Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1999-08-30

MR DUHR: I do not recall that but if you could maybe just refresh my memory what objective I had in mind at the time, I'm not too sure?  I don't recall that - right through the night, it could have happened and it could be true but I don't recall that specific instruction, it could be ...(intervention)

MR GORDHAN: It could be true though.  Okay, I don't want to dwell on it, it did happen.

MR DUHR: I accept that.

MR GORDHAN: Very generously the next morning of course you allowed me to sleep a couple of hours but you might recall that.  Do you have any regrets about your role in the detention in the violence against detainees and what is your approach to the reconciliation question?

MR DUHR: I have regrets you know as to the whole process that was followed bearing in mind that you know, we're ignorant on the true national events at the time and in retrospect I think it was unnecessary what we went through and yes, I am in favour of reconciliation and true reconciliation between all the parties involved.

MR GORDHAN: Just one last question, Mr Duhr, you will recall that on several occasions I wrote letters to the then Minister of Law and Order.  I'd like you to firstly confirm that, secondly what happens to those letters, do they actually get to the Minister of Law and Order?

MR DUHR: According to my understanding yes, I recall those letters you wrote and they do get to him because I can recollect, I think one was - there was a response to one or two of them, I think there was a response which did come back which he did remark on.  I'm almost sure about that, maybe my colleague could help me on that extent later but I think you did receive a response.

MR GORDHAN: Well let me put it to you that there was no response and those letter, for your information Chairperson, were demanding my release reporting to the minister about my assault and constantly putting to him, that's Mr Vlok at that time, that he was holding me hostage as a political hostage in the sense that they, as a National Party government, were attempting to get leverage over the ANC that they were negotiating with.
	Just one question, Mr Duhr and that is you will confirm that on some occasion you had occasion to take me to a specialist physician who confirmed that I had hypertension, who explained to you what that hypertension meant and that I was put on treatment for that as a result of my stay there?

MR DUHR: Yes I can recall that you did go to a specialist, we did take you there and he did have a discussion of that, I just cannot recall the hypertension part of it but I accept that.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR GORDHAN

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Gordhan.  Mr Lalla, do you have any questions you would like to ask?

MR LALLA: No questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Ms Thabethe?

MS THABETHE: No questions, Mr Chair.

CHAIRPERSON: Any re-examination Mr Nel?

MR NEL: Nothing Chairperson, just maybe if I maybe allowed to ask one question?

MR NEL: Mr Duhr, is it correct that you are still presently in the South African Police Services?

MR DUHR: That is correct, Chairperson.

MR NEL: And what is your rank at present time?

MR DUHR: Presently I'm a superintendent.

MR NEL: Thank you Chairperson.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR NEL

CHAIRPERSON: Are there any questions concerning that last bit of evidence that anyone would like to put to the witness?
Advocate Bosman do you have any questions you'd like to ask?

ADV BOSMAN: I've no questions thank you Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Just one question, Mr Duhr, Mr Gordhan says that he wrote several letters to the then minister which letters concerned his detention, asked for release and made mention of the assault and now you said that those letters reached their destination.  Would you have censored those letters?  Would you have let a letter go through to the minister talking about assault?

MR DUHR: Would I have censored those letters?  Those letters, I think he would have placed in an envelope addressed personally for the attention of the minister.  Not?  Okay, well if they opened letters the possibility exists that I could have read through them but the fact of the matter they're delivered to our Durban office or to the minister.  As far as my part of the equation is concerned, it was fulfilled and I'm still reasonably sure that there was a response to one of those letters, Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: So you're saying that any letter written by Mr Gordhan you forwarded on to your Durban offices?

MR DUHR: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: And that is why you say that they reached their destination although you don't know what happened to them when they reached Durban?

MR DUHR: That is correct, I cannot testify on that.

CHAIRPERSON: Any questions arising out of questions that I have put?   Thank you Mr Duhr, that concludes your testimony.

MR DUHR: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

MR NEL: You may be excused.
WITNESS EXCUSED