Human Rights Violation Hearings — Pietermaritzburg — 1996-11-20

WITNESS:   I don't have an answer for you.  Unfortunately I don't know.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  My last question, and it's probably an unfair question to ask you, but I am going to ask it.  If the violence on that scale had happened in a white area you wouldn't have tolerated that at all, surely.

WITNESS:   During those times more than likely no, we wouldn't.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Director Meyer, thank you for making the submission on behalf of the South African Police, and thank you today for departing from that official submission and giving us the benefit of your own personal views which you formed from your experience at the time.   Thank you.

WITNESS:   Thank you, Chairperson.  Thank you, Commission.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER: /BONGINKOSI EMMANUEL NZIMANDE

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER: BONGINKOSI EMMANUEL NZIMANDE   (Sworn, States)

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  Thank you, Dr Nzimande.  You are here today to give the official - can you hear me through the earphones?  Yes.  You are here today to give me the official account of the ANC on this event which has become known as the Seven Day War.  You are presently a national MP, ANC MP, but at the time of this incident six years ago I understand that you were in Pietermaritzburg.  I understand you have prepared a statement.  Could you then take us through your statement.

WITNESS:   Mr Chairman, Honourable Chairman, I come before this Commission having been sent by the ANC, and as a member of the national ANC organisation.  The most important thing is that I am here representing the ANC as a person who has been a member of ANC after the unbanning of the ANC here in Natal.  After that I've continuously been a member of ANC in this very region, doing different things, undertaking various things, and also a spokesman of the ANC in the Midlands.  What we've come to tell the Commission today won't impact the details of what happened in the Seven Day War.  We do believe that all the lost ones and the damages that were incurred should be left to the people who were affected, and they shall see what they do.  What I will say here has to do a lot with the state of the politics in the region, and also give you a picture as to what led to this Seven Day War as far as we are concerned.  We also have questions that we would like to forward to the Commission that we will wish to be answered as the Commission is carrying on with their duties.  What I will say here, Mr Chairman, please allow me to mix English and Zulu so

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER: everybody here can also get it from the horse's mouth.

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER: /"(Inaudible)

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER: "(Inaudible) ... Seven Day War has been given to the events that took place in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas from 25th of March to 31st of March 1990.  The events took the form of attacks on communities on a scale not previously experienced in this area, if not the province as a whole.  Whilst the Seven Day War was to some extent a repeat of previous attacks on communities, but on a larger scale this time, it is our submission here that it was to a greater extent a turning point in the conflict in the Pietermaritzburg area.  Why do we say this?  It seems to us that the strategy of detention of UDF and COSATU leaders, and small scale attacks on communities in Pietermaritzburg, had failed to stem the rising tide of the people's legitimate struggle against apartheid in Pietermaritzburg townships."

DANIEL JOHANNES MEYER:  It looks as though she's having difficulty interpreting what you're saying.  I'm not sure whether it's a problem with the machinery or whether she's not following you.  Is it possible for you to speak only in Zulu, or is that - I know that the statement is in English.