Special Hearings — Political Party Recalls — 1997-05-16

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.  I just want to express again our appreciation that you were present here and that you gave this testimony in the open-hearted manner in which you did that.
 We think that your contribution is as vital now as it was in 1994, because from what you say, and I can confirm it from other sources from which I have heard much the same thing, that it was largely because of the sorts of things that you are saying this morning that we were not overwhelmed by a bloodbath if your people had maybe disobeyed you and gone the other route.  We would want to say a very big thank you for that and your continued positive contributions to the efforts for re-establishing the rule of law and to ensure that democracy is not just a passing phase in our country, but that it is something that is going to be entrenched and remains something that is going to be a precious possession for all of us.
 I would want to say, though, that we are very mindful of the responsibility that we have to hold two things in balance, the search for truth and working for reconciliation and want to point out that people must not believe that the Commission, it would be very presumptuous if we ever thought so ourselves, but this Commission is going to, at the end of its life, have effected reconciliation.  Reconciliation is a national project.  Every South African who loves this country must know that this is something to which they must be committed, for which they must work, that the Commission can make but a small contribution to this process of healing.  I believe we have done so, or God has used what has happened in this Commission to very good effect.
 It isn't anything that we can usually publicise, but the Committee to which Glenda Wildschut belongs, originally was looking at victims of gross human rights violations.  They have recently discovered that there is another kind of victim for which originally there didn't seem to be any provision, and this is the families of perpetrators.  Many of the perpetrators who have come for amnesty are White, Afrikaner.  Now if this Commission was one that said we did not care about the healing of all people we would say that is not our responsibility, but more than this is, together with churches and other faith communities efforts are being made for bringing people together.  You spoke about the lack of communication.  Some perpetrators, well the most obvious will be Brian Mitchell, but there are others of whom we will not certainly divulge the names, who have asked that we facilitate a meeting between themselves and the families of those, for instance, that they have murdered.  
 So we are engaging in that process, knowing in fact that if we hadn't got the thing of the truth the reconciliation we would be dealing with would be a false reconciliation.  It would be a cheap reconciliation.  It is painful to face up to the past, but if we were not to do so we would certainly be victimising the victims a second time round, by saying that what you suffered is of no consequence.
 Again another example, because we were able to find out that people were murdered secretly and buried secretly, those exhumations and consequent reburials have actually gone a long way to healing a very deep hurt in the families of those who had disappeared.  
 I am not seeking to justify.  I appreciate very, very much, we appreciate, all of us, very, very much the comments that you make because we recognise them as being made by someone who seeks to be making themselves a positive contribution to this whole process of healing.  And so I want to say thank you very much.
 May I also say thank you to Mr Mpshe for leading us in the manner that he has done.
 Thank you to the Interpreters. 
 Thank you to my fellow panellists. 
 Thank you to you who have come and supported us.
 Thank you to the media who help to publicise what is taking place here.
 Thank you to my colleagues on the staff of the Commission who will ensure that we can have a bit of lunch if you wish to come along with us after this session.  Please stand.
DR BORAINE CLOSES THE HEARING WITH A PRAYER