Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1998-12-02

CHAIRPERSON: No, not at all.  Not if they are written.  We would just, you would just submit them and we would just make a decision on them.

SATHYANDRANATH RAGUNANAN MAC MAHARAJ: If the Committee can perhaps allow me until Wednesday, next week, I will have them delivered if necessary, to wherever the Committee is going to be sitting.

CHAIRPERSON: You see, we sit as a Committee here and then next week, we all split up and go our various ways.  I think the best would be to arrange with Ms Thabete, where they could be sent to.  It is probably best to get them through to the office in Pinetown, the TRC has its own offices in the Pinetown Magistrate's court, actually within the court premises.

MR LAX: Would that be convenient for you?

SATHYANDRANATH RAGUNANAN MAC MAHARAJ: I understand that the Committee is going to be sitting in Pietermaritzburg next week?

CHAIRPERSON: There is a Committee, including Mr Lax will be one of the persons, I won't be there, nor will Mr Sibanyoni, but do you come from Pietermaritzburg?

SATHYANDRANATH RAGUNANAN MAC MAHARAJ: No, I am from Durban, but I have a matter in Pietermaritzburg on Friday, next week.

CHAIRPERSON: Well, that would be very convenient if you could perhaps hand in your written Heads to Mr Lax, who will be on that Committee, next week and he can arrange to bring it to Cape Town, when you come the next week, where we will be sitting.

MR LAX: I will be going on Monday to Cape Town, so I can give a copy.  We will be sitting at the Marion Centre, in Loop Street.  Do you know where that is?  Do you know where my office is in Maritzburg at all?

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Maharaj, are you appearing before the Committee next week?

MR LAX: No, no.  I will explain to you, do you know the bottom end of East Street, where East and Loop joins, if you just go up Loop Street, from East Street, it is a one way, heading up to the other direction, away from East Street in other words, on the left hand side, you will see Marion Centre, it is a little church centre.
	From the intersection with East Street, it is about 200 metres, up Loop Street, on the left.  We will be sitting in that Centre.

SATHYANDRANATH RAGUNANAN MAC MAHARAJ: I will find it.  In any event, the submissions would be handed to you before next week Friday, Friday the 18th, is it?

MR LAX: Yes, that is fine.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Maharaj, I am just suggesting, in case there is a complication or a difficulty, if you could just give Ms Thabete information or perhaps if you've got a card where she can communicate with you.

SATHYANDRANATH RAGUNANAN MAC MAHARAJ: Very well Mr Chairman.

MS THABETE: Thank you Mr Chairman and the Committee members.  That concludes our role.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much, Ms Thabete.  We have now come to the end of this hearing.  As you probably heard us talking now, seeing that it is very late, we have sat late, we have kept a number of staff overtime here, for which we apologise.
	In the circumstances, and also because Mr Maharaj would require a bit of time to prepare his submissions, it has been agreed that he would be making written submissions to the Committee as will Ms Thabete and we therefore accordingly, reserve our decision in this matter, and we will hand down a written decision so soon after we received those written Heads of argument, as is possible.
	This also brings our role to and end in this session of hearings, and before we adjourn, I would just very much like to thank all the people who made it possible for us to conduct these hearings.  I would first of all like to thank the church for making this very nice and convenient venue available to us.
	I would like to thank the Interpreters for the hard work they have done throughout the week, it is an extremely arduous task.  I would like to thank the Sound Technician for everything that they have done, as well as the security people and the caterers who have fed us so nicely, not only at tea times, but at lunch times as well.
	The media people, for being here the whole time.  It is very important that what occurs in these meetings, be relayed to the public.  I would like to thank them.  Mr Maharaj, this you informed us was your first appearance in the amnesty process.  Thank you very much for the assistance that you have given us.
	Thank you Ms Thabete, it was also Ms Thabete's first experience as an Evidence Leader when she started with us last week, thank you very much indeed for all your assistance Ms Thabete.  
	If I have forgotten anybody, I can assure you it was not by design and again, I apologise to all the people who we have kept here late in order to finish today rather than having to come back tomorrow.  Thank you very much indeed.
	We will now adjourn.
HEARING ADJOURNS