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

MR DLAMINI: Ndade Moleke, you were a member of the African National Congress which was banned at that time.

WITNESS:  That's true.  I was a member of that organisation at that time.  It was small group of the ANC called SOYA.  It's called Society of Young Africans.

MR DLAMINI: Can you tell young people like myself what did the Society of Young Africans stand for and what they were hoping to achieve?

WITNESS:   The objective of this organisation was that people should be educated so that they'd be able to work for the community in the future  because we were living under stressful conditions.

MR DLAMINI: Amongst your activities can you tell us of the activities, your programme to achieve your goals as the Society of Young Africans?

WITNESS:   There was nothing bad which we were doing.  We were told that, say, for example, on a particular day there is a meeting to go and listen, but there was nothing bad which was done at that time.

MR DLAMINI: You would hold meetings and what else did you do besides holding meetings?

WITNESS:   There was nothing else which we were doing except meetings.

MR DLAMINI: I see.  At those meetings what would be the agenda, a typical agenda?

WITNESS:   We were explained how this Society of Young South Africans should be formulated and our behaviour, general morals, and all things in general.

MR DLAMINI: Top me it sounds as if it was a good organisation trying to organise young people to think constructively and also to think about the things to empower and liberate themselves.  It's very unfortunate that for that you had to suffer.  Can you tell this audience the suffering that you went through starting from the day when you were picked up by the security police but if there had been subsequent incidents before that, feel free to mention them.

WITNESS:   I remember well, that was in 1971, I was working at the furniture shop called Excelsior Furnishers.  I was a salesman there.  In the month of October two young men who were working for the special branch, their names were Robert Mowale and Walter Tabanelo, they entered there and told me that, "We need you at the OK upstairs where we have offices  there."  Then I asked them, "What is the problem because you see that I'm on work and I'm only working for the commission.  If you take me upstairs I'm going to lose my clients."  Then they said to me, "We want you.  We're no more asking you."  Then I told the manager that I'm going up with these people.  Then I went there with them.  Upstairs I met Roland, the person who was in charge of the special branch, the other one is Prins and then Mowale and Tabanelo.  Then Roland said to me, "I'm calling you because I learnt that you are a communist and a member of the ANC, that is why I need you here to come and tell me."  Then I said to him, "Sir, it is true that I'm a member of the African National Congress but I'm also a member of the small group called Society for Young Africans and some of the people you're working with, we were with them in the membership of that organisation."  Then he asked me, "What do you remember what happened during that time?"  Then I said to him there was nothing wrong which I did.  We would only go to have our meetings and there was nothing wrong which we're intending to do.  Then Roland told me and pointed at me with a finger then he said to me, "You and me, we're going to meet at a crossroad."  Then I said, "That is better to meet at a crossroad because I know that there is noting wrong I'm doing."  Then in 1972, that is between September and November, I was at my friend's place and many friends of mine were teachers.  We were sitting there peacefully enjoying ourselves and then one of my friends came there who has already died.  Then he said to me, "Lawrence, you're sitting here peacefully and entertaining yourself.  The special branch are  searching for you."  Then I asked him, "What did I do?  I don't understand why they're searching for me.  Are they looking for me because of my past activities?"  Then Lawrence went away.  Then at sunset I said to my friends, "Let's everyone go to his place."  When I arrived at home my wife said to me, "Are you coming at this time?  The special branch were looking for you.  Then they told me that on Monday you must come to the charge office in the police station."  Then on Monday I had my breakfast and prepared myself then at half past twelve I went to Seiso, then I entered the church office.  Then I told them that I've come because of the call the SBs have made.  Then they made me to sit down.  It was at about ten past two the SBs arrived.  Then they said, "Where is he?"  Then this one who is called Mowale came to me.  He handcuffed me.  Then I said, "I'm feeling the pain."  Then he said to me, "Keep quiet.  Don't tell me that I've handcuffed you okay."  And Roland said to me, "Let's go to the car."  Then we entered into the car.  It took us to town.  It took us to Adame House.  When we entered there that is where my sister and my son were there.  Then we passed them.  We went to a certain room.  (Inaudible) ... Roland said to Robert and Walter, "You must be busy with him.  You must hit him.  You must beat him."  Then this Mowale said, "Do you remember, that is the person you said one day we will meet at the crossroads. This is the person."  And Roland said, "Is this the person?"  Then Roland closed the door and locked.  I was handcuffed and it was stiff right on my hands.  Then the other one pulled me on the left hand and the other one on the left hand.  I was  beaten.  I was assaulted and I ended up giving up.  They were all assaulting me and every time I fell they would kick me and they lifted me up and they would start afresh with their assault.  At one stage I couldn't bear the pain any more and I pulled myself out of their hands and I picked up the typewriter.  I wanted to throw it through the window to break the cars downstairs but they managed to grab it and Roland opened the door.  He said, "What's happening?"  They said to him, "He wants to throw the typewriter outside.  Luckily we got hold of it."  And he said to them, "Continue beating him up."  I was severely beaten up and thereafter they put a mask on my head and they took me to a car.  Roland and Prins were at the front seat.  I was at the back seat with Tabanelo and Mowale putting me in the middle.  We drove off until in the township, through the township and we went to a very farest corner where you would shout and nobody would hear you and it was the road leading to the old cemetery in Kroonstad.  As I was just concentrating, I could feel the car was now on a steep and I said, "This is the road leading to the cemetery."  As they were driving they drove around until they stopped.  My hands were still handcuffed and I was told to get off the car and they said to me, "Sit down."  I sat down.  They said, "On your knees."  Then they took my hands as they were handcuffs and I was made to sit on my haunches and as I was sitting they fastened me with ropes and I was electrocuted.  I could only feel this shock getting into my body.  I couldn't understand what was happening.  They said to me, "We aren't going to leave you before you tell us the truth.  Where is your firearm?"  I said,  /"Guys,