PRETORIUS, JH

We have different phases of mourning. The most initial phase is shock, after that comes denial – no this is not happening - then we have depression, and after that we have aggression – and those two phases can inter-phase for a long time. And only then do we get to acceptance of the loss, ...

It is easy for Professor van Zyl to point to those old programmes and talk about the war psychosis. We were in a war, whether we deny it or not; there was a cold war, Soviet and Communist spheres of influence were applicable.

Being the public or state broadcaster we ran a greater risk of being taken to task, so we had to tow the line. As you can see Mr. Chairman, not an easy ride. Another important factor which affected the lives of journalists before 1994 was the constant pressure on us from politicians.

I think it’s specifically crucial in the current South African context to realise that people will experience different kinds of loss and that there might still be questions in people’s minds about what happened to their loved ones. What was the situation of the death, for example. And if ...

We made our mistakes, yes I admit. If you ask me whether there was an institutional bias in the organisation against the liberation movements and other parties in favour of the NP government it would be futile to deny it. Of course there was. Was the board not appointed by the president? Yes. Would ...

Some people will be more able to finish their unfinished business, to get peace within themselves if they don’t have a grave, than other people. Some victims will suffer more to have that internal process completed than others. And some of them will need some facilitation to get there and to ...