Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
September 30, 1996
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE AFTER DISCUSSIONS ON 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1996.
Difficulties experienced by the SANDF and the Investigative Unit of the TRC in the Western Cape after visits to a unit of the SANDF at Wingfield Military Base over the weekend of 20th September, 1996, have been followed up by meetings between the two parties on 27th and 30th September. The TRC delegation was headed by Commissioner Dumisa Ntsebeza and the SANDF delegation by Major General Jan Klopper.
The TRC and the SANDF reached agreement at today's meeting on methods to be followed when the Investigative Unit of the Commission seeks access to military information on military premises. The heads of agreement, which concern issues such as relevance of material and legal privilege, lay down procedures which would enable the Investigative Unit to gain access to classified material required by the Commission in a manner acceptable to both parties.
These procedures will be put to the test in any investigation which may take place in the near future. Should any disagreements arise, both parties have undertaken that the two representatives who act as "nodal points" for contact between the parties - Advocate Glenn Goosen and Major General Jan Klopper - will immediately establish contact to resolve the problems. Today's meeting, which was a continuation of a meeting last Friday, was held in a cordial, co-operative and constructive spirit.
Inquiries to: Colonel John Rolt, SANDF, 012- 355-6388/9 Adv. Glen Goosen, TRC, 012- 24-5161