The Provincial government of the Western Cape played a key role since the allegations surfaced of a mass grave for victims of the 1981 Laingsburg flood. In this flood 104 people lost their lives and the bodies of 72 people were never found.

The archeological investigation now proved conclusively that there is no evidence to back the allegations.

From the start we had the cooperation from the Laingsburg Municipality and we have kept them informed as the investigations progressed.
The steps taken by the provincial government included in the following order:

• 28 February 2003 - Task Team visited Laingsburg.
• 24-27 March 2004 Radar scan - Council for Geoscience.
• 25 May 2003 public meeting in Laingsburg.
• 23 July 2003 - Imbizo at Laingsburg to start with a reconciliation process.
• 23 July to 1 August 2003 archeological investigations.

This whole investigation process by the Department of Local Government came at a cost of R 207 445-91. When one considers the fact that the Provincial Government of the Western Cape values the dignity of any person or community in the Western Cape, these costs are fully justified in an effort to restore the dignity of a community. Therefore the Provincial Government did not hesitate to institute the necessary steps to achieve closure on an emotional issue which still affects the lives of the broad Laingsburg community. It is now time for closure on this emotional chapter.