Human Rights Violation Hearings — Mooiriver — 1997-05-28

WITNESS:   She is really traumatised by this because my son was the one who was helping my wife, and she wasn't working at that time.  My son was the one who was working.

KHOZA MGOJO: What about her health and your health?

WITNESS:   We were terribly traumatised by this.  I couldn't sleep, and I am suffering from heart attack now.  I have heart disease.  I am getting treatment.  Even now I am taking tablets.  I do go to doctors to fetch my tablets.  Yes, I am taking heart treatment.  It's okay, I am feeling fine now, but I am taking - I am under medication.

KHOZA MGOJO: What about your wife?

WITNESS:   My wife is suffering from high blood pressure.

KHOZA MGOJO: Is she receiving treatment?

WITNESS:   Yes, she is receiving treatment.

KHOZA MGOJO: Where?

WITNESS:   From Dr McCall.

KHOZA MGOJO: How much is she paying?

WITNESS:   She is no longer paying for that treatment.

KHOZA MGOJO: We are very sorry to hear this terrible story.  ---Another thing that I want to tell the Commission is that my daughter who died after my son's death.  She was ill. When we were in a hall, preparing for her funeral, and there was a congregation for the service, people came and they shot at people and everyone ran away.  It was just myself and my wife and her sister looking at the coffin, and people ran away because people were shooting at them.  They even shot one guy who was from Sekola family and he died there.  It was in a community hall  in the township where I am from.

KHOZA MGOJO: What about the Sekola family?  Did they write any statement to the Truth Commission in connection with this?

WITNESS:   I don't know, I am not sure, but maybe they did.  We ran carrying the coffin.  We went to look for refuge in a primary school nearby the community hall.

KHOZA MGOJO: Did you know these people?

WITNESS:   No, we didn't know them, but they were from the hostel.

KHOZA MGOJO: Thank you for coming to tell us your sad story, and at your age I can only imagine how sad it is.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Mthethwa, I just wanted to ask one question.  You said ... (inaudible) ... came to your house to look for guns or weapons.

WITNESS:   Yes, they came in my house and they said they were looking for guns.  Some of them didn't come to my house, went to other people's houses. Was that before your son died?   ---   Just after my son had died.  It was after I have received the news that my son died.  My son died at about 3.00 pm.  This incident of soldiers coming to my house it was late at night.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible) ... incident where the Inkatha people were trying to burn your house down, and when they were throwing stones at the windows, was that before or after the soldiers came to look for guns?

WITNESS:   It was after the soldiers had left. The soldiers came at about nine and then the group of Inkatha people came at about 4.00 am.

CHAIRPERSON: You see, the reason why I am asking that question is because we have heard evidence in other areas that before an attack has taken place frequently, particularly in an area like Mpumalanga township, what one has seen is that the police or the army have come to that township, to that area, or to a particular section of a township, and they have searched houses door to door, confiscated anything which could be regarded as a weapon, anything which people could possibly use to conduct an attack with, but, more importantly, anything that they could use to defend themselves with.  And then again we've heard evidence that after these searches by the police attacks on that same section have taken place, and it's become quite clear to us that the reason why the houses were searched was in order to facilitate the attack later in the day, or to make the attack easier, in the sense that people in those houses would not be able to defend themselves.  And it seems as though this is something which may have happened here in Brandville, but this is evidence which we haven't heard before, and we certainly will investigate that aspect.   Now, you've heard what I've said to the previous witnesses who gave evidence here, Ria and Mildred Madlala, and the same thing applies to the death of your son.  He was killed on the same day as that attack took place, and we know that it's a terrible thing to lose a child.  We know from many other witnesses who've come to this Commission and told us about the death of their children.  We know something about the pain that you have gone through, and we extend our sympathies, our deep sympathies to you, and we ask you to convey that to your wife as well.

CHAIRPERSON: We thank you very much for coming in here today.  You've helped fill in the picture that we are trying to build of what happened in Brandville township, and even though you had to come and tell a very sad story about the death of your son it has helped the Commission, and we hope that it has helped you a little bit just to come here and tell the story, that it does help you to come to terms with the loss of your son.  So again we thank you very much for coming in.  Is there something else you want to say, Mr Mthethwa?

WITNESS:   Nothing.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: /CHAIRMAN

CHAIRPERSON: The next witness is Mr Mazibuko.  Mr Mazibuko, we welcome you here today.  Can you hear me properly through the earphones?

NHLANHLA PETROS MAZIBUKO: Yes, I can.

CHAIRPERSON: You have come to tell us about the death of your wife, who was killed in November 1994.  Sorry, she died in November 1994, but she was shot in June 1990, is that right?

NHLANHLA PETROS MAZIBUKO: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: Before you tell us that story can you please stand up to take the oath.

NHLANHLA PETROS MAZIBUKO: (Sworn, States)

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Lax, my colleague, will now help you with your evidence.

MR LAX: Thank you, Chairperson.  Good morning again, Mr Mazibuko.

WITNESS:   I also greet you.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... to share this story with us.  Now, before we proceed to your story proper can you give us a brief picture of your family situation.

WITNESS:   I have a big family, because the wife that I am going to talk about is my second wife.  In my first marriage I have seven children, and I am going to talk about my second wife.  When we got involved she had one child.

MR LAX: Was that someone else or with you?

WITNESS:   No, when I got involved with her she already had that child.  We do not have children together.

MR LAX: You don't have children together with her.

WITNESS:   No.

MR LAX: This child you refer to - there's a child you refer to as Mvuseni.

WITNESS:   Yes, when I got involved with the mother Mvuseni was still sucking from her mother - from his mother or her mother.

MR LAX: So are you looking after Mvuseni at the moment?

WITNESS:   As from that time he was in my custody.

MR LAX: How old is he?

WITNESS:   He is 19 or 20 years old.  I am not sure.

MR LAX: Okay.  Let's move then to this incident on the 16th of June 1990.  Your wife was - Mrs Mchunu, your wife, was your common-law wife, is that right?

WITNESS:   Yes, that is correct.

MR LAX: And you were at home at that time.

WITNESS:   Yes, that is true.

MR LAX: Tell us what happened.