Special Report Transcript Episode 61, Section 2, Time 21:30

But telling the truth is not enough for amnesty. Derby-Lewis must prove that he was working within the structures of an accepted political organisation. // Let me read the words that you would no doubt have come into your notice Mr. Derby-Lewis when you committed this murder as to the policy of the Conservative Party on whose behalf you claimed to have acted. I am reading mister Chairman … I thought that copies had been made. They have not. We will see to it that copies will be made for the Committee, but may I read out the relevant passage? Listen carefully Mr. Derby-Lewis what your colleague Mr. DP du Plessis said. Who is mister DP du Plessis? // He was the member of Parliament for Wonderboom. // It’s Wednesday the 21st of October 1992 at page 12 806, on the right hand column. ‘The honourable member said that he was at the Voortrekker Monument on 26 May 1990. At the Voortrekker Monument it was said that the third liberation struggle had begun. Of course the third liberation struggle has begun [!] The fact that I say that (to) the honourable members here today does not imply that they should go out and plant bombs tomorrow! There were 130 000 people present at the occasion. How many of them have gone out and planted bombs? My honourable reader …’ // That would be doctor Treurnicht, wouldn’t it? // That’s correct mister Chairman. // ‘My honourable reader has said repeatedly that nothing gives an individual the right to commit crimes or misdeeds; if he does commit them, he does so at his own peril. He should know that there are laws in this country that if he breaks them he should take the blame and punishment for it.’ // Surely such an important statement must have come to the notice of an important leader of the Conservative Party such as yourself. // Mister Chairperson as a member of the president’s counsel I was not a recipient of the hands out and unless I was in Cape Town and in the house at that time I wouldn’t have heard about it. // The issue that I am questioning you on is whether you acted on behalf of the Conservative Party or not and I am asking you and the Committee, with respect, is entitled to a straight answer. // What I’m saying mister Chairperson is that Mr. Du Plessis was referring to violence, Dr Treurnicht was talking war. // Oh I see. There’s a difference is there between killing people in war and killing people by assassin. // There is mister Chairman, there is. // Is that a form of your Conservative Party logic mister Derby-Lewis? // Mister Chairman assassination is an act of war … it can occur during a war situation. // The ‘hoofleier’ [leadership] says ‘don’t commit crimes.’ Is that right? // Mister Chairman, then you must describe a crime. When is a crime a crime? When you’re involved with a freedom struggle, is a crime a crime? // Murder is a crime mister Derby-Lewis. // Then mister Chairman you must refuse to accept the ANC’s crimes as well because they also murdered. // No mister you miss the point entirely, let’s leave the ANC cases for another hearing, mister Derby-Lewis, let’s deal with yours.

Notes: George Bizos

References: there are no references for this transcript