Human Rights Violation Hearings — George — 1996-06-19

MS SEROKE: As I was going towards the police direction I found them coming down the road, driving in two vans, going towards the township.  I told them that  we have been waiting for them for quite a long time, the whole morning.  But now what you wished to happen, had happened.
 My husband has been struck with kapmesse and they asked where he was, I said come I'll show you, they came.  They followed me, they left the vans and we went down on foot.  When we got there - he was - they would just saw this pool of blood, he was not there anymore.  I said let's go to the house, the house was still smouldering but it was - and we found him below the house and he had lost his consciousness - but he was still living.  He was still alive.
 And then they started rushing now and they hurried to the toi-toiers and I said it's useless, all I want is for you to safe my husbands life, take him to hospital please.  This one policeman took him, the other ones who had come with the vans, had gone to fetch the vans and the vans had come, the one policeman took him and lifted him and we got into the van.  He said one word whilst we were in the van, he said what have I done to my people.  I didn't know how to answer him.
 When we got to the doctor, this policeman, I went off - I alighted and this policeman said come Nelson let me support you, he didn't stand up, he didn't move, the policeman went back into the van, lifted him and brought him down.  I tried to call him  [indistinct]  he was not responding but he was still alive.   And so we came and the two doctors were there they tried - they tried to sew up the cuts but the blood couldn't be stopped.  They asked me to sit down and I sat down - they asked for some tablets, I was given five tablets to take.
 And Dr Benning called for an ambulance and I said could I go, they said no I couldn't go.  I said please I want to go, they said no I'll go and see him later and then I remained, the ambulance took him away.
 There was a white person from the farm who - who - when there was someone in the community, who's house has been burned we would talk to this white person, because he had a firm of planks he was - and then he would provide the person with planks.  And they - this white person took him as his customer, they knew each other very well.  He would go in his van to get some planks to built for the person who's house was being burnt and this white person said to his wife, his wife was there, he instructed the wife t go with me to the township to go and look for my children.
 This white lady took me to the township again, the ambulance had gone by this time.  I was  [indistinct] alighted from this car, I was called by a friend of my son, the one next to me here.  And said mother come, your children have been hidden this side and he pointed the house at which my children were hidden.  I went there, to fetch them.
I was - they said and the one who is now 18 years - the one who is 18 years now, when he got there, he fainted because all this time when this was happening  my children were standing next to me watching this, and he just said that they ran when his father fell down and they were chased but then they escaped.
 I took them and this white lady said Ms Maseko it's better that I take you to the farm, then I can take you to the hospital later.  And she said let me - let me buy - buy me - let me buy you some clothes because we didn't have clothes all of us she bought us some clothes and when we got to her farm, she said we could take a bath and we took a bath and put on the clothes, the new clothes, the clothes she had bought for us.  And we stayed for a while and they prepared food for us.
 At about five o'clock in the afternoon towards sunset, whilst I was waiting there with my kids, this white lady came together with the doctor who attended to my husband, Dr Benning, she gave me more tablets.  And then after that she said Ms Maseko, Nelson has passed away in George.

MARY BURTON: Ms Maseko this is very hard for you - this is very-very sad - very-very painful but we don't want to revive your pain, but it's necessary now that we take out all the pain.
 I would like to know do you want us to go on or do you want us to continue - or can we take  a break?

MS MASEKO: We'll take a break then and give you a chance.   We very sad - we very-very sad.

MARY BURTON: Ms  Maseko has asked that we take a break now, so since it's lunchtime, I think we will stop now for lunch and you are very welcome to return at two o'clock and we will continue with the proceedings.
 We will continue with asking questions of - of Ms Maseko.

MS SEROKE: Thobeka we welcome you again this afternoon, we are continuing the process, will you please start where you left.  When you heard the news that your husband has passed away.