Reporter testifies in trial

FORMER Weekend Argus senior reporter Zenzile Khoisan took the stand in the André Lincoln lawsuit on Thursday revealing the existence of a voice recording of apartheid top cop Leonard Knipe threatening to topple the ANC government.

Khoisan was asked to give evidence about a number of articles published in the Mail & Guardian and the Cape Argus newspapers in which he wrote about apartheidera police activities and Lincoln’s trial.

He briefly testified that the recording was made by Abraham Smith and the voice of the speaker making the threat was that of Knipe.

Craig Webster, representing the defendant, initially objected to Khoisan taking the stand, saying he did not see what value he would add to the proceedings if his newspaper articles were based on Lincoln’s regional court trial.

Webster then requested more time to prepare for Khoisan’s crossexamination. He said he did not know about the testimony and needed to consult Knipe who was not in court on Thursday.

The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.