Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-11-19

MR POTGIETER: We are just trying to locate these annexures.  Just for my colleagues they are towards the end of the papers, so if you go past all of the press copies and so, copies of extracts from newspapers, right past that, have you located it?

UNKNOWN: Can I proceed?

MR POTGIETER: Well just give us a minute Brigadier.  Alright Brigadier.

UNKNOWN: This is a press release issued by my office straight after the news broke out.  It's dated the 7th of September 1992.
"The Council of State of the Republic of Ciskei has learnt with shock of the shooting incident in the vicinity of the Bisho stadium after participants in the African National Congress march breached the conditions imposed by the magistrate for Zwelitsha for the conduct of the march and gathering.
 We express our sincere regret at the conduct of these marchers and at the shooting which ensued.  We further convey our sincere condolences to the injured and the families of the deceased.  The Council of State gives the first assurance that a full inquiry will be held as soon as possible to investigate and report on the incident.  The Council of State gives the assurance that law and order will be maintained and calls on all citizens to remain calm and to act within the law".
 Later it was reported to me that when the marchers arrived at the stadium and began to enter a group congregated outside the stadium while a further group ran through the stadium on the left and rushed towards Bisho and at the Ciskei defence force soldiers that had been deployed in that vicinity.  A soldier had been shot.  An order to fire was given after a report was made of gunfire from within the crowd as well as handgrenades having been used.  The action by the military was thus defensive in nature.
 I released a further press statement marked Annexure J which is self-explanatory where I express the fact that from reports gained that troops may have acted in self defence.
 Reaction to the massacre.  Re ANC alliance.  What happened in Bisho on the 7 September 1992 shocked the world.  I wish to place the following on record. 
 The ANC alliance had repeatedly been warned from various sources that their proposed march could have devastating consequences and result in bloodshed.  They ignored all warnings determined to achieve their objective.  The ANC alliance never had a peaceful march in mind from the outset and embarked on war talk.  The ANC alliance by their campaign of terrorising the military prior to the march might possibly have thought that the soldiers would not obey an order to shoot but should have foreseen that there was always a possibility that the soldiers could fire if besieged as they were.  
 Ronnie Kasrils was clearly not even concerned therewith and appeared to be prepared to risk any situation for political gain.  One of his many quotes justifying his behaviour was,
"Through history how has tyranny been toppled, never without casualties".
This comes from the Sunday Star of September 13 1992.
The behaviour of the leadership of the ANC alliance must be condemned in the strongest terms.  
 Re Ciskei military.  It is necessary for me to outline the defence force's situation so that there can be a better understanding of what occurred on that fateful day.  The Ciskei defence force did not consist of the most sophisticated or combat trained soldiers, and furthermore the defence force, because of its size and nature, probably led to Ciskei being targeted first for mass action by the ANC alliance. 
 As with any defence force they had a statutory duty to protect their country.  The Massacre was never planned and I strongly reject any suggestion of that nature.  
 I annex for the benefit of the Commission the minutes of a meeting held by the defence force of the 31st August 1992 to discuss the planning of the proposed march as Annexure K.  Mr Chairman due to the length of this document I would like only to point out that just by the composition of the, or the participants in the march, should be seen that it was a concerted action of all regional security force role players to ensure that all heads are brought to one to avoid whatever and to manage the situation as it arises.  This was done immediately after the August march to ensure that whilst another meeting was being canvassed lessons learned from the previous march must help in trying to make a better security arrangement for the next one.   There 
was there the deputy chief of the Defence Force, Colonel van der Bank, Colonel Ramond who was attached to Group 8 from the SADF, Colonel Berg from the SAP, Colonel van der Linde from the military, he was the military attache of Ciskei.

MR POTGIETER: Sorry Brigadier what does that stand for, MA Ciskei?

UNKNOWN: Military attache, he was working at the South African Embassy.  And Colonel Shubersberger who was an operational officer at the CDF.  Commandant de Kock of the SADF.  Commandant Nkosana who was I think head of the Bisho Base.  Major Dave Scroobie was our legal advisor in the defence force.  Captain Aslet, SAP.  Du Plessis, SAP. Captain Priklimane Gahledi from CDF, Captain Komanda from CDF and Commander Swanepoel from CDF.

MR POTGIETER: Was the Ciskei Police not present, because I can't see on my copy?

UNKNOWN: No, the Ciskei police were not present.  It says here "Not present Ciskei police".

MR POTGIETER: Okay, thanks.

UNKNOWN: By the time the march took place on the 7th of September the military were demoralised and feared what the ANC alliance were going to present them with.  They responded to a lawful order to fire and such order was given after information had been relayed that the soldiers were being fired at and that the crowd was running towards them.  The military was the last line of defence.  Any criticism of over-reaction by the military must be seen against the background of the circumstances that existed prior to the march, as well as on the day in question.
 The aftermath - reaction.  The 7 September 1992 was a sad day for the whole of the Ciskei and the then South Africa.  The incident was debated and discussed at length in the tabloids, the media and investigated by the Goldstone and Pickard Commissions of Inquiry.  A minute was sent from my government to the United Nations in connection therewith and I annex a copy thereof marked Annexure L.  As it is a lengthy document and a very detailed document of explanation, I think it's just a supporting document to almost what we have said here Mr Chairman.  I suggest we leave it to the Commissioners.

MR POTGIETER: I am sorry I am just trying to locate that.

UNKNOWN: It's just after this annexure K.

MR POTGIETER: I've got the Annexure K, the minutes of that planning meeting, but in my papers, well let me tell you that minute, it's headed "Secret" on top and it's got nine pages in my papers, it goes up to nine, and then immediately after that there is a letter from the African National Congress Border Region to the Town Clerk King Williamstown Municipality.

UNKNOWN: Oh that's right.  Immediately after all these intelligence reports it's a thing called Annexure L, it's the very last document.

MR POTGIETER: Okay, alright it's here.  Thank you.

UNKNOWN: I am aware that many people have and still do blame me for what happened on that unfortunate day.  My reaction to that day was and still is one of great remorse and distress as I was horrified and sorrowful at what happened on that day.  As far as I am concerned the ANC alliance needed to return to the negotiating table and stop using the lives of innocent people for their own political gain.

MR POTGIETER: Order please, order.  We won't proceed until we have got order.  Reverend Xundu.