DR RANDERA
Thank you Reverend Umbequa and Reverend Maklene.  I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our witnesses who will be coming and, and talking this, this morning and this afternoon.  I would also like to say that this is a Human Rights Violations hearing.  It offers the opportunity for witnesses to come forward to talk about the Gross Human Rights Violations that happened in this area and remember we are looking at the period from 1960 to 1994.  To-day we will be listening to stories from 1976 to 1993.  I would like to welcome the Mayor of Messina, Mayor Abraham Lerule.  If I can just ask him to come forward and say a few words please.  Now, where is he going ? Maybe he should speak from here.  Mayor Lerule !  Whilst the Mayor's coming forward, perhaps I can just explain how these little boxes work.  We have a full team of interpreters with us here this, this morning.  On, ja, on, on, if you're looking at the box, on the, on the left hand side there are channels.  On Channel Two, it's English, Channel Three is Venda and Channel Four is Peddie.  If people haven't got these boxes and want one, can we please ... Where are they available ?  Are they available ?  Are they available, available at the back of the hall?  They're, at the back of the hall.   Okay.  Mayor, just one more point before we proceed and allow you to speak.  We have our statement takers here this morning for those people who have not made statements and wish to do so.  He is in the first hall as we approach this building.  So not the next one as you go out of this room but the one beyond that.  If people want to make statements, our statement taker, Wele is present, so please take this opportunity.  Thank you.  Mayor Lerule, good morning and thank you for coming.  We, we welcome you.  You are going to give us a brief overview of, of your understanding of what happened in this area.  Thank you very much.  Just take your time.