Amnesty Hearings — Pietermaritzburg — 1998-02-10

ADV SANDI: Mr Malevu, you mentioned that there was a conference in Umtata.  At that conference a resolution  was taken to continue with the armed struggle.  I just want to know from you what exactly was decided upon, how were you going to go about continuing with that armed struggle?  Who were going to be the targets, how long was this armed struggle envisaged to continue?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: My understanding was that the armed struggle should continue as we were fighting against the apartheid government.  I didn't have the correct picture as to how long it should continue.  All I knew is that it should continue.

ADV SANDI: Was it discussed who the targets were going to be?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I don't remember if it was specified in the conference.  What was clear was that we had to fight against the apartheid government.

ADV SANDI: In other words, you are saying that this was just a general resolution that the armed struggle should continue?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I do not remember the specifics as to which should be done, however as we were debating it, which was suspended, it was supposed to be suspended during CODESA but it continued.

ADV SANDI: You also mentioned that there were two opposing view points at this conference.  One of them was in favour of intensifying the armed struggle, and the other was against.  Do you recall that evidence this morning?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: Yes.

ADV SANDI: Are you perhaps able to remember the reasons that were being advanced in motivation of intensifying the armed struggle, are you able to remember what those who were saying the armed struggle should continue, what reasons they were giving for that view point?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: It came out that we shouldn't wait for the negotiations, we should continue with the armed struggle and we will see from the results of the negotiations as to whether to continue or not.
	However, it was exercised that we can't rely on negotiations, we have to continue with the struggle.

ADV SANDI: Is this at December 1993, this conference?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: It was on December if I remember very well.

ADV SANDI: December 1993, I thought that was your evidence this morning?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: Yes, it was at December 1993.

ADV SANDI: Was the PAC at that stage not part of those negotiations at the World Trade Centre?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: It was involved, however, I don't know whether it was during CODESA or the World Trade Centre one, but it took part in one.

ADV SANDI: At the end of the day the resolution was taken that that the armed struggle should continue?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: Yes.

ADV SANDI: Are you able to remember the reasons or arguments that were being advanced by those who had won this debate?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I can't have the whole picture as to what the debate was going about.  However, it was clear that it should continue despite the elections coming on, the negotiations.

ADV SANDI: Did you personally play any role in selecting the Crazy Beat disco as a target?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: No, I didn't.

ADV SANDI: When Mr Tanda came to you that evening, to say that they had carried out the operation, what did you understand him to be talking about?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: As I knew that they were going to attack, I only asked him as to what happened.  Whether they were injured or whether they were arrested or something like that.

ADV SANDI: Thank you Mr Malevu.

BERNARD MAKGABO NGOEPE: Perhaps Mr Prior, in all fairness to the applicant, we should refer to an article which is parallel to the one that you read to him.
	There is, on the same page, I am sure you don't have that, but there is an article next to the one which was read to you, page 80, there is an article which says that the PAC in the Transkei or rather members of the PAC in Transkei were very much in favour of the continuation of the armed struggle, and they were almost about to revolt against any suggestion that the armed struggle should stop.
	Would that be in line with the view of some of the people who were at the meeting in December 1993?
	If you do not understand my question, you must please tell me?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: May you please repeat?

CHAIRPERSON: According to this newspaper report, there were people in the Eastern Cape or in particular in Transkei, members of the PAC who did not want to give up the armed struggle.
	Would that be in line with the views of some of the people who attended the meeting where the resolution was taken in 1993?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: At the conference, when the issue of armed struggle was discussed, there were debates before the resolution.  I was not referring to debates which was going on outside of the conference.
	I don't know whether you are referring to what was discussed at the conference or something that happened outside the conference.

CHAIRPERSON: It is not clear whether it was in or outside the conference, but in all probability it was not at the same conference.
	It is not referring to the conference, but the general situation in Transkei at the time?  Thank you Mr Arendse, do you have questions in re-examination?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: Yes, I understand.

NORMAN ARENDSE: Thank you Mr Chairman, just again for the sake of completeness really, can I also just refer to, my learned friend Mr Prior had referred to page 82 where APLA was told to seize operations, then we find on page 83, that 1994 had been declared the year of the bullet and the ballot.  That was in the New Years message received from APLA Commander Sevello Parmer and then on page 87 just to link that to the point that you raised Mr Chairman, PAC government in talks, but rebellion is brewing.
	That article actually highlight some of the different factions within the party that appear to be rebelling against the decision to suspend the armed struggle.
	I seem to think that there was an announcement, it may even have been in January of 1994 about the leadership suspending the armed struggle.
	But other wise Mr Chairman, I don't have any further questions of Mr Malevu.

CHAIRPERSON: I think let's tie that up.  So is it correct then that inside the PAC and or APLA as well, there were some people who thought that the armed struggle should be suspended and on the other hand, there were others who felt that it should continue?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: And where did you fall?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: During the conference?

CHAIRPERSON: Or even thereafter, what was your view?  We've got two groups, one group says the armed struggle should stop, the other group says, no, it should continue.
	Where did you fall?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I was of the view that it should continue.

ADV SANDI: At that stage Mr Malevu, a number of attacks had been conducted, maybe I should say allegedly by APLA, were these attacks discussed at the conference at Umtata?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I don't remember attacks being discussed at the conference.

CHAIRPERSON: You would all have been arrested there and then at the conference, if you discussed those attacks, I am sure?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: The idea that you should, well, you shouldn't launch an attack at the restaurant because there were a lot of black people in front or outside, rather go and attack the disco because it is frequented by white people.  To me it sounds rather racist?
	It sounds that the attack is inspired by pure racism?  What do you say about that?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: It wasn't because of racism.

CHAIRPERSON: Explain that please.