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

CHAIRPERSON: Mmm critical appreciation that would take days on end to try and unravel that mystery.  (General laughter)
  Well we have come to the end not only of these particular proceedings but to the end of this week and to the end of these forms of hearings that we conducted this week. 
 I have to thank particularly the ANC delegation who have once again indicated to us that they treat this process with a fair amount and have in fact a great deal amount of seriousness.  You have increased our body of knowledge far more than you did in the last two presentations, which themselves were very comprehensive. So for that we have to thank you.
 I would like merely for what it is worth to state what I have stated during the course of the week, that I don't think that there is any requirement by certainly the Truth Commission or the Commissioners to expect any group of persons who were involved in the conflict to apologise for actions that they took in pursuit of the objectives that they had set themselves out to achieve. I think what is of paramount concern to us in the Commission is that we would like to find, or hope to find that from the testimony of any one group that appears from us or any one individual, we are hopefully able to establish that a minimum threshold of moral accountability has been exhibited and I think by and large, whilst 
we are not at this particular point and in these proceedings able to say we are in a position to make a finding, it is gratifying to find that we are enabled to give thought to some of the answers that have been given.  There has been a very conscious endeavour to give framed answers to questions that were put. And questions today, like there have been throughout the course of the week have been very vigorous, very penetrating, sometimes irritating but that is all in the nature of trying to probe. And we are saying so unapologetically that we are going to probe in an endeavour to get as complete a picture as possible of gross violations of human rights which took place in the context of the political conflicts of the past between the years 1960 to 1994.
 I must say that some of the concessions you made are concessions that particularly I could have found difficulty to have made. Maybe I am influenced by the position that I took at the time that I had to defend some of the cadres who were confronted with Dawn and Sishaba and in the course of which the argument raised by Minister Maharaj were used first the disclaimer and secondly the context in relation to other documents.  But for you to have made the concession that you did, in spite of the position taken by Minister Maharaj, is helpful to us because in the end it seems to suggest that there is a conscious and deliberate effort on your part to say, let's look, situated in the present coming from the past to the 
future and that future will it be possible where we are able to be candid and make concessions even in respect of issues where ordinarily we could make an argument.
 I think you have demonstrated that this not a place where legal arguments are necessarily, however correct the end that is sought to be achieved.  I think at the end what is sought to be achieved is something much much more than correctly lodged arguments.  I think you are trying to assist us and assist others to realise that whereas the exposure of truth is one of the elements of this process it's concomitant other aim in the equation is the achievement of reconciliation through which we hope will contribute to nation building and reconstruction of our society.
 I have to thank all those who have been patient and have made these proceedings the place to be at on a day to day basis. The media of course must come for particular mention, especially those who are very very able to observe that commissioners are able to be absorbing and be very thoughtful with their eyes closed. The paparazzi are coming for special mention in that regard.
 Lastly but not least, Minister Maharaj mentioned two items, a video and an NIS study of himself. I think we would benefit if we could have copies of those particular items, even if you have to go and borrow them from Mayabuwa Centre for reproduction. 
 That brings to the conclusion of these proceedings and these 
proceedings are accordingly adjourned.

SATHYANDRANATH RAGUNANAN MAC MAHARAJ: May I just say that on behalf of all of us, thank you very much for the questioning that you have subjected us to. In the spirit in which you've concluded it I'd like to say, I now declare a cessation of hostilities with Mr Goosen.

CHAIRPERSON: I so declare.
HEARING ADJOURNS