Human Rights Violation Hearings — Alexandra — 1996-10-28

MRS LEPHUTING: I would say there were no arms in the house. ALEXANDRA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
6 LEPHUTING
However, he helped the people in the struggle.

MS MKHIZE: Maybe you can further explain at the time Kenneth was 21. Was he 12 or 21?

MRS LEPHUTING: He was 12.

MS MKHIZE: Can you explain as to what had happened to him?  Did you take him to hospital or any other things that you might have done in connection with the incidents.

MRS LEPHUTING: He was taken to a clinic and he slept there and he came back the next morning and he was bandaged.  And normally the hospitals were overcrowded at the time so they used to send people back home early.

MS MKHIZE: Your statement is short.  Can you please explain before the Commission about the wishes that you would like the Commission to do for you.

MRS LEPHUTING: I am not sure about that.  I can't say anything but God knows.

DR RANDERA: Mrs Lephuting can I just understand this again.  Is it possible your husband you said and you people had a bottle store business, we also know that bottle stores were part of the targets in many townships.  I am not only talking about Alex, I am talking about generally throughout the country.  Is it possible that this attack on your house took place as part of something else that was going on rather than by the police?

MRS LEPHUTING: I would say that was not the case because after everything was burnt we stayed in a shack in the yard. One day, as my husband have given a statement before you that he saw the people and he knew the traffic cops, we had some problems because police used to sleep on top of the houses and you could distinguish them because people used to come wearing long coats looking for him.  It was surprising
ALEXANDRA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
7 LEPHUTING
because my husband was a friend to traffic cops and policemen around Alexandra.  But we had some problems because if I remember well one day my husband wasn't sleeping in the shack because you know that they were looking for him and he was hiding in one of the shacks which had just been burnt down.  While he was still there he saw one man coming towards the yard and they took this young boy and put him where he was hiding and they said to him if you don't tell us where this man is we are going to kill you and my husband was overhearing them.  This young man took them out and pointed to the shack where we were staying.  They came into the shack.  They were not in police uniform.  These were just people wearing long coats.  They had nothing to do with me and my children.  They were just looking for my husband.  That is how I came to know that the police were involved.

MS MKHIZE: As you said he was an activist.  Didn't you get for example one name of the policemen involved?

MRS LEPHUTING: He knew the names of the police but I don't know much myself personally.  Maybe if I go further and enquire from his friends they might know.

MS MKHIZE: As you have given a statement before the Commission did you tell your friends that you were coming before the Commission to give a statement?

MRS LEPHUTING: No, I didn't.

YASMINE SOOKA: Mrs Lephuting it is very difficult to lose whatever we have and sometimes the fact that we are left without nothing is the hardest to live with.  It is a matter which we need to look at, to investigate why there were so many burnings of houses in Alexandra.  We have heard your story and we will try and see what we can find out about
ALEXANDRA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
8 LEPHUTING
 what actually happened to you.  Thank you very much for coming forward.  Is there anything that you would like to tell us before you end your evidence?

MRS LEPHUTING: No.