Special Report Transcript Episode 22, Section 1, Time 00:27

The Truth Commission is getting tough at last and for a change this programme’s timing was perfect, because within a day of our asking some tough questions of the Truth Commission in last week’s programme we saw a new spirit of determination from the Truth Commission. // This velvet glove does in fact have a fist of steel. // Later in the programme we have a frank discussion with Truth Commission Deputy Chairman Alex Boraine on the Commission’s new approach. We also introduce you to cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro and some of his work on the Truth Commission. But let’s start with Upington. First there were the Sharpeville six, then the Delmas Treason Trialists and then the Upington 26. All controversial cases in which entire groups of people were sentenced to death for murder, not because they actually killed someone but because they were on the scene, because they had a so-called common purpose with the killers. In 1985 26 people were charged with the gruesome murder of an Upington policeman. 25 were sent to death row. Today, almost 11 years later the community of Pabalelo has not emerged from the darkness of that time. Although those sentenced to death were never hanged, the people of the township remain divided, embittered and angry. Nantie Steyn and Anneliese Burgess visited Upington this week.

Notes: Max du Preez; Archbishop Tutu

References: there are no references for this transcript