Special Hearings — Armed Forces Hearings — 1997-10-09

CHAIRPERSON: I would like to extend a welcome to all who are present and in particular to those who we will be hearing from in a moment.  In particular may I just say that at the request of some of the legal representatives we will be starting with General Johan van der Merwe, followed by General Johan Coetzee.  Then we will take others in that order.  In a moment I will ask Advocate Visser to make a brief opening statement.   Before that let me again say that we are grateful for the attendance and coverage by the media which enables many other people in South Africa to participate in this process.  To express my thanks in anticipation to the Interpreters who do an excellent job of work and to remind you that there are headsets available for those who may need it.  There is translation from English to Afrikaans, Afrikaans to English, and Afrikaans English to Xhosa and the other way round.  So if people need headsets at any time please make use of them but please don't take them away with you, they will be no use to you, they certainly are of great use to ourselves.
 Before we start the proceedings let me introduce the panel.  On my far left Ms Mary Burton, who is a Commissioner based in Cape Town and is a member of the Human Rights Violations Committee of the Commission.  On my left Dumisa Ntsebeza, the head of our Investigative Unit, a Commissioner and operates from Cape Town.  On my far right, which is interesting, is Ilan Lax from KwaZulu Natal, a committee member of the Commission and a member of the Human Rights Violations Committee.   Next to me is Richard Lyster, who is also from KwaZulu Natal and he is the convener of our region there and a member of the Human Rights Violations Committee and a Commissioner.  I am Alex Boraine, the acting chairperson, as many of you know Archbishop Tutu is out of the country at the moment but will be returning over the weekend. 
 So welcome to all of you.  I hope that this day is going to be productive, that the information we seek will be made available.  I remind those who are participating that this is not a court of law.  This is not a trial.  We are not seeking to incriminate anyone. We are trying to find out from your perspective what happened during this period of conflict.  The kinds of questions that we would be putting would be very similar to other key actors in the conflict of the past and we are doing this not out of idle curiosity, not to reopen a can of worms, but simply to come to terms with our history so that we can together develop a better future for all of us.  
 So this Commission, essentially, is really not about the past, it's about the future, but we have to turn the page of history if you like, but it's our view that you first have to read the page before you turn it, and you are helping us to do that and we are grateful for your attendance.
 Advocate Visser you wanted to start with an opening statement.

UNKNOWN: Perhaps Mr Chairman if I may suggest, with respect, that it may be convenient for the other representatives perhaps to place them on record before I start.

CHAIRPERSON: Will you do so please.  Thank you.

MR LEVIN: Mr Commissioner my name is Alan Levin, attorney Johannesburg.  I am assisted by Mr Robert Levin.  I appear for Major Williamson.  I would apologise at the outset for not having an opportunity of introducing myself other than to yourself and I would like to deal with certain issues once my learned friends have dealt with their matters and placed themselves on record.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.

MR JANSEN: Thank you Mr Chairman.  I am Rudolph Jansen.  I am instructed by attorney Julian Knight.  We are appearing on behalf of Captain Dirk Coetzee where we are asking an indulgence to direct certain questions at Brigadier Schoon from the perspective of the Vlakplaas commanders.  Thank you Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Right.  We will deal with that when we come to listen and to hear from Brigadier Schoon.  Thank you.

MR DU PLESSIS: Thank you Mr Chairman.  I am Roelof du Plessis.  I am instructed by Mr Britz of the firm Strydom Britz Attorneys.  We represent Major Crafford and we also represented Brigadier Cronje and the other applicants in the previous amnesty applications of the previous security policemen at the amnesty hearings.  Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.