Human Rights Violation Hearings — Grahamstown — 1997-04-07

CHAIRPERSON: I was explaining to those who do not understand Xhosa that our proceedings here in Grahamstown will be conducted in Xhosa.  We apologise for starting late.  Our hearing was supposed to start at 09H15.  We were supposed to be having witnesses for the day, but because of the weather we found out that many people who made their statements to the Commission are not here today.  We will start with those who are here, and we will go back to those who are not here.  We hope they will be on their way.
 We want to give respect to people who made their statements to this Commission.  We would like you to stand up when they are coming in.  We would like everybody to stand up to give respect to those who are going to testify.  Thank you.  We will ask the Reverend to open this cession with a prayer.
THE HEARING IS OPENED WITH A PRAYER AND HYMN

CHAIRPERSON: We thank you Minister for opening this hearing with a prayer in Grahamstown.  We thank what we heard in your scripture hearing as you mentioned that the truth is to be revealed to everybody, and I think our meeting here in Grahamstown, we are here to listen to what people are going to say to us, things that happened in the past, today we are going to hear them in front of everyone.  Thank you Sir.
 We greet you all here in Grahamstown.  We apologise because it's cold today, but people from Grahamstown are used to this weather.  In the past two weeks we were in Pondoland, in Lusikisiki.  They told us there that we brought rain because when we arrived in Lusikisiki there was no rain but when we were there it rained.  People couldn't attend our hearings because of that.  We were happy because we brought rain to Pondoland.  Here in Grahamstown we brought cold.
 We thank everyone who came here despite the weather to listen to what is going to be revealed.  I don't think you came here just to listen but you are here to help us to give respect to the people who are going to testify to this Commission.  I think that your presence here shows clearly that you are united with the victims, that you are supporting them in their pain that they experienced in the past.  They were fighting for everybody in this country, South Africa.  We thank you for coming here.  We will now start with our proceedings for the day.  
 We, as the Commission, we are disturbed when we see the victims.  They are opening their arms and their hearts to their perpetrators, and the perpetrators and those who benefitted in the apartheid system they are not like the victims, they are not opening their hearts to the victims.  In our hearings, as we are coming to the end, we started in April last year, from town-to-town we were very disturbed to see that those who are interested in the proceedings are the victims and the people who suffered due to the apartheid system.  Today we can see that there are people from the White community, they are here today and we thank them, and this shows that here in Grahamstown it is different from other towns.  We thank them for being here with us.   This shows that here in Grahamstown reconciliation is possible.
 We welcome you all, especially the Bishop here in Grahamstown, one of the heroes who fought for this country, who fought for the human rights.  We remember in Dimbaza where he was from the privileged community and he went to stay in Dimbaza with the people who were suffering, he became one of them.  We want to acknowledge as we are here in Grahamstown as a symbolic gesture for being here in this hearing today.
 I am not going to mention everybody here but we welcome you all with our open hearts.
 Our hearing in these three days we will be dealing with human rights violations here in Grahamstown and other regions.  I will hand over to Tiny Maya to introduce witnesses for the day.

MS MAYA: Thank you Mr Chairperson.  The Honourable Commissioner this morning I introduce people who made statements to this human rights Commission.  I will read these people according to the list if they were all here but we found out that not everybody is here, but we will read them according to our programme.
 Today we have 24 people who are going to testify.  We are going to deal with five regions, Grahamstown, Alicedale, Bedford, Adelaide and Cookhouse.  I will read out the witnesses name and the victim and the violation and the year of this violation and the area of the incident.
 We have Chris Mbekela talking about himself, attempted murder in 1985 here in Grahamstown.
 Koliwe Christina Tonyela, speaking about Mr Tonyela, murder in 1985 in Grahamstown.
 Tembinkosi Tom, about himself, attempted murder, 1986, Grahamstown.
 Joni Tsili, talking about Diniwe Violet Tsili who was murdered in 1980 in Grahamstown.
 Jacob Mbuyiselo Nombiba, talking about Boyboy Nombiba who was murdered in Grahamstown in 1980.
 Edith Vangile Mpande, talking about Makwenkwe Madalane Mpande who was murdered in 1978 in Grahamstown.
 Novintwembi Grace Gqamfane, talking about Zenzile Patrick Gqamfane who was murdered in 1986 in Alicedale.
 Mcebisi Manjati, about himself, torture in 1986, in Alicedale.
 Mandlakayise "Matu" Mphithi, talking about himself who was tortured in 1985 in Bedford.
 Ntsikelelo Edward Mentoor, talking about himself, he was tortured in 1986 in Bedford.
 Nodamile Gertrude Bakauli talking about herself, tortured in 1986 in Bedford.
 Kayeni Derrick "Metro" Bambiso talking about himself, he was tortured in 1986 in Bedford.
 Zukile Hobson Qhalaga, talking about Simon Gxawula, who was murdered in 1989 in Bedford.
 Nondithini Irene Nosakele Kiva, talking about Andile Witbooi Ndyebi who was murdered in 1985 in Adelaide.
 Zimasile Joseph Bota, will be talking about himself who was tortured in 1986 in Adelaide.
 Ntombizodwa Cynthia Mketshane, talking about Mtutuzeli Stewart Nziweni who was murdered in 1986 in Adelaide.
 Zoleka Winnie Mbenenge, talking about Tembekile Eric Mbenenge who was murdered in 1986 in Adelaide.
 Nomhle Cynthia Sabani, talking about Dumezweni Sabani who was murdered in 1986 in Adelaide.
 Kuku Gladys May, talking about Simphiwe Huntjie May who was murdered in 1989 in Adelaide.
 Edward Gugwana Menzi, talking about Nomakhaya Mina Menzi who was murdered in 1986 in Cookhouse.
 Wele Samuel Kakana, talking about himself, severe ill-treatment in 1985 in Cookhouse.
 Zanyiwe Angelina Nosisi Kakana, talking about Mabhuti Kakana who was murdered in 1986 in Cookhouse.
 Nokuzola Lena "Nonhi" Kakana, talking about the Kakana family, who were severely ill-treated, banishment 1986 in Cookhouse.
 Buti John Kakana, talking about himself for severe ill-treatment, 1986, Cookhouse; Kakana Family, severe ill-treatment.  Zolani Meko Kakana, Batayi Kakana, Weweyi Kakana, they were severely ill-treated, Batayi and Weweyi were murdered in 1986 in Cookhouse. Mbulelo Kakana, murder.
 Vuyani Richard Bete talking about himself, and about Mbuyiselo Khadi and Anele Bete, he was severely ill-treated, Mbuyiselo Khadi was murdered and Anele Bete was also murdered in 1984 in Grahamstown.
 Mr Chairperson Chris Mbekela, Koliwe Christina Tonyela, who were going to be our first witnesses unfortunately they are not here today.  Chris Mbekela requested to be given time to testify tomorrow. Miss Tonyela also cannot be here today.  Except for these, all other witnesses will testify.  Thank you Mr Chairperson.