Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
WESTERN AND NORTHERN CAPE OFFICES STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA - 27 FEBRUARY 1997
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Western Cape Office will focus on apartheid era atrocities in KTC, Nyanga and Crossroads during the next few weeks with a view to finding witnesses and victims of Gross Human Rights Violations and holding a special event hearing during April.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, TRC chairperson, will meet with key role players and leaders from these communities on Friday, 28th of February, 1997 in Nyanga to consult them about the possibility of such a hearing.
Western Cape TRC staff and commissioners have been in touch with the community leaders over the last month, and they have given their blessing to the process.
We are urging people to come forward to make statements about their experiences. This will help us to get as full a picture as possible of the struggles in these areas and enable us to make recommendations about reparations to the State President.
Between 1975 and 1983 these informal settlements were subjected to ongoing police raids, demolitions with bulldozers, and arson. Residents were also harassed in terms of passes and subjected to fighting between different leaders. In the mid-eighties there was also conflict between conservative and pro-liberation forces. The ongoing leadership struggles have led to deaths and assault. These are the kind of stories we are interested in hearing from people who have been affected by them.
During 1983 and 1984 there were fierce conflicts in which several people were killed. Security force and local authority struggles also continued through the eighties, along with "Witdoeke" activities in 1986. During April to June 1986 more than 60 people died in the conflict and thousands lost their homes. A report by the Medical Research Council (MRC) found that about 4000 residents in Crossroads and KTC were injured by gunfire in 1986.
During the early 1990's many people were affected by conflict that flow from upgrading, shifting political allegiances and struggles over different forms of organisation.
Our trained statement-takers will be available between 10h00 am and 17h00 pm in the following areas during the next three weeks:
February 27 and 28 - Crossroads Community Hall.
March 4 - Lower Crossroads - venue to be announced
March 11 and 12 - Site C, Khayelitsha - venue to be announced
March 18 and 19 - Khayelitsha - venue to be announced
If you are interested in telling your story to the Commission, but cannot make it to one of the formal statement-taking events, please phone Lucky Njozela or Lillian Mafojane at 021-245161 and we will arrange for you to talk to us in person. People who are uncertain about the procedure, may call Mongezi Mngese at the same number during office hours.
Media can talk to Christelle Terreblanche if they have further inquiries - on 0824588461 or 21-245161