Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Elizabeth — 1996-06-26

MR BORAINE: Chairperson, for one reason or another we've had to change the order a little bit, so I hope the witnesses aren't becoming confused, everybody will be heard, but we are just trying to accommodate different people's needs.
 The final witness before tea if that is in order with you sir, is Sybil Robin Stols, and I would call her to come to the witness stand now please.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Please, please, please.

MR BORAINE: Good afternoon Mrs Stols.  We are very pleased to see you.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Thank you.

MR BORAINE: And you are most welcome.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Thank you very much.

MR BORAINE: I hope you will try to relax a little bit, take a deep breath, that's better.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: I'll try.

MR BORAINE: I know it is hard, and I know that you've had a very long wait like everybody today and I am not going to delay you very long before I hand you over to one of my colleagues, but I would like to ask you to take the oath.
 Just before I do that, we know that you have a very tragic story about the death, the killing of your husband.  We are very sympathetic and we are appreciative of your pain.
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 Would you please stand do take the oath.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: (sworn states)

MR BORAINE: Thank you, please be seated.  The Reverend Bongani Finca, Commissioner, will take care of you now as he listens to your story, thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: Thank you very much Chairperson.  Good afternoon Mrs Stols.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Good afternoon.

BONGANI FINCA: Are you feeling relaxed?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Yes, thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: Good.  You have travelled a long way from Grahamstown to come and give your story here today.  And we are very grateful that you have done so.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: You have told me that you are quite nervous today and you have asked me to lead you.  You have asked me to take you through your statement and ask you to confirm what you already have here before us.
 You are Sybil Robin Stols and you are here to talk about your partner, Thys Stols?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: That's correct, yes.

BONGANI FINCA: Your partner disappeared on the 3rd of July 1987, is that correct?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: That's correct, yes.

BONGANI FINCA: He left your house - did he say where he was going to?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: He said he was going to Walmer Gardens, Walmer Gardens.

BONGANI FINCA: Walmer Gardens?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Yes.

BONGANI FINCA: Do you know what he was going to do at Walmer PORT ELIZABETH HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
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Gardens?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Well, they normally played pool and they have a drink amongst friends.

BONGANI FINCA: And on the 4th of July 1987 you were called by the police and they told you that his body had been found.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: That's correct yes.

BONGANI FINCA: Where did they find his body?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: In Soweto.

BONGANI FINCA: That is Soweto in Port Elizabeth, not Soweto in Johannesburg?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: No, in Port Elizabeth.

BONGANI FINCA: You then drove to Louis Le Grange police station and you were asked to identify the body of your partner.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: That's correct yes.

BONGANI FINCA: How was the body when you found it?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: The body was so burnt up and it was so bad, I don't think anybody could identify it, so I just prayed and then I went into the mortuary and I said I just wanted to see his feet and by looking at the feet, I identified him in that manner, that way. That's the only way I could.

BONGANI FINCA: Mrs Stols do you have an idea why your husband was killed in this way?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: I don't know, I have no idea, not at all.  No I can't understand that.

BONGANI FINCA: Was he in any way involved in the political conflict that was prevailing at the time?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: No, not at all, no.

BONGANI FINCA: What was his work?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Mechanic, he was a diesel mechanic.

BONGANI FINCA: He was a car mechanic?  Mrs Stols, you say that
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the police informed you that the murder was political?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Yes.

BONGANI FINCA: Do you know why they are saying the murder was political?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: I really don't know.

BONGANI FINCA: Eight men were involved in the murder they said?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Yes.

BONGANI FINCA: Were these men charged?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: They were at the court, but they weren't charged, no.

BONGANI FINCA: They were not charged?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: No, they weren't.

BONGANI FINCA: So there was no court case about this matter?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: There was a court case but nobody was charged.

BONGANI FINCA: Nobody was convicted?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: No.

BONGANI FINCA: Mrs Stols, how do you feel about the death of your partner?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: I feel very sad and I feel it shouldn't have really happened, but I also feel that they shouldn't just get away because if you take a life, it is very wrong.  Is that all?

BONGANI FINCA: Is there any request that you want to make to the Commission on this matter?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: I would like to see his murderers come to trial and be charged.  Is that right?

BONGANI FINCA: You don't know the eight men who were involved in this case?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: No I don't know.

BONGANI FINCA: Do you know the police station where the
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matter was reported?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Louis Le Grange.

BONGANI FINCA: Okay, so we can get the information from Louis Le Grange?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Yes.

BONGANI FINCA: Thank you very much Mrs Stols.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Okay, thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: Chairperson, I've got no further questions.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Dr Boraine.

MR BORAINE: Thank you Chairperson.  Mrs  Stols, I am not going to keep you long - I know that you are very nervous today.
 Was there any possibility that your husband, that the motive for the murder was theft?  I mean did he have a car, was the car found, how did he, have you any idea how did he get to where he was found, was anything stolen, a watch perhaps or money, any details at all?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: No, I don't think it was theft, no.

MR BORAINE: So his personal belongings were still on him?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Well, I mean ... (tape ends)

MR BORAINE: Charged, I know there is a difference between somebody being charged and somebody being found guilty.  Were they actually being charged with the murder of your husband?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: I don't think so, but I know they caught about eight of them.  I know they were caught.

MR BORAINE: Just a last question.  Did you have a lawyer at the time who could represent you at the court case?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: No, not at all.

MR BORAINE: Thank you very much.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Okay, thank you.
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DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Dr Ramashala.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Mrs Stols, do you have any children?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Yes.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: How old were they when their father died?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Only the one son, he was 16.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: He was 16 then?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: He was in standard 8.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: What does he do?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Pardon?

MAPULE RAMASHALA: What does he do now?

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: He is a manager.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Manager.  You say that the death of your husband affected you.  Could you describe a little more how did it affect you, particularly physically.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Physically drained.  Physically drained and emotionally, very much so.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Actually you have done very well for somebody who is nervous.

SYBIL ROBIN STOLS: Yes.