Special Report Transcript Episode 36, Section 1, Time 00:30

Hello. Welcome to this week’s Special Report. On tonight’s programme we investigate the execution of seven Gugulethu men in 1986, we take a hard look at the legacy of the hostel system and we listen to the community of Oudtshoorn talking about the nightmares of the past and the dreams of the future, and a young man reads a letter he wrote recently to his father who died 20 years ago. His name was Steven Biko. We start our programme with the Truth Commission’s continued public inquiry into the 1986 massacre of seven young men in Gugulethu, Cape Town. In November last year nine policemen were subpoenaed to testify about the controversial shootout. Three of the policemen appeared before the Commission last year, including the man who planned the operation, retired Col Adolf Janse Odendaal. The remaining six policemen gave their versions at a two-day sitting this week. It would be the fourth time since 1986 that implicated policemen tell us their story. Besides the Truth Commission special hearing there have been two inquests and a trial. The big question is: are we any closer to the truth? A word of advice to especially sensitive viewers, some of the pictures used are shocking. The nature of this investigation unfortunately demanded that we use them.

Notes: Max du Preez

References: there are no references for this transcript