Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
December 2, 1997
STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, CHAIRPERSON, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission warmly welcomes the findings and recommendations of the Goldstone Commission of Inquiry.
While Judge Goldstone's finding that the allegations implicating Commissioner Dumisa Ntsebeza in the Heidelberg Tavern attack are false was wholly expected, we are nevertheless thrilled that Mr Ntsebeza's name has been cleared completely and finally by an independent commission of inquiry.
Having acknowledged when we called for the Commission to be appointed that we should have referred the allegations to outside investigators, we accept without hesitation Judge Goldstone's finding that we erred in not having the allegations independently investigated immediately upon learning of them.
The failure of the police to follow up and investigate properly the allegations against Mr Ntsebeza is shocking, as were the actions of senior police officers in casting aspersions on Mr Ntsebeza in newspaper interviews during the recent controversy over the allegations.
We welcome Judge Goldstone's recommendations:
- That a further investigation should be held to establish both the motives of Mr Bennett Sibaya in implicating Mr Ntsebeza and whether other persons conspired with Mr Sibaya; - That this further investigation should be overseen by the Independent Complaints Directorate of the SAPS; - That the Attorney-General should consider criminal proceedings against Mr Sibaya.
The TRC intends pursuing vigorously action against Captain John Lubbe, a former TRC investigator, for improperly removing documents from our possession.
The Commission also welcomes Judge Goldstone's perceptive references to the role which racism and fear of perceived racism may have played in the handling of this affair. We agree that it will require hard work from all sectors of society, including within the TRC, to overcome this problem.
Inquiries: John Allen, 082- 452-7859