adonis, and that Mr Adonis was extending a helping hand in procuring employment for his friend.
I am the widow of a well-known businessman and entrepreneur, the late Joop Scherpenzeel, who founded the Sonnenborgh Breweries in the Netherlands. Therefore, I am acutely aware of the necessity for private and personal enterprise. Furthermore, I am of the opinion that job creation is the cornerstone of a sound and prosperous economy. Thus, my sole reason for contemplating the employment of this private security expert, was to make a small contribution to the wonderful people and the struggling economy of this marvellous country, as I had the means and opportunity. I did not require any personal protection or security. I am perfectly able to take care of myself.
I met Mr Johnson Johnson in the lounge of the Cape Grace Hotel on the morning of 3 August, at my request. I enquired as to his background, his current profession, and his hopes and dreams. He impressed me as a thoroughly courteous, kind and ambitious individual. He showed me photographs of his beautiful daughters. During the meeting I took the decision to ask him to accompany me on the Rovos Rail journey to Pretoria, in his professional capacity. It is a decision I have deeply regretted since hearing of the tragic fate of this family man, since I feel some responsibility for placing him on the train, in harm’s way, and triggering whatever circumstances that transpired to engineer his very dreadful demise.
Nonetheless, I contacted Rovos Rail, and was fortunate enough to procure a booking for Mr Johnson. I proceeded to call Mr Johnson, assisted by Mr Adonis, reserved his services, and met him in the Rovos Rail departure lounge on the morning of 5 August.
Soon after departure, Mr Johnson joined me on the viewing deck in the very last carriage of the train. He indicated various landmarks as we travelled out of the city, showed me the proximity of his home as we passed through the suburbs, and lamented the sad state of public train transport in the peninsula.
He then escorted me to the lounge after I complained of the wind chill, and we spent most of the afternoon there, enjoying high tea and the magnificent views of the Breede River and Hex River valleys, meeting other passengers, and engaged in conversation with them. It was, to say the least, most agreeable.
In the late afternoon – I did not make any pertinent effort to check the exact time – the train stopped at the delightful historic village of Matjiesfontein, where Mr Johnson accompanied me on the guided tour. In the hotel pub, a man was playing the piano, and Mr Johnson impressed me with a fine singing voice as he indulged in Afrikaans traditional folk songs.
He then accompanied me back to the train, and we both retired to our compartments to freshen up for dinner.
At around seven-thirty, Mr Johnson collected me from my compartment, and we proceeded to the dining car for what turned out to be a five star meal. We were invited to share a four seat table with a charming couple from Taunton in the United Kingdom, whom we had met at high tea. I am a former pupil of Queen’s College in Somerset, and so had much to catch up on and discuss with them. Regretfully, Mr Johnson must have felt a little excluded by this conversation. Although he was quiet, he seemed at ease and relaxed.
This brings me to the one thing of note that happened, during the latter part of dinner. I can only recount it as I remember it, but I must admit to being distracted by the most interesting conversation at the table. Thus, the following is based on an impression, rather than certainty: Mr Johnson seemed to recognise someone in the dining car. I distinctly remember him raising his hand as if to greet that person, but it was an uncertain gesture, as if he wasn’t exactly sure that he knew him or her. As we were sitting next to each other, we shared the same view. I recall following his gaze, but as there were several people leaving dinner at the same time, I cannot identify the specific person his gesture was aimed at, man or woman.
The moment passed, and I never inquired as to whom he apparently recognised, for which I am now very sorry.
We retired to our respective compartments soon after, at about ten minutes to nine, as I wanted to call home from my compartment at nine o’clock. Mr Johnson gentlemanly escorted me to my door, and wished me a pleasant night’s sleep.
That was the last time I saw him.
21
“Okay,” sê Vaughn Cupido hardop vir sy leë kantoor toe hy die Scherpenzeel-verklaring klaar gelees het. “Okay.” Want as Johnson Johnson iemand op die trein herken het, beteken dit die ondersoek kan eers net op die Suid-Afrikaanse treinpassasiers fokus.
“Not a good sign, as ’n man eers met homself begin praat,” sê ’n stem van die deur af. Kaptein Frank Fillander, die gryskop-veteraan van die Ernstige en Geweldsmisdaadeenheid, kom in. Agter hom is nog lede van die span, kaptein Vusumuzi “Vusi” Ndabeni en kaptein Willem Liebenberg.
“Met wie anders gaan ek ’n intelligent conversation in dié plek hê, uncle Frankie?”
“Fear not, the cavalry has arrived,” sê Fillander en maak hom tuis in ’n stoel oorkant Cupido.
“Die kolonel het ons gestuur,” sê Liebenberg. “Sy sê jy en Bennie is te useless om dié docket alleen te doen.”
“That’s not entirely true,” sê Ndabeni, altyd bekommerd dat sy kollegas se humor kwetsend kan wees. “We’re here to help.”
“New suit, Vusi,” sê Cupido. “Very stylish.”
“Thank you, Vaughn.” Die kleine Ndabeni is die speurder met die beste kleresmaak in die eenheid, ondanks Cupido se beste pogings.
“So, gaan ons chit-chat of gaan ons die Great Train Robbery oplos?” vra Fillander.
“Murder on the Rovos Express,” sê Vusi. “Classic.”
* * *
Johnson Johnson se voormalige kollega, adjudant-offisier Neville Bandjies van die SAPD se kantoor in Brackenfell, staan langs Griessel in die Soutrivier-lykshuis se uitkenningskamer. Die vertrek is klein en kaal met ’n sitbankie teen die muur en verbleikte blou gordyn voor die besigtigingsvenster. En die emmertjie, langs die bankie.
Bandjies