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D’ATH, GeorgeAge Description The Hani lawyers asked why the applicants had remained silent about the existence of these records. They said it showed that the applicants were not making a full disclosure. // I want to read, firstly to hand in, copies of a letter on president counsel letterheads written by Mr. Derby-Lewis to the ... Now we look forward to the testimony of the National Party and other political parties which starts in Cape Town tomorrow. Let’s move to Nelspruit in Mpumalanga where the Truth Commission’s Amnesty Committee heard the cases of former activists across the political spectrum. One of the men who ... Mr van Zyl, 63 stab wounds were inflicted on the four people you murdered on the night of the 27th 1985. Do you agree with the District Surgeon’s report with that? // I cannot disagree with that Mr Chairman. // Do you agree that the 63 stab wounds is evidence of barbaric conduct? // Mr ... Two ministers who were close to the family informed them about his death. At the mortuary police prevented them from going inside to identify his body. They were only allowed to view the head of the corpse through a window. // Through the window we could see Benji’s head, it was swollen, you ... … Because in my mind a murder docket is never closed, it is always alive and it will receive attention sporadically. If you feel that you’ve done nothing wrong is it really necessary for you to apply for amnesty? // Frankly, it’s not necessary. The only thing is I did it because I was involved in that little struggle. // Whose idea was it that you should apply for amnesty Mr Marx? // Niewoudt. When I first started photographing this process I didn’t know what was going on. It was a totally new and novel experience. I think the biggest shock for me was when I had to photograph Capt Benzien showing how he tortured people. Did you lie to your attorney? // I did Mr. Chairman. // Nobody compelled you to lie to your attorney? // No one compelled me Mr. Chairman except for the fact that I was busy with an armed struggle and I was determined to give as much opposition as possible under any circumstances. // What support ... Your evidence was that Col Snyman reported that there was discussion at the JMC in which the Defence Force people put in the JMC, put the security police under pressure and suggested that the security police were unable to stabilize the position. Do you recall that? // Yes. // Now ... of this ... So you are telling me that the South African police service is involved, or has been at least in this occasion, on oiling the palms, greasing the palms of convicted murderers for the purpose of establishing a case against somebody else. // The investigators indicated to me that it was very ... We oppose the applications of all the applicants for amnesty Mr Chairman and members of the Committee. And want to say at the outset that we do so primarily because we consider their applications an attempt to clear their names with a self defence story in order that the record should be expunged, ... Have you apologised about wasting a valuable life that might have made a valuable contribution to the people of South Africa? // No, how can I ever apologise for an act of war. War is war. I know Winnie. She wasn’t as bad as she is at the moment. She used to be a mother; she used to be a loving person. You’d go to Winnie with your grievances; she would help you if she can. But what has turned now lately, I don’t know what happened to her. Nobody is above the law. If the law ... There’s a difference, is there, between killing people in war and killing people by assassin. // There is Mr. Chairman, there is. // Is that a form of your conservative party logic Mr. Derby-Lewis? // Mr. Chairman, assassination is an act of war, it can occur during a war situation. // Murder is ... Have you apologized about wasting a valuable life that may have paid a valuable contribution to the people of South Africa mister Derby-Lewis? // Mister Chairman, with respect, may I ask is this a condition and is this something over which the Committee should then be subjected to evidence? My ... On Thursday Advocate Bizos continues his relentless cross examination of Snyman and puts it to him that it was not Biko’s refusal to answer questions that led to him being injured or beaten up but simply his determination to remain seated after his white interrogators had ordered him to stand. // ... Although she denies all knowledge of the assassination plan Derby-Lewis told the Amnesty Committee that she believed it was politically inspired. This is what she told the police during her interrogation in 1993. // We had minimal contact with the right in terms of being involved with them. I ... There is a perception amongst NGO’s and amongst certain members of the legal fraternity that a large degree of impunity exists in KwaZulu-Natal in terms of the lack of prosecutions and a lack of convictions. What’s your response to that? // I would like an opportunity to discuss that with the ... By the time of Mr. Hani’s death, more than three months had passed since you wrote that list of 19 names. // Yes. // Did you write a letter to anyone of the 19 asking for an appointment? // No. // Wouldn’t a simple telephone call to them, whether they would be prepared to give an interview ... Your motive for killing Mr. Goniwe was to restore peace in the Eastern Cape. // That’s correct Mr. Chairperson. // After Mr. Goniwe’s death an increase in violence and one of the fruits that you reaped as a result of his murder, you and the country reaped, was a declaration of a state of ... |
