Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-09-09

CHAIRPERSON: We thank both of you and I would like to add by saying that it surprised us that your requests are so humble.  You did not ask for anything for yourself but rather for others and we salute people like yourself and we thank you for thinking about others, putting others first before yourself and you too ma'am.  We thank you for, in spite of the sacrifices that you have made, I would, I am tempted to say that we should remind ourselves that we paid a very high price for the freedom which we are enjoying today for the liberation of our country.  It did not come free.  
 There are many people who were injured, who suffered, who have died so that we can reap the rewards of our liberation struggle.  We thank all of you and we would like to say especially to you that we hope that God will comfort you and strengthen you and you too teacher.  In Zulu they would call you onjulongo but we are very proud of you.  I mean here you are as a young man, you would want to be able to walk and play sport, you're not able to do that, although I mustn't say that quite, I mean, there are those that come from Atlanta so you might be able to play basketball but I mean you would not have wanted that to happen that way and we need to keep remembering that our freedom has come at very great cost and that must make us want to guard it because there are those that want to destroy it in many ways.  We mustn't allow that to happen.  That is one other memorial that we can erect.  It is not a physical memorial, it is a memorial that can last forever.  When we pay respects for those who paid such a heavy price by our retaining our freedom, guarding it and not allowing it to be messed up by all kinds of other people who want to undermine it but thank you very much.  ... end of Tape 1, side B ...

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - 9 SEPTEMBER 1996

CHAIRPERSON: I just want to welcome again all of you but could we ask members of the legislature  [indistinct]  ...  I haven't asked you individually, could you stand, I mean you're all over the place.  Could all the members of the legislature please rise.  Please don't be shy.  Please give them a round of applause - and we welcome members of the clergy.  Could you all please rise., thank you.  And we have the Premiere's wife Ms Mshlaba, we cannot see you - thank you, we've seen you.

<UNKNOWN>: Chairman I would like to call to the podium Mr Cyril Rhamaphosa.

CHAIRPERSON: Order!  Order!  Order please!  I reminded him that this was not an ANC Rally. Thank you.

<UNKNOWN>: ... [Indistinct]  Mr Rhamaphosa is not going to be sworn in.  He is merely going to make his submission.

UNKNOWN: The Chairperson has asked if I would extend a very warm word of welcome to Mr Rhamaphosa as well as to Mr Smuts Ngonyama.  Mr Rhamaphosa you have indicated that you have a very important appointment that you have to go to and that's why we have drawn it forward.  We may have to delay tea in order for you to complete your presentation and obviously the Commission and committee members may wish to put some questions as well.
 I assume that your appointment has to do with the Constitutional Assembly and nothing else.  Anyway, we are very, very happy to have you and we are grateful that you have come to try and give some light on those dreadful events of four years ago and we ask you to make your presentation now.  Thank you.

MR RHAMAPHOSA: Thank you Chairperson.  Thank you for the warm words of welcome.  With your kind permission I would like to request that Mr Ronnie Kasrils also join us at the podium.  He is a witness, he will be relating events that took place on that day, in his personal account but if you do permit a witness who is about to give evidence to join an ANC delegation, we would appreciate it.

CHAIRPERSON: Well he is not going to, you mustn't speak, you can join him as long as you don't speak.