MATTHEW LECORDIER
Okay.
"There came a time when we were all concerned about the inequalities in the country and the impoverished state that we lived in, in Wentworth.  The poor education and the tyranny at the hands of the legal gangsters, the police and Labour Party members, in whom the people had no faith.
		During or about 1985, I was employed with a place of safety in Wentworth, as a child care officer.  Here I dealt with orphans, children with conditions of severe neglect and abandoned children.  I also had the sad experience of observing the abuse of children by the staff members, that is other child care officers.
		When I raised this issue at staff meetings, I was told to simply follow orders and to listen and obey the authorities and not raise such issues.  When this continued I refused to accept it and I was told that since I refused I could leave this, and this I did.  This created feelings of awareness and sensitivity in me towards the suffering of children in Wentworth and the abuse of authority.
		I was not recruited at the time into MK, or into the Wentworth Unit.  I used to often visit the Allan Taylor residence, listen to Radio Freedom and read the voice of the ANC in exile, Setchaba.  I listened to discussions, particularly at the Allan Taylor residence by the students, all of which were in the main political discussions.
		During 1984 and 1985, I was also part of a group which included comrade Robert McBride and Marson Sharpley and others as well.  We would together hold regular political meetings at Allan Pearce's home.  This group later developed into what became known as the Fairvale Unit.  These developments took place as a result of our continued political education, aided by our listening to Radio Freedom, reading the Setchabas and attending meetings at the Allan Taylor residence.
		The ANC literature, amongst other things, called on the patriots of the country to form units and attack targets, in particular government buildings, policemen and informers and other collaborators.  We formed this unit and it is this unit that carried out the Fairvale Secondary School arson attack.
		During this period also, one of the members of the group, Marson Sharpley, who was known to favour non-violence, at that stage was arrested by the Security Police and beaten up severely and held in detention without trial for several weeks.
		After his release we visited him at his home and there observed that he was so badly beaten up that his body which was light-skinned, was of a different colour as a result of the beatings on his person.  We also noticed that Marcel's personality had markedly changed, in that he was now in favour of violence and behaved in a paranoid manner when he observed a police vehicle or one that resembled it.
		If he saw such a vehicle, and even if we were then in a middle of a discussion, he would immediately leave the discussion without notice to us and run for his life as though mad and fearful of this vehicle.
		These impressions formed a distinct impression on me and encouraged me in the belief that a peaceful resolution for the change in this country was not possible.
		On a wall in Antonio de Preez's home was a picture taken off from the newspapers, of an unknown black man being assaulted by an armed policeman.  It was a big picture, which had a great effect on my mind."