Human Rights Violation Hearings — Newcastle — 1996-09-12

MR LAX: And the other one who helped you, what was his name?

WITNESS:   Mpunzulu.

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

COMMISSIONER: Mr Masondo, thank you very much for coming here to tell us your story.  You, as I said before, are the fourth person who came from Sibongile township today.  We also had another person who came yesterday, Mr Mzwakhe Sithebe, who told us - I think you know him, who told us a long story, very detailed, articulate story, about what life was like in Sibongile in those days.  And when we hear from all four of you that the demands that were being put forward were about normal civic responsibilities, like taps, roads, the state of the houses, toilets, this is evidence of a community that is making responsible, very ordinary demands, and it is a sign of the Government's deep insecurity, and in fact immaturity, that these sorts of responsible civic demands led to people being tortured and detained for up to two and a half years without trial, in fact without even being charged with any sort of offence at all.  And it's very sad to hear that your  parents, just like Mr Hadebe's parents, visited you on

COMMISSIONER: three occasions, and on each occasion they were chased away, I think you said by Major de Kock, and that ultimately your father died while you were in detention.  You also lost your job of many, many years' standing.  And it's quite clear to us that this two years that you spent in detention did, as you say, change your life completely.

COMMISSIONER: You've heard me say to the other witnesses that we will be making recommendations to the Government, and it is up to them to make a decision as to how people like you should be assisted.  So we want to thank you very much for coming in and telling us your story, and to your wife as well, and we hope that you are able to find employment and to go forward in life.  Thank you very much.

WITNESS:   Thank you.

COMMISSIONER: Good morning, Mrs Mhlungu, we welcome you here today.  Can you hear me properly?  That's good.  You, like the other two witnesses, Mr Zwane and Mr Hadebe, you are also from Sibongile township in Dundee, and like them you were detained and tortured under the state of emergency in 1986.  Can you stand up and take the oath before you tell us your story.

JABULISILE MHLUNGU: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Is this members of your family who you've got here with you on stage?  Is that your daughter?

WITNESS:  My niece.

COMMISSIONER: Now, just before we hear your story, Mrs Mhlungu, have you got children - to get an idea of who you are and who are your family.

WITNESS:   Seven children.

COMMISSIONER: Is your husband still alive?

WITNESS:   Yes, he is still alive.

COMMISSIONER: And are your children schooling, or have they left school?  Are you still supporting them?

WITNESS:   They are still at school.  Two of them finished school last year, the other five are still at school.

COMMISSIONER: Now, you said in your statement that you were a member of SAAWU, which is South African Allied Workers Union, from 1983.

WITNESS:   Yes, that's correct.

COMMISSIONER: You were still a member of SAAWU when you were detained in 1986, is that right?

WITNESS:   That's correct.

COMMISSIONER: Tell us the what happened to you.  Just tell us.  I think you said you were detained on the 11th of June, is that right, '86?  Were you working at the time?  Were you employed?

WITNESS:   Yes, I was working at Lewis Furnishers. (Inaudible) ... Dundee?   ---   Yes.

COMMISSIONER: Right.  And did they come to arrest you at your work or at your home?