RESPONSE TO HERALD EDITORIAL 11/7/2014

Editorial Comment in Herald today

robertsonh@timesmedia.co.za

Dear Editor

I refer to your Editorial Comment in the Herald on 11 July 2014, as well as the article on the front page written by Sipho Masombuka, Nomahlubi Jordaan and Thulani Gqirana.

The front page article refers to Peggy Calata, the sister of Fort Calata, who stated that if Eugene de Kock is given parole, revenge would be taken by the affected families, and that “he would not live long on the outside”. This is a direct threat to kill someone, and printed on the front page of a newspaper. Surely our country has moved a little further along in reconciliation and forgiveness of the atrocities of the past, that we have no need to quote hate speech and threats to the life of another?

I am also rather alarmed by your own editorial comment in which you question whether ‘this man’, as you put it, “can be truly remorseful of his actions?” It is quite clear that you are not in possession of all the facts in this case. It is disappointing that an Editor of a large circulation newspaper such as the Herald, is so ignorant of the facts. You refer to Justice Minister, Michael Masutha, who told a press conference that the government needed time to consult the families of De Kock’s victims before deciding whether to let him go. I would like to know just how much time you think the government needs to consult with the victims? The parole process has been going on for years. And with regard to your question of remorse …de Kock has asked forgiveness from family members of victims, he pleaded guilty, he helped the TRC, he continues to assist the National Prosecuting Authorities, he has told the truth …what more can a person do to show remorse?

At the conclusion of his appearance before the TRC, Eugene de Kock asked if he could meet with the widows of the victims of the Motherwell bombing. The widows’ lawyer agreed. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela spoke to the widows during a weekend of debriefing. “I was profoundly touched by him”, Mrs Faku said of her encounter with de Kock. Both women felt that de Kock had communicated to them something he felt deeply and had acknowledged their pain. “I couldn’t control my tears. I could hear him, but I was overwhelmed by emotion, and I was just nodding, as a way of saying yes, I forgive you. I hope that when he sees our tears, he knows that they are not only tears for our husbands, but tears for him as well … I would like to hold him by the hand, and show him that there is a future, and that he can still change”. (A human being died that night, page 14) If the widows of men killed by Eugene de Kock can forgive him, then we, the people of South Africa, should welcome his release, whether through parole or Presidential Pardon.

South Africa has seen the impossible become possible. It was said that the release of Nelson Mandela from prison was impossible; that the apartheid National Party would never free a prisoner convicted for treason. The impossible happened and he became President. Because our South African past has shown us that anything is possible, I urge everyone to close the door on the hatred of yesterday and open the door on true reconciliation and forgiveness today…then our tomorrow has a rosier future.

Who amongst us can cast a stone? How can we have reconciliation while one man is kept in prison for all the crimes committed by so many people? Was Eugene de Kock’s crimes any worse than the thousands upon thousands of people who fought for and against the National Party? Was he the unfortunate scape-goat so that others could walk free? Is this the reason he was tried and incarcerated as an ordinary prisoner? Was it because charging him as a common criminal would ensure that someone was incarcerated, and could take the blame for all the wrongs of the previous government? The crimes that Eugene de Kock committed were as a direct result of his employment by the National Party. There are many, many people from all sides of the “war” that committed similar crimes for which prisoner number 94616105 still languishes in prison for. What kind of justice do we have in this country when only one person is charged for a crime committed by many?

A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred. (Nelson Mandela) I do not, nor will I ever believe, that the people of South Africa are prisoners of hatred.

For the love of justice, compassion, forgiveness and for reconciliation of our land, I beg all South Africans to move away from hate and revenge.