Human Rights Violation Hearings — Durban — 1996-10-25

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: How do you survive on this meagre amount of money?

WITNESS:   My daughter-in-law always brings me food at times.  She would buy in bulk and give us some part of her groceries, but you cannot depend on that.

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: Have you ever approached the welfare society to ask for assistance?

WITNESS:   I didn't have confidence in going to people because I still had that feeling whenever you go to these places, people will not be willing to volunteer information or how they could help you.

CHAIRPERSON: I just want to clarify this issue.   You witnessed the attack on the house next to you and that attack was the Amasinyora, is that correct?

WITNESS:   Yes, it is correct, I witnessed that and the owners of the house ran away.   Somebody was burnt.  That's when we decided to run away from the area and seek some place of refuge.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible) ... say that your own son was targeted by the Amasinyora and that was because he was a member  of the UDF at the time.   Can you tell us a little bit about what Amasinyora was doing in the township at the time?

WITNESS:   Some were Inkatha members, and the Inkatha members were separated into half, some were Amasinyora and the rest remained to be Inkatha, and Justice was now joining the soldiers and they were patrolling the location in their cars and he would go around pointing out certain houses that were to be targeted.   At times they would go to the different areas.   And they would take whatever information they had about a certain area and deliver that information to another area, so they knew all about us, even though they did not stay in our area.   And we would ask the children as to where they were coming from.

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... about the violation of women and its aftermath, is the families don't talk about it.   Did you and your husband ever talk about this between the two of you?

WITNESS:   Do you mean the rape?   It was myself as well as my husband who knew about it and the doctor who treated me thereafter.

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: Did the two of you talk about it amongst yourselves?

WITNESS:   At times we would talk about it, but we wouldn't delve into the nitty-gritty of what happened, because it actually made the situation soar and the atmosphere quite tense.   My husband would say I am alive and I appreciate the fact that you are also alive, so we must just forget about the matter and put it to rest.   So, we sort of avoided talking about the situation.   And whenever we talk about this, his attacks would start, because he is sickly.   He doesn't really look as if he is perfectly normal.   I don't know what happened to him, he is a totally changed man.   He doesn't talk, he just keeps quiet most of the time.   Then when a third person comes in, we start talking and at times we even become surprised at ourselves, because when we are together it is as if there is nobody in the house, we always keep quiet, and when the third person comes in it is only then that we talk.

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ...  that you still feel that you don't want anybody else to know about that even now?

WITNESS:   I do not want them to know because they never knew it from scratch.   According to my knowledge they do not know it, because I have never been asked about it.   It is only at my place, my immediate relatives who know that this happened.

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... know that you are here today talking to the commissioner about this?

WITNESS:   My husband as well as one my daughters-in-law.  But they do not know what happened thereafter.   They do not know the whole story as to what happened, especially with regard to the operation, my husband only knows what they did to me.   My daughter-in-law said she wished to accompany me to this hearing, and she was going to hear as to how this happened, but unfortunately she isn't present.

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER

UNIDENTIFIED COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ...  Mama asked that her hearing be done incognito.   It's really not quite incognito.   And therefore I would like to request the media to really respect her wishes as she leaves the room.   But I would also like to acknowledge that the fact that we have her shielded is that women can never talk openly about what happens to them when they are raped and violated, because our society cannot deal with this, our society cannot acknowledge it.   And therefore we carry this burden not being able to share it with our loved ones.   And not being able to also get rid of it ourselves.   We don't have men in this hearing today, but I hope the men will pick it up on the media that it is not their bodies to take.   And that until there is a culture of respect, not just for everyone, but for women especially, that perhaps our country will not change regardless the very freedoms that we enjoy.   Madam Chair, I would like to say to Mama I am humbled, I am pained, I have the deepest respect for her, because through her talking about her story, I hope that many other women who have shared the same experience can come forward and talk about it.   Only this way can we get the true story, the complete story, about how the conflict violated women and used women in a variety of ways, other ways by taking their children away, in order to break women down.   On behalf of the commission, I salute Mama.   And hats off to you for your bravery.   And thank you very much.    And thank you, Madam Chair.

CHAIRPERSON: Mama, you have taken the first step on the way to dealing with it, which is to come forward and tell the story publicly.   Simply relating that and sharing that with other people helps, I think, to shift the burden from you to where it belongs properly, at the hands of your perpetrators.   I think you need to acknowledge that the guilt is not yours, the guilt belongs to those who did this to you.  We will respect your request that whilst your testimony may be utilized, your name must not be used and by the powers that are invested in me through this act, I rule that your name will not be released until such time as you give us permission to do so.   Your story though will be used.   Thank you for coming today.   Mama, is there anything that you would like to tell the commission?

WITNESS:   That is all I can say.   It is just that I am sickly together with my husband.   At times they would give us six tablets and we would be told that we should come the following month, and I can't survive with my illnesses with six tablets, that supply is just not enough for the whole month.   I have to take painkillers, I have to take a rheumatism tablets, I also have asthma and whenever I go to fetch my asthma medication I am always told that I used to much of it, I should save it more than use it.    I think that the members of the reparation committee who sit here will have taken note of some of the problems that you are raising.   And will probably refer you to the health system, so that some intervention can be made on your behalf.   Thank you for coming today.

CHAIRPERSON: (END OF RECORDING ON SIDE A)

CHAIRPERSON: /(START OF

CHAIRPERSON: 3B/0 (START OF SIDE B)

CHAIRPERSON: WITNESS UNKNOWN BY REQUEST

BAJABULILE NZAMA: (Sworn States) (Through Interpreter)

CHAIRPERSON: I will now ask Ms Gabashe to assist you with your evidence.

UNKNOWN: I greet you, Bajabulile.   I would like to start by thanking you, the bravery that you have that you came today before this commission, and relate your story.  And it is a very sad story.   And when I check on your statement, and realise the years you were still very young.   You can take time.  Before we can start talking about your story, I would like you to first relate to us or tell us more about your family.   Do you have parents, brothers and sisters?