Human Rights Violation Hearings — Johannesburg — 1996-05-02

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: Since that time my parents didn't know where I was, they didn't know whether I was alive or dead because I was told that my mother came to see me at the hospital and I was in the mental section. I was at Sun City I didn't stay there for a long time, they took me back to general hospital and after that ...(witness upset)

DR BORAINE: Can I try and help a little bit.  When you left the general hospital again, did you go home?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: No I was taken to Sterkfontein hospital.

DR BORAINE: How long did you stay there?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: I don't know anything about that time.

DR BORAINE: And then you went home after that.

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: I was released from hospital and when I recovered I went back to school. At school they dismissed me on the grounds that I was mentally disturbed and shouldn't go back to school.  I last was at school in 1987.

DR BORAINE: Are you at home now or where are you staying?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: I stay with my brother.

DR BORAINE: And you are unemployed?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: No.

DR BORAINE: Do you have a job?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: Nothing.

DR BORAINE: Can I just ask one or two final questions because this has been very very distressful for you. How old were you when you were first arrested before they took you to Lichtenburg prison? How old were you?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: I think 17 or 19, between that, because now I'm 28 years old.

DR BORAINE: When you told us that you went to the township and the police came you said that you were doing a small job, what was that small job?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: Underground, from a school in ...(indistinct) course.

DR BORAINE: Thank you, you can't say what you were actually doing?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: What I went there for, I was born there, there was one problem, it was education.  It was difficult for another student who came from a school outside, there was the problem. I was going to find some comrade to try to fight for their rights at school.

DR BORAINE: Thank you.  Just two last questions, very short. Was there ever a court case about your being in prison and tortured?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: No I had a lawyer, it was Wessels, Wentzel, somewhere there.

DR BORAINE: They never went to court?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: The police came at home because I was not well he said to me he can open the case. I asked him why and he said because I've got no proof. Until my father went to hospital and tried all his means to get all my statements from hospitals since 1988 until right now.
 I still have those statements.

DR BORAINE: Mecro in what way can the Commission be of help to you?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: I would request that the person who is supporting me, my mother cannot afford it as my father is not working and there are two girls at home who she also supports. My mother is only one worker and the problem is that there is nothing I can do for a living.  I can't get a job because they say to me I am sick.

DR BORAINE: Thank you, are you still having treatment or do you see a doctor or hospital or do you take any medicine?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: I still have my tablets at home. They gave these pills after each time that I beat my family at home.

DR BORAINE: Thank you Mmeko, thank you very much, you have been through a terrible experience.  All I can say is that the Commission has heard you, we will follow it up and we will try and do anything and everything within our powers, thank you.  Mr Chairperson?

YASMINE SOOKA: I know that it's difficult for you to answer these questions, but before this incident, before you were arrested, did you have any mental problems or any problems?

CORNISH MMEKO MAKHANYA: No, I was the best goal keeper, I played for Jasper Blue Cross in 1984 and I was the best athlete at school.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: We have heard you. We can also see the pain you're still going through when you remember all those things that happened to you. We all of us hope that our people here in the New South Africa will remember that this freedom was found at a very high cost, so that we do not damage this freedom, we know that it was found through such huge difficulties, our children black and white, they found such enormous difficulties that it was not necessary for them to go through that but fighting for this freedom, we hope that maybe there could be some assistance that the Commission could request from the President of this country to help you.  May God bless you.  Thank you very much for coming here to come and cry in front of so many people. Sibonga.

HEARING ADJOURNS FOR THE DAY: .