Human Rights Violation Hearings — Mabopane — 1997-05-08

MS MOJAPELO: They didn't write anything.  They said I should get the results of the post mortem first from the government mortuary, but I didn't get it.     DR ALLY: And did you, did you, did you make a lot of, many efforts to get this post mortem results? And what happened after the first time that you should come again and you then got a lawyer, what, what happened then?

MS MOJAPELO: Yes I did meet the lawyer then he said because it was a state case it after it takes six months before you go to court then that, that case is dismissed, or struck off the roll.

RUSSELL ALLY: And is this what the lawyer said happened to your case that it was struck off and that's why it didn't proceed with the case?

MS MOJAPELO: Yes that's true that's what the lawyer has told me. Then I was working in Johannesburg that is why I was not available all the time to make all that times to get back.

RUSSELL ALLY: In your statement you actually say that you are convinced that he was shot first before he fell into the river and that is the blood stained clothes, is that what you, is that the evidence that you have which convinced you that he was shot first?

MS MOJAPELO: That is my suspicion because the clothes he wore he was with it for two days, but we could see that there was blood stains in, in, at his back.  DR ALLY: And now what is the present situation with regard to Stanley's death, is there anything going on, any lawyers handling this? what's the present status.

MS MOJAPELO: I didn't hear anything, but after I learnt about the Truth Commission there is one person who come from the ANC who told me that I should come and appear maybe I'll get help.

RUSSELL ALLY: Mrs Mojapelo did Stanley, ah, he was nineteen years old so he was  quite young, but did he leave any family behind? Did he have any children?             MS MOJAPELO: He didn't have a child, he did have a girlfriend who was pregnant but he had a miscarriage but he was taken care of his siblings because I was working in Johannesburg.

RUSSELL ALLY: Thank-you very much Ms Mojapelo.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Randera no questions, Joyce?

MS SEROKE: Mabena you said the T-shirt had blood stains on it, it had a hole at the back? When Tebogo was holding him before he fell in the water didn't he see any kind of injury at the back?

MS MOJAPELO: Tebogo didn't see anything, they were frightened and they were, the water was a little bit deep all of them were frightened. They were all shocked.

MS SEROKE: When you were given the corpse did you inspect the corpse at the back and see if there is a hole?

MS MOJAPELO: When they moved him from the river I didn't see anything because I was weak.

MS SEROKE: Before you buried him were you given the corpse.                              MS MOJAPELO: Yes it was in a casket. We were not able to take him out. We only saw the shirt with holes at the back .

MS SEROKE: Did you get the corpse from the police or from the mortuary?             MS MOJAPELO: The police took it to the mortuary

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Mojapelo I have one question from myself and that is about your personal circumstances. Are you married?

MS MOJAPELO: I was married and divorced.

CHAIRPERSON: And how many children do you have to take care of?             MS MOJAPELO: I have three children.

CHAIRPERSON: What do you work at the moment?

MS MOJAPELO: I'm working at Superior Company.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much. Mrs Mojapelo we really appreciate your coming to-day. Your story again is a painful story. It is already seven years ago 1990 that it all happened but I can see on your face and we could hear from your voice from the words you used that the pain is very near and that the pain is very close to the surface, all of us who are parents can try and imagine what it means to lose a son like this. All of us who have brothers can equally try and imagine what it means. So many children suffered during the thirty years that we are looking at so many young people gave up  their lives. At some stage we will have a special children's hearing in the Truth Commission where life will be on what happened to children, small children and older children, young people throughout the difficult years and your son was one of them. Thank you and may the pain ease through the years. Thank you for coming to us and  telling us your story and God bless.