BONGANI FINCA
Chairperson thank you.  I would like to raise then the question that I had originally prepared before I looked at the statement, and I would think that perhaps I will raise the question and direct it to the three members representing the National Party.  There is a view, and I think it's a very strong view widely held by a number of people in this country and even abroad, that the South African government had the power and had the means to prevent the bloodbath, what they lacked was the will to do so.  We have put this question to Mr Pik Botha when he was here and the answer we received was not satisfactory. I think we would like to re-submit the question to you, that in fact it is not true to fact that the South African Government could not have done anything about that situation.  They had the power, they had the means, they intervened in Ciskean affairs right to the point of appointing Cabinet ministers when they wanted to do so, but in this particular case, and the submission is made to us EAST LONDON HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
32 R MEYER
that because lives which were in danger of being lost were Black lives, and Black lives are cheap, the RSA government did not have the will to act in this particular instance.  I would like to put that view to you and hear what your comment is on it.