Human Rights Violation Hearings — Upington — 1996-10-02

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Would you like me just to quote for you a sentence or so of what he said during his witness and then I would like you to comment about that.  He says  Looking back I must now acknowledge that whereas we became actively involved in actions towards highlighting the plight of the Upington 26 calling for the acquittal and release of the Upington 26 we were silent on the pain of the mother, the family of Jetta.  Would you like to comment about that?

JETTA SETHWALA: May I ask why they did that because dominee Beukes is my dominee and I belong to the Dutch Reformed Church and he is in the Sending kerk.  Why did he not support me and give me any attention?  He is my reverend, he is my minister, why didn't he support me during that time?

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: It is the reason why we felt it is important that you too have the opportunity to tell your story today.  I think that many people say, looking back they acknowledge the fact that they didn't give you that opportunity and didn't recognise your pain and your grief.  People are saying that today that it is important for reconciliation and for healing to take place that we begin to acknowledge that you too went through a lot of suffering.  How do you feel about the fact that people are now beginning to say that they would like to work towards reconciliation first by beginning to acknowledge that you yourself have suffered?

JETTA SETHWALA: I feel I am already dead and that this process will be a very long and time consuming one.  It will take a lot of effort to make me entirely normal again because I have actually become quite used to my pain and place where I find myself currently.  I don't bear any grudges against anybody but if you lose your confidence and your faith in other people it is very hard to restore.  My faith in my fellow human being has been shattered but I don't bear anybody any grudges.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Thank you very much.  I will now ask the Chairperson to continue.  My colleagues might have some questions.

MR POTGIETER: Ms Sethwala, it remains for me to thank you for your evidence and for the fact that you were prepared to come and tell us your story, to come and share your experiences and your pain with us.  It takes a lot of courage to do that in public like you have done.  It is important for the Commission to always hear all sides of a particular story because that is the only way in which we can really learn from the mistakes of the past.  We understand that the feelings that you have expressed here, we hear you when you say that you feel that you are virtually dead.  We understand that but it is part of the work of this Commission to re-open and re-live very painful and difficult stories and experiences so that we can try and take some lessons from it so that we can prevent the same thing happening in the future and you yourself said it is a very long process that you will have to go through to really become a normal person and to function as a normal part of society.  We understand that as well and we hope that by expressing your feelings here today that that process of healing has commenced because the Commission has gone a long way towards achieving its purpose if we can set the ball of reconciliation rolling so I thank you for your evidence.  We have taken careful note of everything you have said and we wish you everything of the best for the future.  Thank you.