Human Rights Violation Hearings — Winelands — 1996-10-16

MS GOBODO: That is the end of Ann-Marie's statement.  I want  to stress this
Ann-Marie once said to me that all she wants to know are answers to her questions.
 What happened to her son, where did this happen.  Who was there with him.  Anybody who can explain to her if it was her son who was in that plastic bag.  Something that can assist her to complete the process of mourning.
 We received a statement this morning from Ann-Marie's other son, Owen,  which I'm also going to read.  Owen has written his statement as if it was written by his brother, his late brother, Wallace, and it reads as such
On behalf of Wallace I write this statement.  In a way I feel arrogant to write something on behalf of my brother.  He's been dead for a long time now and we will never know how he would have turned out to be.  What his beliefs would have been.  What he would have written if he was killed on the border.
I only knew him for short while but I knew him well and I think the following is more or less what he would have asked and said to you if I was shot dead on March 9th  1987.
My name is Matthew William Wallace McGregor.  My brother is dead today and I can think of no good reason why, he was just a child.  What did he know about politics, all he knew was the lies.  He was told that there were 40-thousand Cuban soldiers, wanting to invade South Africa.  He was told that they joined SWAPO in their invasion, in their fight, and if they do not stop them at the Angolan Border, we will have to fight them at the South African Boarder,  just north of Upington.  Which is quite close to Nieuwoudville, where he grew up.
He was told that there was Russian involvement's as well and that  America was on our side,  and that together we fought communism which the NG Kerk said was from the devil.  He was taught  that SWAPO not only wanted, then - the then South West Africa, but also South Africa.
All he knew was that he must go to the army and protect his country and the people he loves.  He was taught that he will also be defending the black people from this outside evil.  They do not fight with us, because they cannot be trained as good soldiers, and will only be a hustle in a  war situation, and will kill more of their own people because they cannot shoot straight.
This outside evil also infiltrated  South Africa somehow  and was a little group called the ANC.  In the township he had to defend the black people against this group.  He was taught that people were easily influenced and it was his duty as a Christian to defend the blacks against this evil communist radicals.
This was all he had time for to learn before he was killed.  He did not have time to learn that it was all lies.  According to him he died a hero because that's all he knew.
I regret that he did not live long enough - my brother - to know that the Cubans never fought against us but against UNITA for the Angolan Government.   SWAPO was the people of  South West Africa  and got it's independence three years after you died.  And is now called Namibia.
They where never interested in South Africa, they just wanted their country back.  And the NG Kerk  that said communism is from the devil, they didn't allow Antjie into the church at your funeral...
I just which to explain here when Wallace was buried the woman who took care of him, who was a black woman,  could not - was kept away - could not be allowed in the church where Wallace was  buried  and the writer of this letter - Wallace's brother - Owen, was apparently very upset to see Antjie, the woman who brought him up, left out in the church and not being able to bury his brother.  He told me also about his visit to the grave of  Antjie recently.
The people you defended against the ANC all along supported them.  The ANC was never a little rebel group.  It was the people of South Africa.  They also got their independence and the National Party is now the opposition.
I want to ask the National Party if they thought they could get away with these lies.  I want them to know that we all know the truth today.
I want to ask Pik Botha the night you got drunk at Rhundo and rounded up - some troops to go and shoot some SWAPO's,  did you think it was all a game?  Today you say you were against the war all along.  
Magnus Malan started a help center for former soldiers just last week.   I don't think any of the former soldiers want your help,  to them you are nothing but a liar.
To PW Botha and his cabinet of those days, why did my brother die?  Explain to my mother and my father and to all South Africans how and why my bother died.  Why did I die. Regards Wallace.
Those, ladies and gentlemen, were the two statements.  The first one from  the mother of Wallace McGregor and the second one from Owen, his brother.
I'm now going  to invite the Commissioners, the panel, to make some comments, if they which.  Any one who wants to make a comment.