UNKNOWN
Thank you Mr Chairman.  I am still of the view that the tragic incident could have been avoided if the march conditions had been followed.  I had nothing against peaceful marches, political rallies, and as mentioned I personally unbanned political organisations when I assumed power without being pressurised to do so.
 I mention further that after the Bisho Massacre I had the support and sympathy of Buthelezi, Mangope and Mpedi who incidentally were also leaders of Homelands which were not ANC sympathisers.  
 The ANC alliance in contrast showed no expression of sorrow for their action which had led to the death of many people, instead they remained determined to intensify their mass action and do the same in Bophuthatswana. I verily believe that the ANC alliance had, on that day, no intention of a peaceful march and that is why they lacked remorse thereafter.
 Negotiations -   Perhaps the one positive aspect that flowed from the happenings on that day was that the parties returned to the negotiating table.  To a certain extent marches of this nature did not take place thereafter.  What is interesting is that our present government has realised the possible peril associated with marches and past legislation holding the organisers of a march responsible for any incidents caused by such a march.  This begs the question that if the Bisho Massacre march happened today who would be culpable.
 The indemnity decree -  It is true that I passed an indemnity decree so as to indemnify my soldiers from criminal prosecution relating to the Bisho Massacre.  As far as I was concerned they were acting in a lawful capacity to protect Ciskei from being besieged.  They were not the only line of defence but in fact the final line of defence.  It is very easy to sit back and condemn their action on that day.  Although I concede that perhaps if one views the situation in retrospect they may have over-reacted.  I ask that we all judge them given the circumstances prior and at the time of the march.  I urge that people should not be armchair critics when considering the happenings of that day.
 Conclusion -  Mr Chairman, Commissioners, there has been many a day that I have wished that the incidents of the 7th of September 1992 could be removed from my history, but I know that they cannot.  I have frequently wondered what I would have done differently if the clock could be turned back, but given the circumstances I am at a loss to say.  
 I know that the question on everybody's lips is whether I am going to say that I am sorry for what happened on that day.  I feel that I am not personally to blame for what happened on that day.  I attempted, I believe, to the best of my ability to prevent what happened.  Nonetheless I do feel sorry and sympathise with the victims and the families who lost loved ones.  I am sorry that this happened at a time when I was head of Ciskei, and unfortunately remains inextricably linked with me.  
 In a sense I feel sorry for the ANC because I believe that it was the SACP's subtle revolutionary influence that caused this incident under the guise of the ANC.  
 As a Christian I find the loss of human life a sorrowful situation particularly when blatantly contemplated for political gain.  I sincerely hope that the people who accuse me and claim that I am responsible for that day now have a better insight.
 Finally I would ask anybody that believes in their heart that I am truly guilty to forgive me, and understand the situation for what it was.  There is one lesson that I have learnt and that is that hatred and bitterness will gnaw away at a person's very soul if they give it a chance.  I have forgiven those that persecuted me and my followers. If we are all to live together and build a new South Africa then we must make peace with ourselves, our feelings and those of others, I have done all of this and please I urge you to do the same and let us all build the new future together.
 Mr Chairman I thank you for this opportunity to make these submissions to the Commission.