Human Rights Violation Hearings — Grahamstown — 1997-04-08

REV XUNDU: Mphiwisi David "Sigcawu" Nazo, please stand up.

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: (Duly sworn in, states).

REV XUNDU: Thank you.  Mr Chairperson, he has been properly sworn in.

CHAIRPERSON: We welcome you, Mr Nazo.  We will hand over to Tiny Maya to lead you with questions on behalf of the Commission.

MS MAYA: Thank you Mr Chairperson.  Mr Nazo, in your statement here you are going to tell us about yourself, about two incidents from 1976 up until 1986 or 1976 and 1983.  Please explain to us what was happening at that time.  Were you a member of any organisation?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes, I was a member of COSAS.  I was doing standard six at the time.

MS MAYA: What year was this?  Is it 1976?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes, it was 1976.

MS MAYA: What happened in 1976?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: In 1976 we were protesting against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of expression in schools.  We wanted English to be used.  We took steps as students.  We burnt down Afrikaans books.  After the police were called to our school.  They then took us to the police station.  They beat us, they assaulted us.  They would put a sack, a wet sack in our faces and tie this sack.  All this time they would beat us.

MS MAYA: For how long did you stay in prison?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: I stayed for a week.  We were then released after that week.  After three weeks a school was burnt.  We were then detained again, because the police wanted us to tell them who burnt down the school.  At that time there was one white police, Kraus and Jibilikile Khani, they would take us to the garage and beat us with the fishing rods.  All the time we were doing push-ups and they would beat us with these fishing rods.

MS MAYA: Where was this garage?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: It was in the police station.

MS MAYA: You said that you were doing standard six, how old were you?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: I was about 15 or 16 years old.

MS MAYA: What was the name of the school you attended?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: It was Cannon Higher Primary School.

MS MAYA: When you were taken back to the cells, for how long did you stay there?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: I stayed for a month, but one Sunday when the Boers were beating us certain people cried.  We were then released on Monday.

MS MAYA: Did you appear before the Magistrate?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: No, I appeared before the Magistrate when I was arrested for public violence when I was coming from St Albans.

MS MAYA: What year was this?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: It was in 1983.  I was arrested all the time.  My home was a prison.  I did not have time to stay at home and to enjoy life with my family.  As I result of this I am  confused, I do not remember, clearly, the dates.  I would be released this morning at 11, they will come again and arrest me at three.

MS MAYA: From 1976?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes, from 1976. I was then arrested under the State of Emergency.  They took me to Kennispos where I was assaulted the whole day.  They would give me porridge all the time.  They then transferred me to Peterson in an old cell that has weeds in it.  They then transferred me to St Albans.  We were tortured there.  There, Mr Sandi was there, we were together in that prison.  In St Albans it was a very terrible situation.  They then transferred me to Kirkwood.  Then it was better in Kirkwood.  When I was supposed to be released they said I was charged with public violence.  They took me to Kenton.  That was the 13th month I was in prison all the time.
 I appeared in court, I was released with a R500,00 bail.  They gave me a date to appear in court.  I then hired a lawyer, Mr Sandi.  The case continued for three days.  The advocate there was Mr Fourie from Grahamstown.  On the third day the Magistrate argued with the advocate and after that the Magistrate asked them why they were arresting me.  After that the case was withdrawn.

MS MAYA: As you were arrested as a student, you were doing standard six, you will be arrested in the morning and in  the evening.  Did you manage to continue with your education?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: I went to Ciskei to continue with my education.  When I completed my standard eight my father passed away.  I tried to do standard nine.  After passing standard nine my mother passed away, my brothers were looking after me.  I tried to do standard ten.  One white man helped me.  I managed to get my standard ten certificate.

MS MAYA: Do you remember the name of this white man?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: It was Mr Terry Marais from Durban.

MS MAYA: Is he still alive?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes, he is.

MS MAYA: We will ask you to give us his details if you can.  What is your state of health?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: In my head I have, my veins are painful in my head.  I went to Port Alfred.  They told me that I was suffering from TB, but then they discovered that I had pneumonia.

MS MAYA: When was it?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: It was in last year.

MS MAYA: Was this a result of cold prison cells?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes.

MS MAYA: Do you have a request to the Commission?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes, I do have a request to the Commission.

MS MAYA: What is your request to the Commission?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: My request is that I would like to further my studies.  There is nobody to support me now.  Even at my home, I stay alone together with my child.  My child is four years old.  I cannot even afford the money for him to attend a pre-school.

MS MAYA: You said that you have standard ten certificate, what would you like to do?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: I would like to go to university if it is possible.

MS MAYA: What career would you like to pursue?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: At this time I cannot tell you, because I tried to  go to technikons, but I could not afford financially.

MS MAYA: Is that all you want to say?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes, that is all.

MS MAYA: Thank you.  I will hand over to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Nazo, were there any other people who were with you at the time you were arrested?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: What are their names?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Norman Thomas, he is staying in Kenton.  Sgagele Mbunge, he is also in Kenton.  Others are in Cape Town and others are in Port Elizabeth.

CHAIRPERSON: You said Sgagele Mbunge.  These people can be your witnesses that you were arrested by the people you mentioned in your statement?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: When you were in prison were you tortured in any way?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes, I was tortured, Sir.  At the time I was in Kennispos they put this sack and they would take cigarettes and put them out in my body.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you please explain about the sack?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: They would take this sack to water and they would put in my fact and beat me and assault me.  Those were detectives from Grahamstown.

CHAIRPERSON: When did you realise that you were suffering from TB?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: It was in November in 1995.  I was just released from prison.

CHAIRPERSON: Was it 1996?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: No, it was 1995.

CHAIRPERSON: I cannot count properly, do not howl me.  You found out that you are suffering from TB.

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you receiving treatment?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: I have just completed my treatment this year.  I am staying at home right now.

CHAIRPERSON: Where did you get your treatment, in which hospital?

MPHIWISI DAVID SIGCAWU NAZO: In the Santa Marjorie Hospital in Port Alfred.

CHAIRPERSON: When we want your medical treatment records are we going to be able to get them there?