Human Rights Violation Hearings — Lusikisiki — 1997-03-26

NOMBUYISELO TABALAZA: After that.  I am just jumping over some issues after that - on the 29th.  It was in the afternoon, the sun was still out.  I was going to a funeral, my cousin's funeral, he was shot in Johannesburg.
 I was going to take a stove that was going to help at the funeral.  There was chaos in the village.  Children were being chased.  I saw Christopher Sipika's van being driven very fast, I could see that something was happening.
 And I heard Kekeni calling out, because we are neighbours, he said that Nombuyiselo, today I am going to kill you.  I did not take that seriously because I was not a member of the Youth League.  I just took my stove and everything that I needed, put in the car and went home.  I came back - when I got at home, I realised that the youth had a meeting in that afternoon.
 They then went to Ngosi's place  where they continued with their meeting.  They concluded that they are going to be vigilant and see who is going to burn down people's houses that night.  This is when Ngosi said to them, because there was a high fence at Zihle Twala's house, then they should go there, stay inside and stay there overnight.
 I stayed at home that evening.  When I was sleeping in the middle of the night, I heard a noise.  I opened the door and peeped at Eunice Ndaba's house, who is sitting next to me, while the house was being burnt down.  I saw a huge fire.
 I heard these children toyi-toying over, surrounding Eunice's house.  They said that they saw Kekeni burning down people's houses that day, they were going to get him, he was
going to shit on himself.  He then answered back in saying that they too are going to shit on themselves.
 These children then stood still around the house and people came to see what was going on.  Then the same youth went to Mrs Ndaba's house.  They were chased and went to Ndleleni's house.
 In the morning when I went, was going to work, as I left home, I was going to go past Ndleleni's house - my car was being stoned.  I saw these children going up the road.  As I drove, I heard a noise, I stopped the car and I looked around, I could see Kekeni with two children that worked for him, they went to my yard.  He broke my window, I don't know what he poured inside and they went around the house.
 What made me run is that I saw smoke and fire from my own home.  I got into my car and went to my brother and I told him that Kekeni has burnt my house down.  My brother said that we must go to the police station at Maluti.
 We reported this matter.  When we got there, we were told that the police had already left, because Kekeni had already gone to the police asking for help.  When I got back, I realised that a lot of houses had been burnt down, the police were there.
 The children that had been trying to put out the fire, had run away.  When I got to the bus stop, my brother who was a Warrant Officer at Matatiele, had come with other Boers who were from Matatiele, they wanted to examine the damage.  Kekeni was the one who pointed out to the police who should be arrested, he even pointed out my own driver.
 I was taken to Maluti, we stayed in jail for four days, eating porridge with paraffin.  During those four days my nephew whose father is a Warrant Officer in Matatiele came
to Gumenta who was also a Warrant Officer.  He asked him why my aunt was arrested or in detention.
 Gumenta then called us, saying that they investigated and we were free because we were not guilty.  By that time most members of the Youth League were detained.  I realised that I should go to Umtata where I got Mr Madigi Zwela who phoned Maluti police station and gave an order that the children should be released, then the children were released.

MS MAYA: I have a few questions.  Why do you think that Kekeni Ndleleni was accusing you?

NOMBUYISELO TABALAZA: I will ask Ntombentsundu Ndaba to tell  you.

MS MAYA: Secondly, could you briefly tell us who Kekeni Ndleleni and what was his status in the village?  Why did he take the responsibility of destroying the Youth League in the village?

NOMBUYISELO TABALAZA: I don't know, he was just a man who stayed in the village.  He had a shop, I did not know or was not aware which organisation he belonged to.  They just would refer to each other as Teleweni.

MS MAYA: The first night when you saw people surrounding your house and seeing particularly and recognising two people calling out to them, did you go and report this to the police?

NOMBUYISELO TABALAZA: Yes, I did go.

MS MAYA: What happened, were the people arrested?

NOMBUYISELO TABALAZA: Kekeni was not arrested.  But there was a court case and he was charged.

MS MAYA: What happened after that?

NOMBUYISELO TABALAZA: After he was charged, the Chamber of Commerce called a meeting, the ANC as well.  They were trying to
clarify that the ANC, what the ANC is about, is not to break the law.  The ANC is about liberating the people of South Africa.
 He pretended as if he understood when people of the Regional Office in Matatiele were there.  After they left, they would be after me.  The one time when I took my children to school, he chased me.  He would overtake me and drive right in front of me so that I could almost bump into him.
 He stopped the car at the bridge, I had to turn back.  I went to the police station with the children, where I reported the matter.  I said to them that he was trying to kill me at the bridge, but I was with the children.  Even that day they said I must press charges on him, I won the case and he was charged.

MS MAYA: I think that some of my colleagues have questions, but before they ask questions, perhaps the others should talk.  Maybe you have requests to the Commission Ma'am.

NOMBUYISELO TABALAZA: My request to the Commission is I have not been in good health since that time, I was paralysed for a while, I could not walk.  I have to be seeing a doctor now and again.  It is expensive and I cannot afford it.
 If the Commission could help me.  If I could get a medical aid, so that if I want to see a doctor, I can go.  Another request that I have to the Commission is that my children cannot proceed with their education.  I have a child who has finished matric, who is at home.  There is no work. (tape ends)
 ... would be helped with their education, I have four children and a child who is in standard 1.  These children are all dependent on me, I have to take them to school.  
The one has finished matric, but is at home.  The other three are at boarding school.  Two are in matric, the other in standard nine.  If the Commission could help me with these children.

MS MAYA: ; Is that all the evidence?  Thank you Ma'am, could  Ntombentsundu take over?