Human Rights Violation Hearings — Alexandra — 1996-10-30

CHAIRPERSON: ... with all that you have given us.  Just give us your holy spirit and embrace your children.  (Xhosa not translated).  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we ask that You bless this country and bring understanding, the reality of reconciliation through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.
 What about this?  I welcome you warmly all the people who have come here.  We welcome all of you very warmly.  Although I am a recent arrival, welcome especially to those who are coming to testify and those supporting them.  We welcome you all to this hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  This hearing has been going on for some time and some of you have seen yourselves on television and in the newspapers. 
 Now, let me introduce my colleagues.  Right at the end is Joyce Seroke who is a member of the Human Rights Violations Committee that is based here in Johannesburg.  Hugh Lewin who is also a member of the Human Rights Violations Committee also based here in Gauteng and has been chairing these hearings.  Yasmin Sooka who is a Commissioner and is also Deputy-Chairperson of the Human Rights Violations Committee and is based here in Gauteng.  Hlengiwe Mkhize a Commissioner and Chairperson of the Reparations and Rehabilitation Committee and is also based here in Gauteng.  ALEXANDRA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
2 N L RIVERS
Now I hand you over to Hugh Lewin.

MR LEWIN: Thank you very much Father and welcome to everybody.  I see something is going to happen to our Chairperson at the weekend.  I do not know what we call him after that, but at the moment he is the Chairperson of the Commission.  We are very, very pleased that he has been able to join us today.  Alexandra, as we have seen over the last two days, already, has obviously been a very important place for all of us.  We are very pleased to see that some of the witnesses from the last two days have also been able to come and join us today.  We welcome them.
 I would just like to explain the procedures that there are earphones translation system available for everyone who needs them, collect them at the door.  The three channels that are available, number two is English, number three is Zulu and four will be Xhosa and any other African language that the witnesses might be speaking through.  If you need assistance, please ask.  There are people who can assist.  
 I should also like to stress that the most important people here today, as in all our hearings, are the witnesses, the victims who come to tell their stories.  We have to insist that this is their day, that the platform is theirs.  They are the most important people and I would ask everyone please to respect that and to give the people the chance to let themselves be heard and to tell their stories in their own time.  Please to respect that.  Without any further ado we will start with the first witness, Louisa Rivers.  If she could please come forward.  Thank you.  Morning Mrs Rivers.

NTABATABI LOUISA RIVERS: Morning.

MR LEWIN: Can you hear clearly through the earphones.
ALEXANDRA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
3 N L RIVERS

NTABATABI LOUISA RIVERS: Yes, I can hear you.

MR LEWIN: Fine, if you can hear.  I would just like to explain that this is your time to tell your story.  That this is not a Court of Law, you are here amongst friends specifically to tell you story.  We will not, obviously, today make any finding, but we will later make findings on the evidence that has been presented.  While we are not a Court of Law we do require that everybody who comes to give evidence, takes an oath.  So, if you could please stand and raise your right hand.

NTABATABI LOUISA RIVERS: (Duly sworn in, states).

MR LEWIN: Thank you very much.  Thank you.  Do you feel comfortable and relaxed?  Probably not relaxed, but we would congratulate you for coming forward to be the first witness.  It is always a difficult thing and we are pleased that you are able to do that.
 Mrs Rivers, you are telling us about events that took place in 1982 concerning your husband.  You have made the statement, but now if you could please, for all of us here, tell that story in your own words and your own time.  Thank you.