Human Rights Violation Hearings — Uitenhage — 1996-08-27

CHAIRPERSON: We would like to ask the next witness, Mrs Nofinish Minah Blaauw, to come forward please.

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Let me greet you.  I want to thank you for your presence.  I want to confirm your names, are you Nofinish Minah Blaauw, is that correct?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes that is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: For a number of reasons, among them, the reason of time, and the fact that there are many of you here who also need a chance to talk here today, I'm going to read what is important, what is in this statement and you are going to confirm if all this is correct.  If there is somewhere where you think it is not right, maybe some of the things you forgot to include, you can just add them afterwards but the most important thing right now for the other witnesses here, is to ensure that everything in this statement is correct and they must also tell what happened to them or maybe to their friends or relatives and how the whole situation affected them.  In conclusion they must also state clearly their requests to the Commission.
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
2 N BLAAUW
Let me start now.  Your son by the name of Gladstone Buyile Blaauw was in that scene on that particular day.

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes that is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: You heard that he was also shot.

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes that is also correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you tell us about Buyile's accident, the whole thing, how the death of Buyile affected you?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: I was at home, I was not at the scene.  He left in the morning and he said he was going to the funeral in Gwanubushle.

CHAIRPERSON: I'm talking about the way the whole thing affected you at home, that such a young boy died in that manner.

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: It affected us.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you give us details?  Especially on that part.  Did you ever go to Jubilee Hotel?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes we were called to the Jubilee Hotel.

CHAIRPERSON: Who called you?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: I don't know those people.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you please help and tell us what happened in that hotel?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: They said they were going to tell us about money.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you mean money?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes, money.

CHAIRPERSON: What did they say about money?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: They said they were going to give us money.

CHAIRPERSON: Was there any money that you received from the government?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes, we received some money, but I don't know how much.
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
3 N BLAAUW

CHAIRPERSON: Can you tell us about your health?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: I'm not too well, since the death of Buyile.

CHAIRPERSON: What kind of treatment are you getting from your doctor, Dr Monumil?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: I am suffering from high blood pressure.

CHAIRPERSON: When did the whole thing start?  Did this happen after this accident or before?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: It started after Buyile's death.  By the way you said who is this Luvuyu, Luvuyu is his child.

CHAIRPERSON: Where is Luvuyu now?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Luvuyu is at home.

CHAIRPERSON: What is your request by the way containing this Luvuyu?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: I wish that Luvuyu can get a grant.

CHAIRPERSON: Where is Luvuyu's mother?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: His mother is working in Port Elizabeth.

CHAIRPERSON: Are they communicating?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes, they are staying together but when he is attending school, he is staying with me.

CHAIRPERSON: Is there anything that you would like to add in this statement?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: There is nothing else besides the fact that I wish that there could be this memorial stone that should be erected.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you also support this idea of this memorial?

NOFINISH MINAH BLAAUW: Yes, I support it.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.