Worcester Peace Train

I mentioned Deon Snyman and the Worcester Hope and Reconciliation Process in my last post. At the "Engaging The Other" conference in early December he talked about a whole group of survivors of the Worcester Shoprite bombing planning to visit one of the perpetrators, Stefaans Coetzee, in prison in Pretoria. Well, they didn't waste any time!

Sarah Crawford-Browne writes:

"Deon is on an incredible journey with 40 survivors of the Worcester bomb - 24 Dec 1996. They left this morning (29 Jan 2013) on a Peace Train to go from Worcester to Pretoria to meet one of the perpetrators.  I'm putting up the updates on the Restitution Foundation Facebook page as they travel.    And we invite you to join the Peace Train -- there's an event on the page... or to share a posting so it does go viral and strengthens the hope in our country!  This is a partnership between the Worcester Hope and Reconciliation Process (they called Deon the father of WHRP today!) and Khulumani. 

This newspaper article shares a little of the story...  - as does a video about Ms Olga Macingwane who was the first to make the journey in 2009, following which other survivors requested the opportunity to meet Stefaans. 


When Correctional Services refused to transfer Stefaans Coetzee, the young man whose group placed the bomb under the Shoprite Christmas tree in 1996, the Worcester Hope and Reconciliation Process decided to raise sponsorships from Worcesterians to take the 60 survivors to Pretoria to meet him.  Within 2 weeks the money had been raised at R1000 a place, the Dutch Reformed Church pledged padkos (travel food) and many people became involved.  Then in December the Dept of Correctional Services joined the partnership by upgrading the train and providing support staff.  The purpose of the train is just to create an opportunity for survivors to see Stefaans – the values are survivor centred, with absolutely no expectations on them as they board.  The Department of Corrections has also pledged to transfer Stefaans so that survivors who were unable to travel, may also meet him. 

So the train left Worcester this morning and they've reached Beaufort West where they've stretched their legs.   The survivors of the bomb will visit Stefaans at Pretoria Central on Thursday, and they’ll all return on Friday.

I was really awed by the courage of the people – and how costly this bomb has been in their lives.  Families were torn apart.  One woman I spoke with is still in great physical pain and can’t stand for more than a minute.  It’s 17 years later and there is still great suffering.  One of the survivors who spoke before they all left, said that she wants all of South Africa to hear the story to inspire others to reach across painful divides.

Just after meeting with Stefaans Coetzee today at Pretoria Central

South Africans are really incredible!"