Special Hearings — Health Sector Hearings — 1997-06-18

WENDY ORR: I don't have a question, I have a comment and a suggestion and this is about the MASA apology of which a great deal has been made and of which very little has been made and I hear you say that it was a step in a journey.  I don't think it was a big enough step or a step that has been followed up adequately. It's very easy to make an over-arching apology, it's difficult to look people in the face and say we are sorry, and I really feel that in the interests of reconciliation and moving forward that the Medical Association should consider making individuals personal apologies to those individuals and those organisations whom it vilified and whom it failed to support during those years.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, you don't have to respond to that right now, Dr Barker.  Thank you very much for coming today.  I hope you're going to be staying for this afternoon's proceedings and continue to take forward what's been said today and in the submissions that we've heard already, thank you again.

EDWARD BARKER: Thank you.
SANC  SUBMISSION

CHAIRPERSON: Can I call the South African Nursing Council and whilst they're taking their positions I just want to welcome some of our international guests and others who are here and I'd like people to stand as I announce their names if they are here so that others who are in the audience can get to know them as well.  Dr Maria Pniel Khali, I hope I pronounce your name properly from the Medical Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims, Mr Hans Ransecht from Medical International. 
 From the American Association for the Advancement of Science we have Professor Robert Lawrence, Audrey Chapman, Marion Gray Secundi, Len Rubenstein, Vince Coppino and Professor Jack Geiger.  
 From the British Medical Association we have Professor Vivien Natenson; Medical International, Mrs Ursula Merck and the MEC for Health from the Free State, Ms S Nhlaba Bati.   I'm sure that there will be other people that we will be welcoming during the day.  Thank you very much.
 Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, can I please ask you to introduce yourselves and the organisation you're representing today.

FRANK GERMISHUIZEN: Thank you Mr Chairman.   I am Frank Germishuizen the Registrar of the South African Interim Nursing Council and the three council members with me are  Professor Wilma Kotze, the vice president of the Council, Ms Ethel Radebe, she's the chairperson of the Council's transformation committee and Mr Tchipiwa Maumela who's a community representative on the Council.
 Mr Maumela and I will be doing the presentation, he will present the Council's submission and I will answer the questions which we received in advance and any other questions which might arise will be divided up between us as we see fit, and we wish to thank you for the opportunity of being able to appear before the TRC.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much, welcome to all of you.  Can I ask Dr Orr to assist you in taking the oath, if you will just stand and then Ms Wildschut will take over thank you.

FRANK GERMISHUIZEN: (sworn states)

UNKNOWN: (sworn states)

ETHEL RADEBE: (sworn states)

TCHIPIWA MAUMELA: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.  Glenda.

UNKNOWN: Good Morning, Mr Germishuizen and Professor and the rest of the delegation.  I know that you have a written submission.  You also have given me a written response to the questions that I sent you some time ago.  Please feel free to go ahead and present your submission and then we will address the questions after the oral presentation.  Thank you.