Amnesty Hearings — Johannesburg — 1998-09-17

JABULANI JOSEPH KHUMALO AKA ACE: Thank you, Mr Chairman, and the Committee, to give this opportunity to the PAC in order to make a comment in fact on what has transpired in this hearing.  I must say that I was taken by the comment and the statement made by Mr Lax on the APLA presentation, that regard the question of the mistake that were conducted during the time of the armed struggle.
	The PAC, when it conducted its arm struggle through APLA, we never had opportunity to make a lot of workshops and things like that.  We have made a great mistake.  I think it is on record that the PAC on the Amy Biehl case, they even went to an extent to visit the family and make reconciliation.  It's even far from the Africans themselves.  We went above that because we realised that at the end of the day we had to reconcile as a nation.  So, we feel very bitterly of what is happening during the time of the struggle which was not our option.  
	We didn't choose as the PAC to engage on armed struggle, but we were forced to take up arms.  So, to members of the families that suffered the casualties during the time of war as the PAC, we are not proud of that.  We really don't enjoy any proud of it, of the casualties and the victims.  Although we suffered as well as the PAC the same equal question of casualties within the PAC itself, but we are not happy of the armed struggle that has been taken on in this country.  We said if the politicians at the time could come to understand of talking and negotiate, the political settlement as it lastly happened we would have avoided all these unnecessary casualties.  
	So, to the family of the present here, I am conveying this message on behalf of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania that we didn't meant to, but it happened because it was at the time the only option and unfortunately the PAC never had time, APLA didn't have time to train people.  We didn't have camps in that matter, as my sister have put it forth.  The PAC was conducting the guerilla warfare.  We had to use a smaller portion that we can get in order to train these forces.  But we really apologise to the pains that we have caused to the whole nation, because the PAC, on its formation was a peaceful organisation.  So, for that we are taking no exception, but we are also making sure that we can reconcile with the African people and we can reconcile to whoever that has suffered the pain because of the struggle that was forcefully to the Africans.  	So, members of the family, I know that we cannot take your member back, your family, your brother, your uncle back to life, but he's one of those that will be counted in the history of the struggle, that there was that sacrifice.  He was sacrificed for the benefit of the new dispensation.  I just wanted to say that we are truly sorry on what happened.  It was not on our intention, but we were forced to take up that action.  So for that we appeal to the family that let it happen.  It passed, it's gone and passed.  We know that we cannot return him back, but we can still reconcile and together, as the statement put by the brother there, that we need to build this nation for future, we can together build it without any grudges.  Let it happen.  It happens, let us shake hands, let us move forward and build one nation, a happy nation of Azania.  Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much, Mr Khumalo.  Gentlemen, I assume that what remains for us is to hear argument on this matter and I trust that you are able to present that?  Mr Mbandazayo, what is your position?
WITNESS EXCUSED

MR MBANDAZAYO: Yes, Mr Chairman.  I think so.  I'm in a position to present it, Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, we will appreciate it.