Human Rights Violation Hearings — Nelspruit — 1996-09-05

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: We were many. It is difficult for me to estimate how many actually.

MR MALAN: And are you saying Mr Richards came with a 4 X 4. He stopped, came to a halt, next to the group around the fire and then you say this Mr Richards or Jombenleni, as you knew him, he got out of the car and then he fell down?  Is that what you said?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: Yes, that's what I said.

MR MALAN: Why did he fall?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: He was drunk.  I thought he was drunk. So I just couldn't pay much attention to him.

MR MALAN: Why do you think he stopped there?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: I can't tell.

MR MALAN: Did nobody in the group get in his way and stop the 4 X 4, did they not block his way perhaps?  Did you see that?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: No, no one. He stopped his car himself. We didn't even try to stop his car.

MR MALAN: When he first got out and he fell down, did he
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have his gun with him?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: Yes, he had his gun with him.

MR MALAN: So he stopped, he fell down.  Then he got up and then he took his gun and then he fired the first shot?  Is that so?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: He stopped and then he came out of his car.  He fell and then he took his gun and he fired.

MR MALAN: And he fired all the shots at you?  The only shots he fired, he fired at you?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: The first time he shot in the air. The second time I was sitting down, so I stood up, I tried to run and that is when he started shooting at me. I went to one house. I tried to get some help. One woman tried to help me, until I was taken to hospital.

MR MALAN: I will tell you why I am asking these questions, because we need to find a context.  The Truth Commission deals with conflict within the political framework. Now the only reference that is political in this, seems to be the fact that a group of you were waiting for a bus to go to the vigil for Chris Hani.  Suddenly somebody pitches and he starts shooting.  But there is no indication that he has a political motive.  What is the political record of this Mr Richards?  Can you tell us?  Do you think he had a political motive or do you think he had some revenge ideas, looking for you or do you think he was simply drunk? How do we assess this within the framework of the political conflict?  I am sorry that I am making your life so difficult.

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: Actually I can't tell really, except that he is a boer.  He owns a farm.  If he belongs to any political organisation that one, I don't know and I can't tell you.
I can't say that.
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MR MALAN: We will certainly see what more we can find out, whether we can bring it within the context.  But from my side for the moment, thank you very much.  Back to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: While you are still there I would like to notify other members here that a bus will leave here to the Promenade Hotel and another bus will leave here to Gangamasani.  We will also ask Commissioners to help you so that you verify your testimony.

YASMINE SOOKA: You have just said now that he was a farmer.  But in your statement you also say that he was well-known and that his nickname was Yambeleni. Just tell us what that means and why he was given that name and did you know him before this thing happened?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: I don't know how to explain this.  I don't know how to explain this very well, except that he owned a farm and he used to kick doors when he was going to his workers' houses.  His real name is Richard. This Yambeleni is just his nickname.

YASMINE SOOKA: What does Yambeleni mean?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: I don't know how to put this in English.

CHAIRPERSON: Order, order, please.  We want you to explain to the Commission why he was called Yambeleni.  Because when you say you don't know, it is difficult for us, for the Commission to understand what Yambeleni really means.

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: I can't tell you why he was called Yambeleni.  Because when I grew up I found him being called Yambeleni. Why he was called Yambeleni I don't know.

CHAIRPERSON: Order, order, please.

YASMINE SOOKA: Did he know you before he shot at you?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: No, I don't know.
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YASMINE SOOKA: But you knew him.

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: Yes, I used to know him, I used to know him. He was driving around in the location.

YASMINE SOOKA: So everybody in the location knew him.

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: Yes, they knew him.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you, Mr Khoza.

CHAIRPERSON: We want to thank you. If I may ask you a question. Just a little question.  By the time when you were on your way to the night vigil of the late Chris Hani, I assume your trip was actually well-organised by some organisers of the political organisations?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: It could be maybe from the wing Umkhonto.

CHAIRPERSON: Why was your case not attended to?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: I don't know.

CHAIRPERSON: You have also quoted someone here, a person from South African Council of Churches who assisted you.  May I ask a question.  Why?  Why did the South African Council of Churches not make a follow-up if you were undertaking the trip officially? Because if I remember correctly, during that time all these particular organisations were unbanned, and if perhaps someone had to shoot you, why didn't they make a follow-up, more especially a person that was known?

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: I also do not know exactly.

CHAIRPERSON: We want to thank you.  I will say that more details are required from your story, but however, we do sympathise with you and in your condition as you are now, up to a stage where you had to be affected in your body. Now if we investigate your matter further, we will request you, you need to make use of the hospital facilities or health facilities, where you could get assistance.  Now that there
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are many things that are being done.  You need to check what can be done in order to get assistance. You should not wait for the results of the Commission.

SOLOMON BOY KHOZA: I thank you.
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