Amnesty Hearings — Pinetown — 1999-03-08

CHAIRPERSON: Today we'll just be receiving arguments and submissions in the applications of Mkhize and others.
	Mr Wills, have you been informed that your clients, I'm told, will be here shortly, around eleven I was told.

MR WILLS: ...(indistinct)

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, thank you.
	Mr Stewart I'm told you will be commencing with your argument, but I think before we do that I'll ask Ms Williams, she came to see us in chambers, just to put on record the attitude of certain implicated persons, through their legal representative, and she has a letter that's been written to us by Mr Faulkner, who represented them, which she just wants to put on record.

MS WILLIAMS: Thank you Honourable Chairperson.  This facsimile is dated the 5th of March 1999, and was for the attention of Judge S Miller.
"Dear Sirs,
RE: THE AMNESTY HEARING OF
1. D LUTHULI
2. B G MKHIZE
3. R M MBAMBO
4. I N HLONGWANE
	5. Z DLAMINI and  
6. B B NDLOVU
	We refer to the letter from the Amnesty Committee dated 2 February 1999 advising that argument will be heard in regard to the aforementioned amnesty applications on 8 and 9 March 1999, at the Pinetown Magistrate's Court.  
		We have represented certain person implicated by the aforementioned applicants, and who received notices in terms of Section 18 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act No.  34 of 1995.  In accordance with the instructions of our clients, we, together with Advocate J E Hewitt, SC., attending the hearings of  the applications for amnesty in this matter, when it was put on behalf of our clients, and in accordance with our clients' instructions, to the various applicants, that they denied the alleged involvement in the criminal activities of the applicants, for which amnesty is sought.  
		We are instructed to inform you that our clients persist with this denial.  We are furthermore instructed that due to various reasons, including inter alia severe financial constraints, our clients do not wish to place argument before this Honourable Committee in opposition to the applications for amnesty, and that our clients abide by the decision of this Honourable Committee.  In the circumstances we shall not appear on behalf of our clients on the dates for argument.  I respectively request that this Honourable Committee excuse us from further attendance.
Yours faithfully"

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Ms Williams.  Well, they're excused.  After Mr Stewart has argued, then Mr Wills will argue, then Mr Muller, and then if there's any submissions to be made by the Evidence Leader, either in the form of Mr Dladla or Mr Mpshe, we'll receive submissions from them as well.  Mr Stewart?

MR STEWART: Thank you Mr Chairperson, Members of the Committee.  In the hearings today ...(intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Stewart I think if you, you can stand if you want to, but you can also sit if you want to sit.  And I think it's very hot here, if you want to remove jackets, please do so.

MR STEWART: Thank you Mr Chairperson.  In the nature of the work that I usually do, it's ...(intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: It's your habit to stand.

MR STEWART: It's my habit to stand so you'll excuse me if that's what I do.

SISI KHAMPEPE: ...(inaudible)