Admin
14 Apr, 1998
Agreement between Botha and the TRC welcomed
Statement by Co-leader of the UDM The UDM throughout the process requested that it be made possible for Mr. Botha to appear before the TRC. Article 29 of the Truth and Reconciliation provides for hearings of the TRC to take place in camera. The UDM believes that Mr. Botha’s evidence before the TRC is important in order to get information as perceived by the previous government. All South Africans will benefit from this agreement and it can play an important part in the reconciliation process. The evidence of Mr. Botha will add to the TRC’s ability to adequately complete its task. Mr. Botha’s evidence is vital in providing the full picture and should add to a balanced final report from the TRC. The UDM congratulates the parties involved in reaching this agreement.
Admin
09 Dec, 1997
Blanket amnesty for top ANCs
Statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has now asked legal opinion on its decision to grant amnesty to Mr Thabo Mbeki and 36 other top ANC officials. Since granting amnesty, the Committee has not informed the nation for which human rights transgressions these amnesties were granted. As a matter of fact, the Committee has indicated that they need not do any explaining. This is of course totally unacceptable. It is a disservice not only towards the Commission’s mandate and the transparency that is an essential part of the process towards truth and reconciliation, but also towards the applicants themselves. Thabo Mbeki, as a potential president of the country, cannot face the future with the cloud of an unexplained and nebulous amnesty hanging over his head. The situation should be fully explained and rectified, as speedily as possible. The TRC, as the torchbearer into our obscure past, should not start fumbling around in the dark itself.
Admin
05 Dec, 1997
TRC hearing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer The past two weeks’ hearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has revealed a number of things ‘that went horribly wrong’ during the time of Ms Madikizela-Mandela’s association with the so-called Mandela United Football Club. Details aside, our country now demands clear reaction from the ANC leadership if it is serious about the aim of the TRC, namely to get to the truth about the past and to continue into a future of reconciliation: Allegations made against Madikizela-Mandela were done by senior members of the ANC, such as Sydney Mufamadi, Murphy Morobe and Azar Cachalia. The ANC leadership should now emphatically state its position regarding these allegations. Many of these allegations were already made before the appointment of Ms Madikizela-Mandela as deputy minister in government. Suspicions around these issues were also rife at the time. By appointing her, the ANC leadership has obviously condoned her actions in this regard. During the TRC hearing it appeared as if the ANC now wanted to taint her name by accusing her of these very actions. If the view of the ANC in this regard has since changed, we citizens should know about it, given the public role that Madikizela-Mandela has since played, inter alia as deputy minister. The UDM bears no candle for Ms Madikizela-Mandela. As the governing party, the ANC, however, will determine to a large extent the success of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The ANC now owes the country a full explanation regarding the above. The country, and the Commission, demand the truth, not obfuscation or mere silence. They await the ANC’s response.
Admin
20 Nov, 1997
Roelf Meyer visits PW Botha
Statement by UDM Media Manager on behalf of Roelf Meyer This morning I visited Mr PW Botha at his home in Wilderness. It was a private visit that was already arranged two months ago to coincide with my visit to the Southern Cape and Mr Botha’s availability. The visit had no connection with Mr Botha’s present relations with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, although the issue did come up during our discussions. It needs to be noted that Bantu Holomisa and I have always been of the opinion that co-operation with the TRC is imperative in order to uncover the full perspective of the past. With this in mind, the UDM will seek to play a role, if possible, to find a solution to the present impasse between Mr Botha and the Commission. Mr Botha undoubtedly possesses information of infinite value for the Commission to be able to fill in its picture of the past. The challenge will now be to determine the best possible way in which this transaction can be accomplished. Legal steps, under the circumstances, may not be the ideal solution, resulting only in further alienation.
