Amnesty Hearings — Johannesburg — 1998-08-04

MRS KLUKAS: This is my daughter
	"My name is Joanne May Stapes, nee Klukas, daughter of the late Clive Winston Klukas who was tragically killed at the Ellis Park bomb blast.  I am opposed to the amnesty application by those involved in the Ellis Park blast.  In my mind it was a violent act on a civilian target.  The ANC has stated that it was not their policy to target civilian targets.  
	Ellis Park was and still is a sports stadium.  Civilians were there to enjoy sport and the bomb was planted to indiscriminately kill as many people as possible.  I'm also opposed to any person who willingly and knowingly tried to kill as many civilians as possible in this callous act from holding any kind of office within the current Government.  This is a criminal act which cost the lives of innocent civilians for which there is no forgiveness.  I cannot have faith in people in the Government who were party to this kind of terrorism.  
	It is impossible to try and explain the distress, loneliness and actual heartbreak this event had on each member of our family and difficult to communicate what our family has gone through since that awful day.  One violent senseless act took away the most considerate, loving, fun loving, important person I have had the pleasure to share my life with.  I am heartbroken for my dad, that he had to die in a bomb blast as I know how much he enjoyed life and would have loved to see his family mature into adults.  There are so many people out there that were touched by his kindness and his friendship that it's a shame that he could not have lived longer to explain to those responsible for the bomb blast at Ellis Park what sort of a man Clive Klukas was, would be pointless and impossible as it does little change the obvious way in sort of that the civilians had to die, to convey their message to the National Party.  My belief is God will be the final judge, therefore it is impossible for me to appear before the applicants and forgive them.  I believe we have been through enough trauma and it would do little to change what's happened.
	Lastly I would categorically like to state that my father was not in any way involved in politics, treated all around him with respect.  I feel he was not treated with the same respect and South Africa lost a person who was in his own way contributing to be a better place.  He was a hard working liberal man who played no part in the previous Government and no belief in the Apartheid system.  The system he opposed bitterly therefore highlights how futile the struggle was in South Africa."

ADV PRIOR: Is it correct that she also attached a copy of world headlines which was reported on by Darren Shipler as to Abubaker Ismail at his amnesty hearing regarding the bombing campaign of the ANC had stated at that hearing?  Is that correct?

MRS KLUKAS: Yes.

ADV PRIOR: Would you please finally just turn to your statement or the statement of your son, Mr Kenneth Klukas?

MRS KLUKAS: This is from my son, Kenneth Klukas
"I hereby state that I do not support the applicants' request for amnesty for the brutal murder of Mr Clive Klukas, my father, in the Ellis Park bombing blast.  I'm appealing to the TRC for such a request not to be granted.  I cannot begin to understand why any person could take the life of a man they did not know and call it a political motivated act.  A fight for freedom should not entail sacrificing the freedom of others such as my father's and my family's and the families which were effected by his death.  
	Clive my father was a kind and supportive and generous man.  He touched many people in different ways, giving part of himself to everyone.  My dad taught us the value of life and to respect every person.  He was a true family man and believed that his family always came first.  My father spent every opportunity with his family, doing the things which he wanted to do.  He built relationships with all people regardless of their colour, creed or beliefs.  My father was a true christian and someone I was very proud to have as a father.  He was a friend, I loved him dearly, I will always miss him.  People talk about pain and suffering, however, the pain we experienced when someone we loved so much was ripped from us in such a cold and brutal manner as my dad was, without any explanation why, is unforgivable.  
	It was the time when I was writing my matric, a time when I needed support and encouragement from my father.  I subsequently struggled to further my studies at huge financial burden to myself.  I sincerely hope the TRC can make this distinction between a crime punishable in court of law and a political motivated crime.  There mere fact that the bomb was placed in the proximity of a school bus, this proves this and not could have been gained politically by aiming to murder innocent school children.  What part did they part in the political environment of the time.  It is very sad for South Africa when we accept acts of senseless murders such as this as normal and forgivable.
	Furthermore, how can applicants hold any position of authority in our Government whether they are expected to uphold justice, prevent violence when they themselves have committed such acts?  How can we as citizens trust them to make moral sound decisions which will impact on our everyday lives and our future when they have proven that they are incapable of living a just and moral life?  As a South African citizen I'm asked to support this authority yet they are directly responsible for the inconceivable loss and an unrecoverable loss I suffer every day of my life.
	Lastly I would like to say that I do not forgive or will not forget the applicants' crime and that they will have to be answerable to God eventually."

ADV PRIOR: Mrs Klukas, is there anything else you wish to tell the Committee at this time?

MRS KLUKAS: No.

ADV PRIOR: Thank you Mr Chairman.

MRS KLUKAS: Thank you.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY ADV PRIOR
WITNESS EXCUSED

MR LANDMAN: Mr Chairman, we have no questions.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR LANDMAN

ADV PRIOR: Mr Chairman may I - sorry - may I just enquire whether will these will be marked and received properly into the - will the statements be marked as exhibits and be received or is it not necessary?

CHAIRPERSON: I don't think that they are exhibits in the hearing as such, subject we should say they will certainly form part of the record but I do not think it's necessary to label them as exhibits.

ADV PRIOR: I am indebted to the Committee.  Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Klukas I'm sure that I'm speaking on behalf of everybody in this hall when we say what deep sympathy we feel towards you and your family in their tragic loss.  We all I think realise what a bitter loss it must have been to you and we hope that you will be able to find some degree of comfort in the future.
WITNESS EXCUSED

ADV PRIOR: I call the next victim as Mrs Erasmus, Erasmus - she was formerly Mrs Marais, the widow of the deceased person.
	Chairperson, Mrs Erasmus is Afrikaans speaking.

MRS ERASMUS: (sworn states)

ADV PRIOR: Mrs Erasmus is it correct that during 1988 during the bomb explosion at Ellis Park you were married to the deceased Mr Marais?

MRS ERASMUS: That is correct.

ADV PRIOR: Would you read to the Committee the statement which you have prepared and which you would like to read to the Committee please?