Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
September 30, 1996
A delegation of the Commission today met a delegation from the SA National Defence Force headed by Major General Jan Klopper for a very frank and detailed discussion of the proposed submission to the TRC by military generals. The TRC was represented by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Commissioner Dumisa Ntsebeza and myself.
Regret was expressed at the postponement of the presentation of the submission - which had been due to happen today - and a com- mitment was made that it would be presented as a matter of urgency. In order to gain the maximum information for the Commission, three options were discussed:
- That the generals would make a submission in the same way as political parties, with the Commission able to recall them later for detailed questioning at a second hearing; - That they would make their submission available to the Commission ahead of time to enable it to be studied in depth so that Commissioners can conduct their questioning at the first hearing at which the generals appear; - That they would make their submission available ahead of time, and that the Commission would send a list of follow-up questions to be dealt with at the first hearing.
General Klopper and his colleagues undertook to discuss these options with General Georg Meiring, the Chief of the SANDF. The hearing is planned for October on a date, convenient to both parties, still to be fixed.
Inquiries: John Allen, 082-452-7859