Special Hearings — Trojan Horse Hearings — 1997-05-20

MARY BURTON: Thank you very much, Dr Akoojee.  Before I go any further, I would like to ask if any of my colleagues would like to ask any questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mary.  Dr Akoojee, you mentioned the problem with Groote Schuur being the deployment of police vehicles there and your avoidance of the hospital to go to other hospitals.  Could you explain a little bit more about that?

EBRAHIM AKOOJEE: Yes, there was this perception and it was known, I mean a lot of times we referred patients from our surgeries, other victims or so, the moment they arrived there, they would be arrested or so.  In that particular night when this happened, it was just a decision that was taken by some of the GP's and the specialists and said, look, it would be best to go to Somerset hospital.
 One of the reasons was that Dr Jaco was working part time at Somerset and he could arrange things there quickly for us, so that was also one of the reasons we got there.
 But the fact that Groote Schuur and a lot of other hospitals the moment you send patients there, they were arrested and that was a known fact and that is why I think the private GP and the private specialist played a crucial role in those times in assisting and treating patients privately without informing the police.

CHAIRPERSON: Glenda Wildschut?

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Dr Akoojee, as a health worker I am compelled to make one or two observations.  You will probably know that later on this year, in June, we will be having a hearing which focuses on the role of health workers and through many of the testimonies that we've heard over the past year that the Commission has been in operation, we've heard of not only the brutality of the security police and other security personnel, but we've also heard of the callousness of some of our colleagues.
 We've heard how District Surgeons and other people have in fact ignored very serious complaints and serious comments about the state of health of prisoners or people under their care, but I have to acknowledge today and have to mention that there were those health workers like yourself and others, who placed their career and who placed career advancement and acknowledgement on the line and who actually did the kind of things that you described today.
 We know of people who in a sense turned their kitchens and other rooms into operating theatres in order to save the lives of people who had been confronted by the security police.
 I would like to place on record that in the broad scheme of things, we will have to make pronouncements about health workers who did not care and who did not live up to their oath, but we also have to acknowledge the role of those health workers like yourself who were able to do their utmost to save the lives of people in their care.
 Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Glenda.  Mary Burton?

MARY BURTON: Dr Akoojee, before you go.  I would like to associate myself with Glenda Wildschut's remarks and also to say that we have noted your remarks about the inquest and that you were never called to testify there and also that you note that as far as you could see, Mr Fridie had not carried any weapons.
 And I've just double checked it, we do have your original statement which was made at the time, that part of the documents that our investigative unit have collected.  I would like to say that this is a community in a part of Cape Town that was certainly rich in activists as you say who believed in 1985 that the turn of the tide was right there and that the efforts that they were making, was going to bring about a very rugged and dramatic change.
 And we do recognise that that was one of the waves breaking against the barricades which did make a difference.  The community was rich not only in activists, but in professional people like yourself and in many community leadership roles, we've heard about teachers, we know about lawyers who made themselves available to the people.
 We think about the media skills which existed in the community and we think also of the many religious leaders who played a very brave role.
 And if you will indulge me, I will like to take us back a little in history even earlier than this period because I find it impossible in this area to hold a hearing of the TRC without paying tribute to the memory of Imaam Haroons.
 His widow Mrs Haroons have chosen not to come and give evidence to us which is of course her absolute right.  But if we are speaking of religious leaders in the community and if we are speaking of the history of this community, then his testimony, his leadership and his terrible death are a part of that history, and I would not like it to go unforgotten as part of that continuing from a much earlier period of people who had struggled for democracy in this country.
 Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Dr Akoojee and thank you Mary.