Human Rights Violation Hearings — Karoo — 1996-10-09

MARY BURTON: One of the briefers will be come and join in a moment. You can sit down. 
Good afternoon Mr Mosotho, can you hear me well through the earphones.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes I can hear you.

MARY BURTON: And you are accompanied by a member of your family.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: This is a person who was with me when I was taken in my room when the police came to take me in my room at about one o'clock in the morning.

MARY BURTON: [Indistinct] her and say that we are glad that she's here. Thank you. Please will you stand to take the oath.
PETROSE MOSOTHO  Duly sworn states

MARY BURTON: Please sit down. Now you are going to tell us about what happened to you and the injuries that you sustained in 1985. Please go ahead. Sorry Denzil this is your case.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: It was about three in the morning. The police came at my home. They took me. I asked them where they are taking me too and they told me to shut-up not to say anything because I came to Colesberg with my politics. They took me to the Casspir and they were kicking me. They took me to the police station.
When I arrived there they took me to the prison. They put me in a dark cell. I couldn't see anything. There was no light, it was only dark. Other policemen came with the van and the cars. They took me outside and they put a plastic bag over my head and my hands were hand-cuffed behind me and they took me to Middleburg where they were assaulting me. I didn't know what happened. I just saw myself waking up in Bloemfontein in the hospital. That's all I have to say.

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you Mr Mosotho. When did this incident happen.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: It was in 1985 on the 3 but I don't remember the day, but it just happened within the week, but it was on the 3 in 1985.
ADV POTGIETERThird month or which third is it.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: It was on the 3rd of July 1985.

ADV POTGIETER: Who are the police that arrested you and that were involved in the assaults on you?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: They only police I know are the ones from Colesberg, Malithi, Dube and I don't know the names of the white policemen.

ADV POTGIETER: They were involved in the assaults on you.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: You say that they told you - you mustn't ask questions, you must come along because you came with your politics to Colesberg.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes, that's what they said to me.

ADV POTGIETER: Where were you from. Where did you come from?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: My home is here, but I was raised up in Bloemfontein. I stayed with my mother there. My shoulder now is so painful and I still have a mark even on my leg where I was shot. I still have a mark.

ADV POTGIETER: They accused you of having brought politics to Colesberg. Now were you involved in politics. Were you an activist, or what was the position.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes, I was in politics. I disagreed with what was happening here in Colesberg. And they said that I came here with some wise tricks here in Colesberg.

ADV POTGIETER: You were taken to Middleburg and the next thing you remembered was waking up in the hospital in Bloemfontein.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes, I woke up in Bloemfontein. I don't know how I went to the hospital. I couldn't even see anything and my hands were hand-cuffed.

ADV POTGIETER: [Indistinct] Mr Mosotho to just try and speak a bit louder and try and speak right into this microphone so that your voice can be louder, can be amplified otherwise the people can't hear you. So I am going to ask you to just speak a little bit louder, okay? Now when you woke up in the hospital in Bloemfontein. What sort of injuries did you have?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: My shoulder was injured and my leg where the policeman shot me. My leg was bandaged and there were ointment all over my shoulder. 
ADV POTGIETERThose injuries that you had was caused or were caused by the police who were assaulting you.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes, they were all caused by the police.

ADV POTGIETER: When were you shot. At what stage?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: They were shot me when they were taking me with their van, because I was fighting. I didn't want to go with them with the van. That is when they shot me in my leg and I don't know what happened to my shoulder, but my hand was broken.

ADV POTGIETER: Which leg did they shoot you in? Your right leg or your left leg?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: It was my right leg. I stayed for ten days in Bloemfontein. And I have a daughter who gives me pills because I'm sick and I do get this pills here in Colesberg. They are from Bloemfontein

ADV POTGIETER: In hospital, were you just discharged and did you go home or did the police take you into custody, charge you with anything, or what happened.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: I came they I was detained here in Colesberg. And I went to the Magistrates court. I was charged, I was sentenced, but they released me after some few months. They said my case was dismissed. I can go home.

ADV POTGIETER: What were you convicted off?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: As we were they convicted me of trying to close down the shops here in town. They said I was the one bringing these ideas to the people in Colesberg.

ADV POTGIETER: [Indistinct] idea to Colesberg.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes.
ADV POTGIETER What sentence did the court give you.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: I was sentenced for six years, but they released me within some few months. I didn't even stay for a year in prison.
ADV POTGIETERDid you appeal against the case. Did you appeal against the Magistrate's judgement.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes, I appealed, but they told us to wait for an answer and I am still waiting for that today.

ADV POTGIETER: So did they release you only after you'd spent a few months serving your sentence.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: Yes, they released me.

ADV POTGIETER: What did they say. Why are you being released so quickly.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: They said that just because I am under doctor's observation I am to be released.

ADV POTGIETER: You have already explained that you still suffering from the consequences of those injuries. Is there anything else that you want to add to your testimony or bring to our attention.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: No, there is nothing else. Because what I wanted to say is about my house. I can't get a house. I was since on the list of people who will get houses, but up until now there is nothing.

MARY BURTON: Please could people in the audience keep quiet.
ADV POTGIETERAre you married.

PETROSE MOSOTHO: No, I am not married.
ADV POTGIETERChildren?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: No, I don't have any children.

ADV POTGIETER: What is your age?

PETROSE MOSOTHO: I was born in 1960. I was born in 1960, on 5 May 1960.

ADV POTGIETER: I just want to hear whether the lady who was with you, whether there is anything she wishes to add. You told us that she was at the place where you were arrested by the police. I just going to ask you to shift the microphone to her and I am just going to ask her whether she wants to add anything to your testimony. Whether she wants to say anything. Would you please just give us your full names.

JANE JAPHTA: We were sleeping when police came and they knocked at the door. When we asked who was there and they just told us to open the door. We refused and we told them that we were sleeping. They kicked the door and the door opened.
They told me that they wanted this man next to me and he asked them where they were taking him too. And they told him not to ask question and they dragged him outside. He was not wearing a T-shirt on top and I took his T-shift and I gave him his T-shirt. They took him with the Casspir and they took him.
On the third day I was supposed to go back to work in Johannesburg. I phoned his brother Mike and he told me that he's back from the hospital but he's not well. That is all I know.

ADV POTGIETER: Okay. she can hear, she does hear, okay. Now do you know about the shooting that happened when they removed Mr Mosotho from the house there.