Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-09-10

REV XUNDU:  At the time that you were running, in which direction were you running?

WITNESS:  I was running in the direction from which I had come.

REV XUNDU:  Were you sent to the hospital?  Which hospital were you sent to?

WITNESS:  I was sent to Frere hospital.

REV XUNDU:  What did the doctors say to you there at the hospital?

WITNESS:  At Frere hospital I was told that I have a bullet lodged in my head and that it would be difficult to remove it and thereafter I did not know what happened.  I was called in once again and they examined me and found that they could remove it so they removed it.

REV XUNDU:  Is there any treatment which you are receiving since you had this bullet removed?

WITNESS:  Yes I go to Frere hospital sometimes when my leg pains extremely due to this bullet that's lodged in my leg and sometimes my head also pains due to the injury.

REV XUNDU:  The treatment that you received at Frere hospital, is it for the pain only?

WITNESS:  Yes it is for pain.

REV XUNDU:  Are you satisfied with the treatment which you receive at Frere hospital?

WITNESS:  Yes I am satisfied with it because it's better after I receive this treatment.

REV XUNDU:  Do you go to attorneys, have you been to attorneys for legal advice on what steps you could take?

WITNESS:  Yes I have been.

REV XUNDU:  Did you say you went to the Legal Advice Centre in Berlin?

WITNESS:  Yes.

REV XUNDU:  And that they put you in touch with the Legal Resource Centre in Grahamstown.  How were they of assistance to you at the Legal Resource Centre?

WITNESS:  Yes they assisted me, they gave me money.

REV XUNDU:  How much money did you receive when the attorneys instituted the claim?

WITNESS:  They gave me R10,000.

REV XUNDU:  What are you doing currently Mr Jonnie?  What work do you do?

WITNESS:  I am in standard 10.

REV XUNDU:  Do you have any intentions of continuing your education?

WITNESS:  Yes I do have such intentions.

REV XUNDU:  What would you like to do after matric?

WITNESS:  I don't know just yet.

REV XUNDU:  Mr Jonnie, is that all you would like to say?

WITNESS:  Yes sir.

REV XUNDU:  And having come to the Commission today, what is your request to this Commission?

WITNESS:  I would like to ask the Commission to help me because I would like to continue with my education.

REV XUNDU:  Is that all you would like to say Mr Jonnie?

WITNESS:  Yes.

REV XUNDU: Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Order please!

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 2 - 10 SEPTEMBER 1996

CASE NO: 5

UNKNOWN: PAULINA THANDEKA GIBE [wife]
PAULINA THANDEKA GIBE   Duly sworn states

REV XUNDU: I would like to greet you Ms Gibe.

WITNESS:  Hello sir.

REV XUNDU:  Before we continue, I would like to confirm your names.  You are Paulina Thandeka Gibe?

WITNESS:  Yes.

REV XUNDU:  On this day on the 7th, the day which we were talking about yesterday and today, the 7th September 1992, your son Mongise Gibe, he was there, is that so?  Your husband, Mongise Gibe, was he there on the march to Bisho?

WITNESS:  Yes he was there.

REV XUNDU:  Let us start now.  According to what you've heard, what happened to him?

WITNESS:  They told me about this on Wednesday.  My family told me that he passed away, my husband passed away and they told me while I was just thinking about him because he didn't come back home.  I was so worried when I heard the news and they comforted me and they supported me and they told me what happened and I tried to be calm but I thank the Lord because I was able in time, even during the funeral because the funeral was in the stadium.  I was comfortable and I did go to the funeral.

REV XUNDU:  Did you say Ms Gibe, you took action at home and you contacted the Advice Centre in Berlin which has helped you to come to terms with the Legal Centre in Grahamstown?

WITNESS:  Yes.

REV XUNDU:  What happened after you met with the attorneys there?

WITNESS:  I got R6,000 from them.

REV XUNDU:  Your husband, did he left people behind?

WITNESS:  No he just left me alone.

REV XUNDU:  Did you say Ms Gibe, according to your request to the Commission - what are your requests to the Commission?

WITNESS:  My main request to the Commission is that since my husband helped me he was still building a house and he didn't finish it so I didn't have means to continue with that building and the house still remains the same.  It's not finished.

REV XUNDU:  Your husband was working in Berlin?

WITNESS:  No he was not fully employed, he was just a part-time employee.  I was the one who was working permanently.

REV XUNDU:  Is there any other thing you want to say Ms Gibe about the shooting of your husband by the soldiers in Bisho?

WITNESS:  Yes I have a request.  I would like the Commission to help me and I take this opportunity of coming here so that I can say what's in my heart.

REV XUNDU:  According to your statement Ms Gibe there is a request with your house, the building of your house, since your husband was still building it during this time.  Can you please explain.

WITNESS:  Yes I did make this request that since my house is not finished, I also told my attorney that, I asked the question who is going to build my house because my husband died and it's not finished.  The attorney promised me that something would be done, I would get something in order to build the house and then when the money came in July, I started painting my house outside but the money was not enough because I don't have someone looking after me, so I had to keep some of the money since there is no one looking after me.  So I couldn't finish the house because I had to keep the money.

REV XUNDU:  Do you remember Ms Gibe, the last day you were talking with the lawyer?

WITNESS:  No I don't clearly remember that.

REV XUNDU:  Do you still remember the year?  Is this this year or last year?

WITNESS:  As you count from 92, we can count 1992, 93 and 94.

REV XUNDU:  Because is that all you want to say Ms Gibe before I give this to the Chairperson so that others can have the opportunity to ask questions?

WITNESS:  No that's all sir.  Thank you.

REV XUNDU: Thank you Ms Gibe.  Thank you Chair.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Is there any other question?  If all of you who just gave testimony, we thank you and your statements and your evidence the same.  You expect someone to say that they want us to build them a double-storey and buy them a Mercedes Benz.  Your requests are that you come to us and they really make you realise that our people have got the concept of mbuntu.  They are so good natured and so humble.  We appreciate that and we appreciate the fact that we are not greedy, where people are glutinous, although we heard someone say here yesterday  ah shame this poor Commission hasn't got any money.  
 We appreciate that but we also appreciate the fact that you people have come here and come and share your pain with us and also with the people, even though as you had said, doing that, being here helps your pain.  We thank you and thirdly we would like to say that even if we are, it is an up road in our attempts, we ask that God will strengthen you and comfort you and that the little things which you do, we will try by all means to ask the president to consider these requests so that they can see how they can be of assistance.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 2 - 10 SEPTEMBER 1996

REV XUNDU: Zukisa Howard Mboyi, Siyabulela Theo Mthwa, Tatise William Ncapayi, Lungisile Robert Cotani, Butiki John Kibi and Nomfaneleko Mdlangu.  Will you help the people take the oath.

REV XUNDU: Thank you they have properly taken oath.

CHAIRPERSON: I don't know how they can hear you.  Who is going to ask questions?  Tiny.  Thank you.

MS MAYA: Thank you Chairperson.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 2 - 10 SEPTEMBER 1996

CASE NO: 6