Human Rights Violation Hearings — Moutse — 1996-12-02

CHAIRPERSON: We want to welcome Mr Roelf Meyer.  I thought that he had somewhere in his pocket Cyril Ramaphosa because for a very long time he and Cyril were inseparable siamese twins.  We do want to say thank you for the role that you and Cyril and the other people did play in the process of negotiation.  It was a very important role and our country must give thanks for what you and Cyril, particularly, but, obviously, you had other people, but you were the leaders in that very delegate work of negotiation and we want to welcome you.  I think I am in that, although the people waited for some time it was not your fault, we are glad that you have been able to give us this time and, perhaps, we should show that we appreciate your coming.  Just give him a small hand, not too big, just a small hand.  Wynand Malan will have you take the oath.

MR MALAN: Mr Meyer to the best of my memory you have got no objection to taking the prescribed oath.  If you would please stand.

ROELF MEYER: (Duly sworn in, states).

MR MALAN: Thank you very much.  You may be seated.  Dr Randera will facilitate your evidence and thereafter we probably will each have a question to pose to you.  Thank you very much.

DR RANDERA: Mr Meyer, good afternoon.  I am sure you are
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feeling a little bit harassed having rushed from wherever you were to this hall.  I have been in that situation many a time myself so please feel relaxed.  You are going to give us, this afternoon, a general overview of homeland policy of the last Government and, more specifically, how it related to this particular area of our country.  The youngest homeland that was created, KwaNdebele.  I hand over to you.

ROELF MEYER: Thank you Chairperson, honourable Commissioners for the opportunity to come to you here in Philadelphia this afternoon.  I apologise for the fact that, unfortunately, there was no chance for me to arrive here earlier and I can imagine that in the process your business for today might have been delayed.  I appreciate the fact that you were prepared to give this opportunity, however.
 I was called upon on Friday, Chairperson, to try and facilitate the Commission on the question of what was behind the homelands policy and I guess, more particularly, what was behind the idea of independence for the homelands.  Now I must just say to the honourable Commission that in the little time since Friday one did not have all the time to prepare for this.  I am, therefore, not in a position to give a written submission to the Commission, but in that regard, Chairperson, I would like to suggest and I will take it further on my side, that in a further submission to the Commission, which is intended in any case, that we from the National Party side take up the responsibility to especially focus on this issue and give a submission to the Commission that will also, in writing, address some of the questions that I might not be able to answer to today and which I believe could be of great importance to the Commission in understanding, for all us, for the sake of all us, 
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understanding what was behind the idea of the creation of the homelands and, of course, as it was such an important part of the system of apartheid, I believe that is important that one tries to find out more about this issue.  So, although I am here this afternoon and will try to respond, also to questions put by the Commission and will try to focus on some of the issues that I believe might highlight the events in this particular homeland some years ago, I think a broader perspective is required than what I am able to give to the Commission at this stage.  So if that would be acceptable to the Commission, then I would certainly take it on myself to ensure that we bring to the Commission a more substantial written submission on this issue.

CHAIRPERSON: May I just respond warmly to your suggestion and say that we would certainly appreciate that because we are asked to provide an account or the different perspectives and it will be a great help to the Commission in drawing up its report to have a submission such as you suggest.  Thank you in advance for that.