Human Rights Violation Hearings — Tembisa — 1996-11-27

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I don't know why, but as I hear rumours they didn't want young boys, they didn't kill women, they killed men only, they killed my wife because she was carrying a boy, so they were killing males, not females.

YASMINE SOOKA: You also say in your statement that this shebeen where this Baba Mabelani was killed, that it was well known.

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: He was killed instantly.

YASMINE SOOKA: And the people that killed him, was it also this group of men wearing these red cloths on their heads?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: We cannot tell whether it was the same group because we were inside the house, we did not even see those people but we just heard gun shots inside the house.

YASMINE SOOKA: And after this, were you able to go back to the hostel?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: We never went back to the hostel since that fight.  We were just hiding in the field.

YASMINE SOOKA: An you were never able to recover the bodies of your wife and your son?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I never, they disappeared that day.  Even at the police station, when I tried to enquire, the policemen chased me away saying  that they don't want anybody there. And there were gunshots all the time, I never had a chance to go and look for my wife and child and I was also injured on that particular day and landed in hospital.

YASMINE SOOKA: How long were you in hospital?
TEMBISA  HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
 
12 GETVESE

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I was discharged in the second week with the plaster of paris on.

YASMINE SOOKA: Which police station did you go to to report this matter?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: Here at Rabasotho.

YASMINE SOOKA: Do you know the name of the police who you dealt with at Rabasotho?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I do not know him because there are many policemen there but this particular black policeman just told me that he does not want anybody around here but there were many policemen just roaming around.  They were just shouting that they don't want anybody there.

YASMINE SOOKA: On that particular day when you ran away from the hostel after your wife had been killed, did you see any policemen around in the area?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I went to check my wife but the policemen were removing dead bodies with their yellow vans.  That's when I decided to go and check here in Rabasotho Police Station because they were picking up the dead bodies to see if my wife was there as well but unfortunately they chased us away.

YASMINE SOOKA: one more question, where do you stay now Tata?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I'm staying here in Madelokufa.

YASMINE SOOKA: And besides yourself, was there any other witness that you know that witnessed this killing of your wife and son?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: There is no one because I was the only one and there was just unrest, I just identified my wife but I never got the opportunity to come nearer her, but I did identify my wife.

YASMINE SOOKA: Before this happened, had there been any TEMBISA  HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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problems and any of the other people who lived with you in the same room?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: There were no problems.

YASMINE SOOKA: And had there been any problems between the Xhosa speaking men and Zulu speaking men in the hostel?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: No I never heard of any such a problem, but I just saw this happening suddenly.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thankyou Tata, I'm going to ask the chairperson if the other Commissioners have questions for you.

CHAIRPERSON: We want to thank you very much Sir, Joyce Seroke?

MS SEROKE: Mr Getvese, you said you never found your wife's body and your son.

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: Yes that's true.

MS SEROKE: Did you try and enquire at the police station?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: Yes Sir.

MS SEROKE: Because you thought that  the policeman might be having this body, they were collecting these bodies?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: Yes it is so.

MS SEROKE: As you were enquiring around the area, were there any news about where these bodies were taken to if they were not in the mortuaries?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: No I never knew and never heard.  But when I tried to inquire, that's when I sustained these injuries and I couldn't pursue the matter further.

MS SEROKE: Even now that you have healed, you never tried to enquire furthermore?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: No I never did because I just gave up. I felt helpless.

MS SEROKE: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: We thank you very much Sir.  If I can just TEMBISA  HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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ask you one question?  You said at the moment, where are you staying?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I'm staying at Madelakufa.

CHAIRPERSON: Waht kind of a place is it? Is it or a house?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: It's a shack.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you staying with anyone?  A female?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: No, I'm not staying with anyone.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you staying with children?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: No with no children.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you staying all by yourself?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: Yes that's right.

CHAIRPERSON: How do you survive?

DAVID DAYI GETVESE: I do part time jobs on an irregular basis.

CHAIRPERSON: We thank you very much for telling us this news and we'll try and investigate and get back to you.
Thank you very much.
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
15 DLAMINI

CHAIRPERSON: We'll call the next witness before we go for lunch, that is Dumasini Henry Dlamini.
 We like to welcome you Dumasini Dlamini, I would like you to stand up to take an oath.

DUMUSANI HENRY DLAMINI: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: This is your time, but firstly I'd like to ask the audience that when the witness is giving evidence before the Commission, we must give him the chance and the respect that he deserves, whether we like whatever evidence is given or not, we like people to keep[ quiet on the floor. We'd like you to relax and tell us more about yourself, where you come from and also your story.