Letters | Meaningless oaths

Jade le Roux’s article “Are you for Real” (Weekend Witness, February 7) is worthy of commendation as is the oldest newspaper in South Africa. For 45 of those 180 years,The Witnesshas been a trusted, enlightening, integral and important part of our day. Having spent a significant amount of time watching the Madlanga Commission, several conclusions have been drawn.

Firstly, the doggedness, sincerity and integrity of Judge Madlanga, Commissioners Baloyi and Khumalo is clearly evident. Which brings me to Jade’s question. Are they for real?

Before each witness begins their testimony, they are obliged to take an oath. They stand up, raise their hands and swear to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. Having accepted this declaration of honesty, the commissioners are then required to sift through a litany of obfuscations, prevarications, omissions, exaggerations and blatant deceit.

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Added to which, the witnesses, having woven a tangled web, are often heard to say, “I would NEVER lie to the commission”. Clearly, taking an oath is meaningless. If perjury was a serious and severely punished offence, the situation may be different but the courts have bigger fish to fry than prosecuting pathological liars.

What is the point of an age-old tradition that is demeaned to those who are in defiance of the law? If members of society wittingly kill their conscience and bury their moral compass, no dishonoured oath will protect and preserve the truth.

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