Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
17 July 1997
We reject today's criticism of the Amnesty Committee by Mr Madala Mzizi of the IFP.
Mr Mzizi reportedly says the fact that victims of Captain Jeffrey Benzien's torture were allowed to question him during the amnesty hearing was within neither the spirit nor the letter of the law.
However, Section 19(4) of the law governing the TRC's work - the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act - explicitly gives victims the right "to testify, adduce evidence and submit any article to be taken into consideration."
It is staggering that a party justice spokesman should be so ill-informed about the law, and shocking that he should attack the ability of Supreme Court judges, who form the majority on the Committee, to apply the law.
His statement is completely contradicted by many messages which the TRC has received praising the wisdom of the Amnesty Committee for the way it has handled very sensitive hearings over the past two weeks.
Inquiries: John Allen, 082- 452-7859