Human Rights Violation Hearings — Winelands — 1996-10-16

CANNOT HEAR MS GOBODO AT ALL: A lot of times our lips are sealed, there is nothing we can say.  It's organizations under the Governments Laws  that is our problem, our lips were  sealed.
[indistinct] in this country.  The fact that we have got a new dispensation does not mean that we should be silent  about the injustices of this country that will take place, because in the same way that white people where used by apartheid to keep it in power.  We have reason to be afraid that if it has happened it is a historical fact it happened - white people were using this country and apartheid stayed in power.  So now that black people have a vote what guarantee do we have that black people  wouldn't be used to keep other Governments in power?   
So I think that we should be very weary - should be vigilant to the society and speak out against injustices in order  that - we should talk, we should talk openly if we see any injustices around us.  We should not live in fear.  1980 we've to scared to be necklaced, around 1970 it was better because at lease people were not killed.  But around 1980 you could not dispute anything because you were to scared you'd be necklaced.   What kind of justice is that?
We grew up in the culture of Ubuntho???. What kind of life will South Africa have if people will detach themselves from the injustices of the country?  It is scary that people will refuse to be disputed.  I think it is important to be vigilant and be aware of our rights in the present Government.
I will thank heartedly a lot of people from Paarl.  We they were very 
co-operative.  There are  people here who I mentioned
Mr Cussons - head of the police division.
The Major's secretary for assisting us with work.
Mr Anthony Souls from the municipality.
We thank Mr  Nick Clause.
You might be surprised  how we were able to have our cultural display, he helped us.  We thank him very much. -  [indistinct] exhibition which is still running, it will be running for a month.
And among the items  that are  displayed at the exhibition is a display around the story of Wallace McGregor.  Ms McGregor has a suitcase in her possession with - which is at the  exhibition, a suitcase  that  she received after her - her son died.  She was never able to destroy  this clothing.  The exhibition is also about displays with the violence that occurred in Paarl.      
Marietjie Victor  helped us. 
David Freedman
Susan Botha
We thank them so much.  I don't see them here right now.  But they have been very generous in helping  us, with building our exhibition.
We also which to thank
The Superintendent Marais
Captain Carstens
Again and his team for providing a security.
We thank you Solly for the sound as well.
You are probably somewhere  around.  Thank you for responding to our needs on a [indistinct] 
VERY DISTURBING NOISE IN BACKGROUND -

CANNOT HEAR MS GOBODO AT ALL: [indistinct] for taking care of us as well and for being present every day throughout our - our hearings. And we thank the community briefers.  I would actually like Wendy to thank the community briefers herself, so I leave that for Wendy - if you don't mind please.
The  Traffic Department  - we thank the Traffic Department - and we thank the ambulance units for being available on call for us.  
There are people who helped us as a team - people who come from our own offices in the TRC and people who assisted us and got out of their own functions in their offices and came to help us here, that's
Manchuru Java
Simpeho Ntitchwa
Those two people were very generous with their  time and with their energy and ideas.  Thank you very much.  
Elizabeth Cloete who is our  Logistics Manager in this team, has asked me to give a special thanks to all the additional staff that our Regional Manager, Ruth Levin, sent to assist her.  We thank you very much for making this hearings possible.  
And  finally, on behalf of our team
Dr  Wendy Orr
Viola Lengner
Who is a  briefer and who was a very important link with the Stellenbosch University.
The statement takers
Sixhibo Mduvane
Kelvin Osh
I don't see them, they  probably are here somewhere. 
And finally Fred Erasmus - who is our support services person.  We thank  you very much for coming here and for gracing  this occasion.  Thank you so much and we appreciate that you have been able to bear with us all the things that we have had to carry  as a team - as members of the Commission and we would like to invite you to share with us at a distance and hold hands with us as we move forward to realize the vision of reconciliation.
  Very lastly the panel who joined us from the various parts of - from  the various regions outside of  Cape Town, we really appreciate you being here.
Thank you  Dumisa Ntsebeza for being here the whole time with us from the beginning of the week.  
Thank you Piet for not only sitting at the hearings, but for sharing with us all our concerns and for assisting us in reaching out to the community  - the larger community  in Paarl.
Glenn, thank you so much for coming and being with us for the last two days.
And thank you so much Denzil for coming and being here.  Somehow I feel that you had to be here because you are part of the Human Rights Violations Committee - which is a committee that is responsible for the Truth Commission hearings - but none the less, thank you so much for coming.
Thank you.  I will give Wendy a opportunity to speak.

WENDY ORR: Thank you, Madam Chair.  I think people don't often understand the role of the briefers and what you see the briefers doing up here on stage is really only a very small part of their work.  They spend a great deal of time with the witnesses before the hearings,  preparing them emotionally  and practically for what the hearings are going to be about.  And then they spent time with the witnesses afterwards debriefing  them and then they will still stay on after these hearings are over, so that we can assess the needs of all the witnesses who came here.
And only one of these briefers is a full time employee and that's Viola Lengner - she heads up the team of briefers and I want to say particular thanks to her. 
But then to the people from your community
From Paarl
From Mbekweni
From Stellenbosch
Who have given their time freely.  They have donated their time, taken time of work - some of them are studying  and they've made time within their studies to come and help us - so they really are very special people.
And they are
Patricia Gilphellen - who's from Paarl.
Fred Imquantana and Johan Swanapoel  from Stellenbosch.
Stick Lundo and Mteto Williams from Mbekweni.
Thank you very much to all of you.  
I also then want to say that although the hearings are over, the Truth Commission  is not abandoning this community.  We will be coming back in November to hold a follow up - what we call a challenge workshop - in which we will work through with the community.  Issues which were raised, problems which have been unearthed and we will try to devise a way forward together.
So we will be back, this isn't goodbye, this is just a temporary goodbye .

MS GOBODO: Thank you, Wendy.  I see that  we have got, what we call in psychology, separation anxiety.  The thing is over but none of us are standing up to say it's over.  But we think we are held by some kind of force and I will officially announce the occasion closed.  Thank you very much.
 Could you stand as the witnesses leave.