Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
A researcher attached to the Inkatha Freedom Party, Ms Nicky Britz, is to appear before a TRC investigative inquiry on March 3 to assist the Commission with its investigations into a list of 422 IFP office-bearers reported killed in KwaZulu-Natal violence.
The list has been under investigation for nine months by a team of experienced investigators in the TRC's KwaZulu Natal region. The team includes one of the international investigators seconded to the TRC.
At a meeting with the IFP in September last year, the Secretary General of the party, Mr MZ Khumalo, instructed Ms Britz, the alleged compiler of the list, to provide the TRC with further details to enable full investigation. In spite of repeated requests, these further details have never been forthcoming.
The list names the office-bearers but in only some instances gives details of the victim's position in the IFP, the date and place of the killing, the case number and remarks on the investigation. The Commission has nevertheless been able to locate about 100 dockets. We are still analysing the dockets and further investigations are continuing, because the allegations about the killings are an important element in the history of violence in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ms Britz was subpoenaed before an investigative inquiry - which is held behind closed doors - on January 20 but provided the TRC with a doctor's certificate and asked for a postponement on the grounds of ill-health. The new date was agreed with her lawyers.
Inquiries: John Allen, 082- 452-7859