By Lethu Menziwa

SOUTH AFRICA – THE INSIDE STORY

For the past two decades, accusations against the FW de Klerk administration have been flying about. Many people have been whispering about huge sums of money being paid over by Swiss Bank accounts to the National Party politicians and government operators to hand over the SA government to the ANC. For 18 years nothing could be proven, until now:

CITIBANK

Gen. Erle Cocke ran Nugan Hand Bank’s Washington office. In April 2000, Cocke gave a deposition running to 67 pages concerning his knowledge and involvement in Project Hammer.

Ten days later he died from Pancreatic cancer. His explosive deposition reveals him as a very significant and highly connected player in a world few of us are familiar with.

Cocke related in his statement how Citibank was used as halfway stop for dodgy financial dealings in ‘black gold’ through “Project Hammer”– some 30 accounts used.

Asked where these accounts were located, Cocke responded saying – “In almost one solid block at Citibank.”

PROJECT “HAMMER”

Project “Hammer” was a desperate undertaking by the USA gov. to rescue some of its major banks, who, by the end of the 1980’s, faced insolvency. These banks included Citibank, HSBC, Chase Manhatten and the Bank of New York. The project was designed to cipher gold and diamonds as collateral as an emergency buoy for the ailing banks and to put the USA’s economy on track again. It is at this stage that South Africa’s De Klerk government entered the fray – as major gold and diamond supplier, it was the easiest and cheapest way to rescue the USA banking sector. Only one small problem: South Africa was in political turmoil with the white rightwing challenging the NP government on all fronts.

The best smokescreen Citibank could think upon to move large amounts of money and gold bullion was: Create political instability (between the NP gov. and the ANC. Then create a political vacuum where dodgy gold and diamond deals could be done without too many questions (maybe even an interim NP/ANC gov. where the minimum control would facilitate covert gold and diamond movements). Project ‘Hammer’ involved the trading of $13.6 trillion in debentures resulting in a ‘fallout’ of about $1.1 trillion which was stashed in the Howard Hughes account in Credit Suisse. Obviously, in a project of this size, a lot of organizations had to be involved: The CIA, FBI, all the NSA agencies, Pentagon in the broadest sense of it and as such, the Treasury and Federal Reserve. Nobody got out of the act, and everybody wanted to get in on the act –for there was lots and lots of money to be made.

EXECUTIVE OUTCOMES, SANDLINE and the STASI

Another individual who has played a considerable role in Project “Hammer,” was Rolf van Rooyen, who operated a number of business entities including one called ‘Oceantech’ and another called ‘Eastech’ International Bank. At one time Van Rooyen worked for SA Intelligence and is also believed to have been working for the CIA at the time Project “Hammer ” was in process. Of significance is the fact that Gen. Cocke and Van Rooyen knew each other, although Cocke says he only spoke to him on the phone but never ‘shook hands with him’.

During a police interview in Germany in 1995, Van Rooyen – when questioned about Project “Hammer ” responded:” If you are referring to Operation Hamer, it is an extremely large, very delicate operation in co-operation with the authorities of various countries in which Oceantech is involved..”

Working alongside Van Rooyen, was SA ntelligence operative Riaan Stander. Both Stander and Van Rooyen were board members of the “Eastcorp Syndicate” which boasted almost two dozen other companies in it’s stable. Included were Intercol Pty Ltd, Cavo Shipping – which conducted intelligence gathering missions for governments, and Bridge S.A. The latter was registered in Monrovia, Liberia.

According to Peter Goslar, once a close friend of Riaan Stander, other board members of Bridge S.A., were Colonel Tim Spicer and Mick Ranger of ‘Sandline’ fame. In a letter written to a Washington law firm involved in a lawsuit involving Project “Hammer“-, Goslar fingers Bridge S.A. – and hence Van Rooyen and Riaan Stander, as “part of the Executive Outcomes operation.” Eastech International Bank, was underwritten by a Mexican firm Ro-Mar Pharmaceuticals, a firm claiming to control over $100 billion in gold.

Van Rooyen and Stander entered Eastech into an agreement to purchase 5000 metric tones of gold at a discount of 4% from the Second London Fix. This gold was held in the free zone area beneath Zurich’s Kloten Airport. Interestingly, the contract, which ran to 6 pages, bears the official stamp of the Swiss Police, authorizing and validating the transaction. By 1995, Eastech International Bank had begun to hit the radar screen of regulatory authorities around the world that viewed it with suspicion, but by then it seems probable that much of Project “Hammer’s ” SA objectives had been fulfilled. Fearing the worse, Rolf Van Rooyen left S.A. and traveled to Germany. According to his one time friend, Peter Goslar, this is where he still lives albeit protected by former members of the East Germany’s Stasi spy-network.

Rudolph Ignatius van Rooyen – born in Kroonstad on 29 April 1959

Last known address: Rheinstern Hotel 1610, Rheinstern, Dusseldorf, Germany.

Alias – Rolf Rondine.

Director – Eastech International Bank, established in China and underwritten by a Mexican Firm. Contact person – Miss Lin Ying, China.

Riaan Stander – Security director of Eastech

Steve Potnak – managing director of Eastech Bank

Steve Pansegrow – military intelligence officer supplying Eastech with intelligence reports. He also supplied highly confidential information to C1, in the names of Eugene de Kock and Pieter Botha. Pansegrow’s wife was a receptionist for Van Rooyen and Stander.

Irma Els – operator helping in Ifafa – Eastcorp.

Fanie Smith – operator who signed validation certificates for Eastcorp.

– Letter of credit no. 9022101 signed by Fanie Smith and honoured by the bank and with a revenue stamp of the Greek gov.

– Certificate of deposit of $5 million, stamped by the Greek Gov, signed by Fanie Smith.

– Certificate of deposit of $25 million, stamped by the Greek Gov, signed by Fanie Smith.

– Directors of Eastcorp and Intercol as at the registrar of companies: Roelf van Rooyen, Riaan Stander, Douglas Randall. Intercol: Eugene de Kock, Gen. Tai Minnaar, Pieter Botha. Policemen and members of military intelligence served on both Eastcorp and Intercol.

– Dr. HP Bauer – involved with operator “Rosie”, Dr. HJ Schuster – agent of FAS in the US, Julian Rosie – director of FAS in South Africa.

– Riaan Stander liased directly with intel. Officers fromC1 (SA Police), namely Eugene de Kock, Chappies Kloppers, Pieter Botha and Willie Nortje. They asked help from Eastech to infiltrate rightwing groups in Pietersburg and for help in the movement of large quantities of weapons.

– MAS 57/08/92 – Pretoria North Case ref, investigation officer – Lt. Col. AE Botha conducted and investigation into the irregularities, but it wasnever made public or brought to court.

In October 1998, a German intelligence operator forwarded a document marked “Top Secret” to Gerhard Laubsher of the S.A. National Intelligence Agency, marked MZ/HRB/10-10/98 ser. Noj/IBI citing the disappearance of $223 104 000 008 from the South African economy through ‘black gold’ dealings.

In the report the following 47 persons were named:

FW de Klerk, Hernus Kriel, Chris Stals, Japie Jacobs, Org Marais, Anton Rupert, Johan Rupert, James Cross, Christo Wiese (SARB), Christo Wiese (Boland Bank), Dr. Swanepoel, Dr. Groenewald, Mr. Potgieter, Alwyn Lombard, Jan Lombard, Barend du Plessis, Commisionar Blaauw (western cape), Simon Nothnagel, Simon and Peter Nassau, Giel Nieuwoudt, Ben Zuma, Anton Welch, George Hill, BB de Klerk, Chris Nissan, Kobus Kirsten,Van Deventer, Boet Claasen, Big John Smith, Willem Korden/Kordan, Daniel Julius, Jan Koch, John and Faize Adams, Peter Blake, Nick Fourie, Magistrate Liebenberg, Casiem and Shahida Brey, Peter Mopp, Riaan Engelbrecht, Peter Goslar, Detective Justin Swart, Charles/Lester Newton, Robert Ferguson and Wynand Louw:

The report quotes:

4.7 The RSA has in excess 3000 tons of gold in storage. We can identify that Cloten in Switzerland, Luxembourg and London are used extensively for stored gold.

4.8 The RSA has a small refinery in Switzerland and deals with an other small refinery in Luxembourg (owned by Italian members) to refine gold, remove the markings on the gold.

4.9 The RSA selling 550 tons of gold every year and approximately 50 tons of gold is stolen every year.

4.12 Some of this money is then recycled back in RSA.

4.13 Some examples: The recent announced merger of Goldfields and Gencor. The purchase of BOE, NBS, OK Bazaars etc. by Christo Wiese. Old Mutual Bibby Group. Gencor’s Billiton Group. Rembrands Richmond Group. Anglo Americans Miners Group.

6.3 High yield investments goes generally through Volkskas Bank, Nedbank, Boland andStandard-Chartered Bank RSA, all with approval from the SARB.

6.4 Arnold van Eck, offshore in –Imposses des Michandes, Veyreier du Luc, 74000 Anmecy-France, Bis Avenue D’Albigny, 74000 Anmecy-Le Veux, Adriaan (Riaan) Stander, Switzerland, 17 Rue de Levi, Crans Montana.

6.5 Van Ecks Associates, Clientel, Co. Directors are all well known military intelligence officers and political figures. Large sums of funds to almost $1.6 billion were handled and controlled by the Van Eck Syndicate on instructions of these politicians and intelligence officers – There are in RSA R37 million in farms unaccounted for. $40 million are being held in secret accounts in Van Ecks name. An unauthorized amount of$6 million was paid to Mrs. Van Eck. There are in RSA various assets of enormous value, belonging to Afri-Air, a total of at least R700 million.Overseas funding in $ 400 million, is also unaccounted for. A further amount of $ 7000 million unaccounted, controlled by Van Eck.

After scrutinizing some of Riaan Stander’s bank accounts, the following was found:

Adriaan Barend Stander

Selbornelaan 141

Lyttelton Manor, Pta.

Account name: Intercol Consultants (Pty) Ltd.

Volkskas bank – 0609-142-596, Verwoerdburg branch.

Account name: Intercol Consultants

Nedbank

Arcadia, Pretoria branch

Eastcorp South Africa

Bankcorp London

Swiftref – TBOAGB2L

90 Long Acre

London SC2E 9SF

Account name

Eastcorp main account – 01-38496030-4

El Rosario Trust account – (Eastcorp HQ) – 01-38497030-0

Anti Crisi (Eastcorp Technical Division) 01-38498030-5

Eastech International Bank SA

Boland bank

Swiftref: BOLBZAJC

Pretoria branch

Account name: Estech International Bank – 136 873 6001

Relevant bank official – Mr. L. Coetzee – Gen Man.

Eastech International Bank – Tacoma, Washington.

Moving money between accounts is easy, especially when it is done with the blessing of the major banks and government, but moving gold and weapons around the globe is not so easy.

Enter one of the key players, shipping tycoon Tony Giordiadis, from Greece. Giordiadis had very close ties with Richard Carter (now corporate manager of BMW), the spokesperson for the SA President FW de Klerk. On May 11 and 12, 1990, De Klerk paid an official visit to Greece.Here he met with Pres. Caramanlis and Prime Minister Mitsosakies. De Klerk also met Tony Gordiakis at this time. Of Greek origin, but London based, Georgiadis shipped oil to SA in contravention of sanctions and developed close relations with members of the NP gov. to distribute money freely, Georgiadis opened a bank account in Liberia for Mallar Incorporated (it was also through this account that bribes to the tune of $22 million were paid to ANC officials during the Arms Deal).

Geordiadis’s father-in-law Lanaras once served as director of the shipping firm Alandis. The conspirators were faced by another huge obstacle – the loyal members of the Defence Force, Military Intelligence, National Intelligence Agency and the South Africa Police, who would immediately put a stop to the transactions, should they find out.

‘THE NIGHT OF THE GENERALS’

De Klerk fired all loyal officers so that his collaborators could move freely. On December 19, 1992, FW de Klerk fired 23 senior army officers, including navy officers, who could pose a threat to his plans.

So great was the speed with which De Klerk acted that even the army’s public relations office was not informed of the press conference. In addition, many of the officers disciplined, were on holiday and were unaware of their suspension.

The axed officers included: Major-General Chris Thirion, Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, who had a reputation of being one of the more progressive of the younger generation of generals, Major-General Hennie Rouw, Chief of Army Intelligence, Brigadier Ferdie Van Wyk, Director of Army Communications, who master-minded “Project Echoes,” Brigadier Tolletjies Botha, Director – Directorate of Covert Collection, which was raided in November by investigators of the Goldstone Commission, including UN personnel, Brigadier Oos van der Merwe,Director of Army Intelligence, Commander Jack Widdowson of the Navy. He named only three other officers, Colonel At Nel, Colonel Chris Prinsloo and Commandant Stephen Snyders, who were all put on “compulsory leave.”

This followed the purge of 19 police generals in August as part of a drive to bring the police” in line with the negotiation process. ” The furtherIndemnity Act pushed through parliament in August, needed to help ease officers out. The November raid on Military Intelligence’s Directorate of Covert Collection in November, by Goldstone investigators which provided the pretext for setting up the probe headed by Gen. Pierre Steyn.

A top-level meeting between senior Umkhonto We Sizwe and SADF officials in early August, brokered by the National Intelligence Service, which generally carries out the will of the cabinet. December’s ‘rationalisation’ measures which include the retrenchment of 6000 middle ranking officers followed. In just 5 months, De Klerk had opened the door wide, for his own operators to continue the sell-out.

“I have never before seen a government destroy its own power base, such as this one is doing” – said former chief of Military Intelligence, Gen. Tienie Groenewald, while the country is steadily moving towards complete chaos, the government has effectively neutralized the SADF’s intelligence capacities by removing the eyes, ears and nose of the defense forces.

The Greek shipping tycoon could now go about his business unhindered. Georgiadis was of course also implicated in the swindle with the sinking of the greek ship , Salem, off the African coast earlier in what was described by Loydds of Great Britian as “the biggest maritime swindle ever. “Salem – Lloyd’s pursues what may be the biggest maritime swindle ever – At 10:50am Greenwich time on Jan. 17, crewmen aboard the tanker British Trident, sighted a ship in distress off the coast of Senegal in Northwest Africa. The Salem, a 214 000 ton supertanker, registered in Liberia, was listing and dead in the water. By radio contact with the tanker, Trident learned that a series of mysterious explosions was responsible for the disaster. Indeed, a cloud of orange smoke billowed from the tanker’s deck. By 11:30 the disabled ship’s greek-born captain, Dimitrios Georgoulis, and his 22 crewmen, most of them Tunisians, had….”

Side note:

It was at this time that the whole Project ‘Hammer’ was put at risk by FW de Klerk’s impulsiveness. German operators learned that De Klerk was having an affair with Georgiadis’s wife, Elita (Lanaras’s daughter).

A memorandum was sent to the CIA, who decided to put a lid on the affair, until after the completion of Project “Hammer.

“Knowledge of the affair would not only open a can of worms, but it was not clear what Georgiadis’s reaction to the affair would be. It this only became public after another two years.

There would be a twist – Marike de Klerk. When FW de Klerk divorced Marike to marry Elita, a clause was written into the divorce agreement that De Klerk would be able to censor any books or article Marike might decide to write – which indeed he did when he prevented the publication of a chapter titled  Grotgesprek (cave conversation) in the autobiography titled “‘n Plek waar die son weer skyn.”

But Marike de Klerk was not done yet. Then, sadly, on 2 Dec. 2001, she was brutally “murdered” in her Dolphin Beach complex, Bloubergstrand apartment, hours after sending an undisclosed fax to Holland.

Curiously – the European Union paid R30 000 into the account of the murder accused – Mboniswa, channelled by the Foundation for Human Rights, for “DNA tests.”

Mboniswa stood trail in the Western Cape High Court and was found guilty of the murder, without taking the stand in his own defense.

What was to follow was the orchestrated and directed ‘political reform’ as was dictated to by foreigners of this country. The reform was steered by international banks/financiers as well as foreign intelligence agencies. The subsequent buy-out of South African politicians and role players, culminated in the demise of a country…