Call on KZN Premier to release Moerane Commission Transcripts

R2K has addressed the following letter to KZN Premier Willies Mchunu, after repeated calls on the Moerane Commission to release transcripts of its proceedings. The letter is available as a PDF here.

To: Mr Thembinkosi Willies Mchunu Premier, Province of Kwazulu Natal

cc: Mr Solo Mdledle, Secretary to the Commission

11 June 2018

Dear Sir

The Right2Know Campaign has been disturbed to learn that the Commission has failed to release its transcripts to the public and to the media.

As an organisation committed to transparency, public participation and accountability, we have monitored the Commission’s work with great interest.

However, a decision not to release the transcripts is out of step with the practice of all previous Commissions of Inquiry in our experience, such as the Farlam Commission, the Seriti Commission and Khayelitsha policing commission — in all these Commissions, even when testimony related to matters of potential sensitivity, a transcript would be released shortly after the hearing and would be available to media and the public.

The transcripts are a matter of public record, pertaining to an issue of great public interest. While we can appreciate the Commission’s wish to ensure the protection of witnesses, the reality is that their testimony has already been made public. Where a witness testified in camera, their identity may simply be redacted from the transcript.

As the Right2Know Campaign, we believe that information is the life-blood of South Africa’s Constitutional Democracy. It is only through information – access to information – that the values in our Constitution can truly be respected, promoted and protected. As citizens we cannot hold government, corporations and individuals accountable if we are not able to access crucial information. The transcripts and ultimately the report of the Moerane Commission pertains to issues of epidemic proportions which in all likelihood implicate political parties, elected representatives and possibly public servants. As citizens we need to be able to access all transcripts of the commission so that we may analyse them in an attempt to ensure that the values of our Constitution are truly respected, promoted and protected.

What makes the situation even more critical and urgent are the recent reports on political killings in the Province of Kwazulu Natal to the effect that there has been an addition of a 7th suspect in the Glebelands case moreover, that the Mayor of Endumeni was arrested in relation to an assassination and lastly, the assassination of Sfiso Ngcobo a community leader.

The Right2Know Campaign urges the Premier and the Commission to take all necessary steps to ensure the transcripts are released to the public as a matter of urgency.

We ask that you reply to this letter by Friday 22 June 2018.

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Sincerely Yours

Mluleki Marongo

Right of Access to Information Organiser

The Right2Know Campaign

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