Staff Reporter Seipati Sentle speaks to Titus Mafolo and Willie Hofmeyr, the two United Democratic Font leaders now working for Deputy President Thabo Mbeki

Controversial ANC MP Will Hofmeyr has been appointed as parliamentary adviser to Deputy President Thabo Mbeki. His contribution to the democratic struggle has played a major role in his being the first white person to be included in Mr Mbeki's inner sanctum *1 of special advisers from July 1.

A former executive member of the United Democratic Front, his main duty will be to make sure that Mr Mbeki gets - and most importantly - answers all questions asked by political parties in Parliament. This won't be an easy job, Mr Hofmeyr says. His hands are always full *2.

He says he makes sure he does not "sleep" while politicians level vital questions at Mr Mbeki. "Sometimes you get a variety of politicians asking many questions in one sitting. This calls for extensive preparation and research to enable Mr Mbeki to respond properly.

He said it was difficult for Mr Mbeki to attend most parliamentary sessions due to his demanding work schedule.

He would, therefore, as Mr Mbeki's "ears" and note the interpellations and debates - and all the goings on regarding the second highest office in the government.

Odd questions

Mr Hofmeyr was elected on the ANC national list as a Member of Parliament in 1994, and he is quite familiar with the questions politicians ask during sessions.

One odd question asked, Mr Hofmeyr recalled, was directed at Kader Asmal, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry. He was asked if he used government funds to build himself a house in a forest reserve.

"At some stage, a politician put forward 90 questions at one sitting asking why the government had set up the TRC."

Prior to his new job, Mr Hofmeyr was involved on the justice portfolio committee, which focused on the implementation of new constituhonal structures such as the establishment of the TRC and reform of the justice system in accordance wth internahonal human nghts standards.

He and his colleague in Mr Mbeki's office, Titus Mafolo, served the national executive of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the '80s.

"My first involvement in real politics, (joining the ANC) was when I was posted to Pretoria to do military service."

He said he saw how badly his white colleagues treated black people and how nasty and rude were towards them.

"They polnted guns. at them and forced them off the road for no apparent reason.

"This was shocking to me because then I was a 'liberal verligte' who grew up and was schooled in Cape Town.

"What I saw in Pretoria during such that time was a shame and I thought something was dramatically wrong in our country." *3

After completing his military training he became a political activist and joined student and union while at the University of Cape Town.

For his activism Mr Hofmeyr was detained and banned by the apartheid government.

He was on the committee which organised the welcome rally for the release of President Mandela, served as Western Cape campaigns co-ordinator for the ANC and represented the movement on a number of ad-ho committees and alliances.