Amnesty Hearings — Boksburg — 1998-09-15

CHAIRPERSON: And I can't ask you to forget but is it not possible with the passage of time for you to forgive?  I don't know if you can answer it today.

NOKWAZI GUMBI: That's a very difficult question because when I recall the very first time we had this hearing on the 17th you were here and there was one who shot at our people in Pretoria, innocently, innocent people and Mandela forgave him with all his heart.

CHAIRPERSON: I quite understand that.

NOKWAZI GUMBI: He displayed a state of being unsatisfied but us who were victims we did nothing to them, we just looked at them.

CHAIRPERSON: I can only hope that with time that that type of attitude towards our people will cease and that during that same period that we can go towards living with each other irrespective of the colour of our skin and I hope with time you are able to come to terms with your unfortunate experience.  I thank you for coming to give evidence.

NOKWAZI GUMBI: Thank you.  I'm sorry to waste your time.

CHAIRPERSON: You're not wasting my time.

NOKWAZI GUMBI: Okay fine.  During that time when I was injured I was able to write three books that will be published.  It's a pity because some of them are in Zulu.  When I no problem to translate those books in English but I do have and I had even the latest poem that I have written in Zulu as well, a very painful one that goes "A person is a book that you cannot read" referring to the people who still continue fighting with us because you cannot summarise a person and think his abilities are up to this extent.
WITNESS EXCUSED

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Prior, have you got any other witnesses?

ADV PRIOR: I have no other witnesses.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes Ms Cambanis?

MS CAMBANIS: Thank you Mr Chair.  I call Joan Keane who shall be accompanied by her husband.  They both - they each have a short statement they wish to submit.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Keane which language would you prefer to use?

JOAN KEANE: (sworn states)

MS CAMBANIS: Mrs Keane is it correct that your details have been submitted by myself to the TRC regarding the address and your whereabout for the purposes of reparation?

MRS KEANE: Do I have to give my address in public?

MS CAMBANIS: No, I have already - it's been given.

MRS KEANE: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: I think it will be better, you will pick up what she says if you put the headphones on.

MS CAMBANIS: Now Mrs Keane, you have a statement you wish to read, this is in regard to your daughter Susan who was killed in a car in the Bree Street incident.  Would you please continue?

MRS KEANE: Mr Chair, as a mother and victim and having considered all the facts, I consider it is only God that can forgive these people for their cowardly acts of terrorism and treason.  By their own admission they were prepared to put this country to flames with callous disregard for human life.  On the 24th April 1994 in Bree Street they murdered our only child, Susan Ann Keane who was in the prime of her life and had made the most of the privileges this country had given her which unfortunately so obviously others had wasted.  She had a B.Soc. Science degree, a higher diploma in Third World Development and Planning and a masters degree in Town Planning.  She had so much to offer her beloved South Africa.  Susan worked tirelessly in pursuit of justice and democracy for all and extended her hand of friendship to everyone regardless of race or religion.  Her warmth and kindness touched many lives.  We thank God for giving us such a wonderful and caring daughter and we return her to Him with love.  May she rest in peace knowing that she has made her contribution to the land God gave all South Africans to cherish and preserve.  Our deepest regret is that we never had time to say goodbye.  Although we tried to help others in Susan's memory, our lives have deteriorated to a mere existence and now in our retirement years we have to face a future of loneliness without her to comfort or care for us.  The atrocities they committed have caused untold misery and tragedy for the families who lost their loved ones and who are not able to be here to speak for themselves.  Their breadwinners, the children and for those who are maimed and injured, you had no right in the name of God to decide whose lives were expendable.  We actually pity you for having to beg for amnesty and live the rest of your lives with these deplorable deeds on your conscience as at the end, you will have to meet your Maker whose commandment was thou shalt not kill.  As self professed christians and adults, the final decision was yours and you chose to commit a barbaric criminal act, the murder of one human being by another.  Your attempts to equate your heinous act with other political acts is preposterous.  You had freedom and the vote which these people were denied during the 40 years of apartheid rule.  You knew you were free to negotiate right up to the last moment.  At this point I would like to say to you and I will look at you while I say this - love your children with all your heart and all your soul because God forbid they would be taken from you by murderers like yourselves.
	Finally, if you were sincere in offering your sympathy, this Commission would not have had to ask if you were remorseful.  You were unmoved, you would have offered it of your own free will long before now.  God bless all the victims and comfort them.  God bless the new South Africa and it's leaders.  Thank you.

MS CAMBANIS: Mrs Keane, I would just like you to inform the Honourable Chairperson, you attended the criminal proceedings at which the applicants appeared and an incident took place regarding an apology.  If you could just please enlighten the Chairperson about the circumstances that happened at the criminal court?

MRS KEANE: A member of the press approached me and said - some lady, I don't know who she was - had offered her apologies and I said does that include the blacks?  She went away and came back and said no.  I said then I don't accept her apology.

MS CAMBANIS: ...[inaudible] Mrs Keane?

MRS KEANE: No, but I think my husband would like some statement, thank you.

MS CAMBANIS: Thank you.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS CAMBANIS
WITNESS EXCUSED

MR KEANE: Mr Chair, I have followed the trial I fail to understand why Koekemoer has not been summonsed to appear before this Commission?

MS CAMBANIS: Sorry Mr Keane?  He hasn't been sworn in Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Is he going to give evidence?

MS CAMBANIS: He has a statement that he wishes to submit to this Committee.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you Mr Keane?  Is this Mr Keane?

MS CAMBANIS: Mr Keane, yes Mr Chair.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Keane do you prefer to use the English language as well?

MR KEANE: English, yes.