Human Rights Violation Hearings — Pietermaritzburg — 1996-11-20

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Monica, I must say that during this time I lived at Imbali, and I think your group saved many lives.

WITNESS:   I hope so.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  We must emphasise that.  Many people would have been killed at Imbali if your group did not deter them.

WITNESS:  I hope so.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  And it showed how powerful people can be if the whites and blacks work together.  It became proved very well at Imbali, and I must really thank you for that.  This is why I said yesterday if the history of this area is written, and your name is not there with your group, then the history of South Africa will not be enough, and I want to thank you very much.  And it was during the time when you had problems too in your family.  You son too, Martin Wittenberg, was being arrested, detained, but that did not deter you as the mother in following your mission, and we want to thank you very much, Mother.

WITNESS:   Thank you.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  I have one question and one comment.  The first question, did the fact that you were white in a black township give you some advantage in not being intimidated by the police?

WITNESS:   We were - they tried to severely intimidate us, but there is a way you can refuse to be intimidated by police.  I personally was - they tried to severely intimidate me, but somehow I refused to be intimidated by them.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Okay.  The second one is a comment.  I would like to make these comments.  It might be an unfair comment directed to you, but to me it's important.  That we as the Truth Commission nationally we are worried that we are not moving along in the same direction with most of the whites.  We still feel there are very few people like you.

WITNESS:   I'm afraid so.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  We - yes we are supposed to reconcile.  We are polarised even at a time of pain.  You just have to look at this hall and see who is here.  It's hurting us blacks very badly.  Probably the process for you is not finished.  You can help us in the process of reconciliation, I think, by trying to bring in as many whites as possible.  We want to reconcile.  We can't reconcile without them.  That's a challenged to you and people like you.  Thank you very much.

WITNESS:  They don't want to hear, that is the problem.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Just one question, Monica.  You have already said that you were intimidated, and you have already say that your group was a group comprising of whites only.  Now, I would like to know whether perhaps at any stage did you feel that you were threatened in the suburbs or the areas in which you lived because of your involvement?

WITNESS:   Oh yes.  We had tyres slashed in front of our house.  We did have our share of - I had a death threat, and I had my strong suspicion who did it.  I had a death threat and subsequently was nearly killed in an accident, which was a peculiar accident, in Imbali.  But of course that was the police who phoned me.  That was police who phoned me to give me the death threat.  Otherwise from my own community it was just a sort of a turning your back and not listening.  But we had tyres slashed in front of the house.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Thank you very much, Mrs Wittenberg.  Just before you go, are you aware that the constable who gave evidence here yesterday, Constable Harrington, has admitted to us that he shot the vehicle on the night in question?  You're aware of that?

WITNESS:   Yes.  I did tell him that I am sure Graham Swan has forgiven him.  Knowing Graham Swan I know he has forgiven him.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  I don't think I've got anything further to add to what Dr Magwaza and Dr Mgojo have said, other than to commend you for your bravery in those times, and to ask you to continue to be an example to other white people in your community.  Thank you very much indeed.

WITNESS:   Thank you.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER: /MR LYSTER

MR LYSTER: That was the final witness for today, and in fact for this entire hearing, and I am going to briefly summarise the evidence.
 We have heard a great deal of evidence this week ... (incomplete)

COMMISSIONER: We are not done yet.  Please let's respect ourselves.  Richard Lyster is yet to summarise everything that happened and took place here.  Let's give him and afford him an opportunity to do that.  Please respect and be respectful.