Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Elizabeth — 1996-06-27

THEODORA NOSISI TIYO: I approached one of my friends and I reported that I was unable to miss the date of the job because I was doing odd jobs.  I had a program because I had to go and request people to accommodate me so the friend assisted me and added some money to the money that I had and she went to pay.
 When she got there, they stated that the councillors informed me that the house has been taken over.  She informed me that one of the councillors has hidden the file which belonged to me, so the lady brought back the money which I had given her.
 I was in a bad situation so I felt that I should make a plan.  I took a padlock and locked the house  because I wanted to understand who was going to take the house from me.  I would go to my place and put up for the night at my friends.
 At a later stage we could see that there was somebody who was moving into my house.  I didn't understand what was happening.  There was another councillor from Mendi who said he can understand that I was being cheated.  He encouraged me to sit and occupy the house.  We were belonging to the same church.
 I could see that he was angry about what was happening to me.  I felt that this might cause a problem and then I went to Mrs Tseqo so that I can inform her about the problem that I was encountering.
 Mrs Mseqo said to me I should just leave the house, I should pay the house and update it and then she promised that when there is another house which is supposed to be allocated to anybody, it would be allocated to me.
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 I was directed to Mambamba's place and then I had to hire a room at Mambamba, a one-roomed house.
 I was highly affected by what happened.  This was a very traumatic experience to me, I was undergoing treatment and I received this treatment from Dr Maqina.  I am referring to Dr Maqina, not the one who was speaking and giving evidence here.
 I could see that I was having a problem.  And then Maqina assisted me and an application for a pension was made on my behalf.  I appeal to the Truth Commission to assist me.  I cannot understand why was my daughter killed and why was there no hearing about this killing?
 I would request that the Commission should please make investigations and find out what happened.  I would like to know if the files are really in Grahamstown, probably the Station Commander should understand that an 11 year old child could not do anything, so I would like to know why was my child killed.
 I have been affected severely by what has happened.  I would also request that they should find out about my house.  I've been in the one-roomed house for quite a long time.  I do not mind whether I get another type of a house, as long as I get  one to replace the one that I lost.
 I am suffering from arthritis, I always pay R100-00 monthly so that I can get another house and people keep on promising me, but there is no construction of houses so I am having a problem because it seems I will never be happy until I get a house.
 I am suffering from ill-health and I am unable then to fend for myself.  I am not shedding tears any more for the children that I've lost, but I am just thinking about 
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myself.
 The Doctor gave me a letter.  I want to apologise because I am going to mention names.  I was given a letter to go to Mr Mshlanga and nothing happened.  I would like the investigations to be made from the police and from Grahamstown to understand what happened to my daughter.
 That is the end of my story.

UNKNOWN: Thank you very much Mrs Tiyo.  You say when you daughter - your daughter was shot dead on her way from school?

THEODORA NOSISI TIYO: Yes.

UNKNOWN: What was happening at that time?

THEODORA NOSISI TIYO: I suspect that because there was chaos during that period, I can mention that one of the shops was burning and apparently there were police vans and there were also members of the South African Defence Force who came and then they shot at everybody.  There was also another child who was killed from the Maliza family.
 It was a lot of bodies when I went there.

UNKNOWN: Thank you very much.  I hand you back to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Revd Xundu.

REV XUNDU: You said you were evicted from a house.  Do you now the Headman who took you house?

THEODORA NOSISI TIYO: Yes, I know.  I don't want to mention names because we were ordered not to mention any names, but if you say I must, then I will.

REV XUNDU: Yes, you can.

THEODORA NOSISI TIYO: ; It was Sana who is at Mbizweni.  Sana.  Unfortunately he died.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Ramashala.
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UNKNOWN: Mr Chairperson, would you please indulge me.  When a child is born, parents dream.  When a child becomes of school age, and begins to see what could be, they also dream.
 They dream of becoming a teacher, a doctor, an attorney, an engineer, a nurse, etc.  Black South African children dared not dream, because dreaming was a significant part of sleep and sleep was unsafe, even in their parents' homes.
 Xoliswa was 11 years old, in Sub B at the time of her death.  She had just begun to dream about what could be for her.  She could have become one of several accomplishments because in Port Elizabeth there were several role models.  There were several models like Dr  Njoka, Dr Ntsona, lawyers like Sila Skinunu, Cecil Dock Sonjanu and other attorneys.
 Numerous teachers, numerous nurses, numerous members of the clergy.  At the same time our children such as Xoliswa were confused because the 1970's were the height of unrest.
 While everyone else's child was going to school, Black children were dying.  While everybody else's child was skipping rope on the streets, Black children in the townships were too afraid to either venture on the streets or look out the window of home or school.
 South Africa, wake up, this is not fiction.  It did happen.  And we need to intergrade it into a consciousness, we need to mourn not only our children like Xoliswa, but we also need to be outraged about their dreams deferred, their dreams aborted, our country has been cheated of the talent that could have been.
 Mrs Tiyo's life has changed and changed for ever.  She has been greatly affected like others by the death of her 
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two children.
 Her dreams for her daughter have been thawed, shattered, aborted.
 Xoliswa at the age of 11, can no longer dream about what could have been.  We will accomplish reconciliation only if we acknowledge, mourn, show (indistinct) then forgiveness for  South Africa to move on in spite of our past.
 Mrs Tiyo, I am making this summation on behalf of your children.  Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Dr Ramashala.  Thank you Mrs Tiyo.