Issued by: Ministry for Safety and Security
STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA BY MR SYDNEY MUFAMADI, MINISTER FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY
PRETORIA ON 14 OCTOBER 1996.
When delivering his judgement in the Malan Trial, Judge Hugo criticised aspects of the police investigation conducted by members of the Investigation Task Unit (ITU). I take his comments seriously and will study them with the view of ensuring that future investigations always meet the highest possible standards.
The criticism which I cannot take seriously comes from those who were in the past responsible for covering up crimes, who failed o investigate and who were partly responsible for allowing Kwa-Zulu Natal to become the killing field of South Africa.
Mr F W De Klerk must explain to the public why his government failed to investigate the Kwa Makhuta massacre and many other murders in that province. Deception and security force complicity were the order of the day when the National Party was in power - a factor which more than any other, was responsible for corroding respect for the rule of law in this country.
The response to the establishment of the ITU was from many quarters, predictably hostile from the beginning. The ITU's investigation into allegations of hit-squad activities was complex and was conducted under difficult circumstances.
The ITU achieved what the De Klerk government had failed to do, namely to present a compelling case to the Attorney-General and to persuade him that criminal charges against the most senior government officials of the past were justified.
I have the highest regard for the work done by the members of the ITU, even if there may be aspects of their investigations which can be criticised. They investigated without fear or favour. They are an asset to the SAPS and the experience which they gained will benefit other major police investigations. My confidence in members of the ITU, individually and severally, remains unshaken.
It will be recalled that some of them, like Frank Dutton, solved cases such as the Trust Feed massacre, at a time when it was not fashionable for a police officer to investigate such cases.
I intend to issue a more comprehensive statement after receiving a report from the civilian investigation Task Board and after careful study of the judgement
Enquiries: Maxwell Mulaudzi - 082 373 2005