Amnesty Hearings — Cape Town — 1997-10-31

MR PRIOR: Thank you Mr Chairman, I call the next witness, Mr 
Quentin Cornelius.  Mr Cornelius is in a wheelchair, and I think it 
may be convenient, Mr Chairman, for him to sit where Mrs Fourie 
sat.
	He appears at item 2 of the submissions by victims Mr 
Chairman, thank you.

QUENTIN CORNELIUS: (sworn states)

MR PRIOR: Mr Cornelius, thank you for 
appearing.  Is it correct that you have prepared your own 
submissions which form part of the Bundle of documents that was 
handed up to the Committee?

MR CORNELIUS: That is correct.

MR PRIOR: Do you have a copy of the submissions that you intend 
to present in your evidence?

MR CORNELIUS: I do.

MR PRIOR: And you wish those submissions to be incorporated as 
part of your evidence?

MR CORNELIUS: That is correct.

MR PRIOR: Just for the record, how old are you now?

MR CORNELIUS: I am 24 years.

MR PRIOR: Are you married?

MR CORNELIUS: No, I am not married.

MR PRIOR: And where do you reside at present?

MR CORNELIUS: I live in Randburg, Johannesburg.

MR PRIOR: Thank you.  Will you please proceed with presenting 
your submissions to the Committee.

MR CORNELIUS: Mr Chairman, I just want to go through the 
piece of my position and feelings regarding this amnesty application.
	From the 30th of December 1993, my life has never been the 
same for obvious reasons, being in a wheelchair, having lost the use 
of my legs due to the fact that I was shot in cold blood, at point 
blank range by the three applicants.  There is a lot a person can deal 
with and I thank God for the courage given to me and that got me 
where I am now.
	If it was not for that courage and strength and my optimism, I 
would not have been here today.  It is however, made very difficult 
when you have root nerve pain and various other forms of pain on a 
daily basis, pains that you can hardly explain to somebody, that I 
would never have had if this did not happen.
	I have lost a kidney and various parts of my intestines as well, 
as a result of the shooting.  This has been the reason and the cause 
why I initially ended up in hospital for several months and have 
subsequently been in hospital again a couple of times, because of 
various complications.
	Nobody will ever know what it is like, what suffering a person 
has to go through until it has happened to you.  I would like to have 
each of the perpetrators look me in the eye and choose whether they 
would not mind having a rifle stuck in their spines and the trigger 
being pulled on them in cold blood, to leave them emotionally and 
physically scarred and disabled as I have been or would they rather 
stay in jail and serve their sentences for the crimes that they 
committed?
	There was a freedom fight in this country for many years 
before, our current President, Nelson Mandela was set free in the 
early 1990's, in fact I think it was 1991.  He became President of 
this country due to the democratic elections that was held in April of 
1994, only four months after this horrific attack was launched on us.
	All political parties had by that time, come to agreement 
already that they are on the road to democracy in this country, 
including the perpetrators' party, including the PAC that had part in 
the interim constitution that was accepted on the 3rd of December 
1993, almost or just less than a month before this attack was still 
launched.
	Why was this attack executed, given all these things?  The 
time period and the fact that we already embarked on a road to 
democracy?  It was years after everybody had already accepted, 
several years after it was accepted and realised that the freedom 
struggle was over and in my opinion, and I believe that this is the 
common belief under South Africans, this attack was launched in a 
period when the struggle was over, there was no reason for any 
group or fraction to prove a point, by launching such attacks.
	This was completely out of and after the supposed accepted 
time frame when such terrorist attacks was executed to prove a 
point as part of the struggle, but the struggle was already over.
	This point was proved, and I can't understand why this attack 
was still sent through.  For this very reason, I am not prepared and I 
cannot find it in my heart, to forgive them at this point in time.  I 
therefore oppose this application for amnesty.  I do not believe that 
any murderers or criminals should be granted amnesty.  The 
murderers and criminals have been tried, convicted and sentenced by 
a Supreme Court in this country.  It proves to the ordinary person 
on the street and every other criminal, that it is just another one set 
free, or another three will be set free on our streets to roam as many 
other criminals in my belief, are still free on the streets.
	The fact that the command was given by your higher 
authorities, still does not give any, and I repeat I want to stress that 
it does not give any person the right to go out and shoot young, 
innocent people that sat in a Tavern that night, that had no 
connection whatsoever with the Security Forces in this country.  I 
had no political affiliation to anybody, I was merely visiting a very 
good lady friend of mine that has been killed in this attack, Lindi 
Anne Fourie, and I cannot see in my heart, ever, that any person has 
got that right to walk in and take another person's life in cold blood 
when you don't even know who you are shooting at.
	Lives have been taken and lives have been maimed because of 
these orders handed down.  There is in my opinion no reason 
whatsoever, to be such cowards, as to attack a pub full of cheerful 
young students in the middle of the most cosmopolitan area, 
Observatory, in Cape Town, on the eve of new year, whilst they are 
enjoying their youth together with youths of all other races, colours 
and creeds and all this whilst we were on our way to the first 
democratic elections in this country.
	I request of the perpetrators and their leaders, and I would 
like to echo what Mrs Fourie said, that was the higher command, the 
higher parts in the PAC and I believe, I heard what you said Mr 
Chairman, that it will be looked at further, and I do hope that it will 
be looked at further, but I request of them all, to explain to us why 
this was done, and if they have any logical reasoning for such a 
senseless attack at that time.
	Mr Chairman, I oppose this request for amnesty. 
	In conclusion, I just want to mention for the record, that I am 
not going into any detail whatsoever, as to my emotional suffering, 
physical pain, absolute distress and anger, fear I went through 
during those couple of months in hospital and the following years up 
to now, the absolute indescribable sacrifices and pain that my 
parents, my brother and my sister went through, pain and anger and 
fear that my family and friends experienced.  The humiliation of 
trying to adjust back into a very unforgiving society as an invalid, 
dependant on people for almost everything that you have to do, 
having to cope with the very unfriendly environment every day of 
your life.
	Needless to say I could write, mention of write another 200 
pages just on those few points, Mr Chairman, however, I have been 
able to cope in many respects and I will continue in my positive way 
as I believe I have been. 
	In conclusion to all of this, I am just interested in one thing, 
Mr Chairman, I want to see justice served.  That's all, thank you.

MR PRIOR: Do you confirm the statement and the information you 
have conveyed to the Committee, as part of your evidence?

MR CORNELIUS: I do.

MR PRIOR: Now, you have been in attendance throughout the 
proceedings from Monday, the 27th have you not?

MR CORNELIUS: That is correct.

MR PRIOR: And you've listened to the evidence of the applicants, 
as to how the attack occurred?

MR CORNELIUS: That is correct.