Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1998-11-25

MR LAX: Why is it written in your form then?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: I thought that as people who were protecting the community, that was part of what the SDU was.

MR LAX: You see in September 1991, there would have been SDU's in Greytown, in Nhlalagahle and all sorts of places.  The call to form the SDU's happened in the middle of 1990.
	There would have been an organised SDU in that area, but you don't know anything about that?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: I would not disagree with that.  I was a member of the ANC.

MR LAX: What structures were you a member of before the ANC was unbanned?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: I was a member of the ANC because in the township, it was an ANC area, but I did not have much knowledge about other organisations.

MR LAX: You see until February 1990, the ANC did not operate above ground in this country.  There were other structures that were there in place of the ANC.  You don't know what structures those were?  You weren't a member of them?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: It was the UDF.

MR LAX: Yes, so what structure of the UDF were you part of?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: I was a member or follower of the organisation that existed in the township at the time.

MR LAX: Yes, I am asking you what was that structure?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: At the time that I acquired political knowledge, it was the ANC that was prominent.  So that is the organisation that I joined.

MR LAX: You see there would have been a Nhlalagahle Youth Congress that was formed.  Youth Congresses were formed in the 1980's in all the townships, and I know for a fact that there was one in Nhlalagahle.  You weren't part of that?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: I will say that I was because whatever happened or took place in the township, I was in line with.  I did not dispute whatever was happening, I always cooperated.

CHAIRPERSON: Did you attend meetings, gatherings of the Youth Congress?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: Yes.

MR LAX: You see, lots of people will say they were members of this or that structure, but in reality they simply lived in a place where the predominant value was that of UDF or Inkatha or AZAPO or whatever.
	Because that was the dominant culture, they simply subscribed to that.  They didn't actually joined structures per se, do you understand what I am saying?
	As opposed to that, there were people who definitely joined structures, who were part of youth movements, were part of civics, who were part of church organisations, that were all affiliated to the UDF.
	From your evidence, it is clear to me you weren't part of any one of those structures?  That doesn't mean you didn't support the UDF or the ANC for that matter.  Do you see what I am saying to you?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: Yes.

MR LAX: Now you are here to be frank with us.

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: Yes.

MR LAX: So when we ask you questions about your political affiliation, you must be honest with us.  If you weren't a member of a structure, it is better that you tell us that.  Do you understand?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: Yes, I do.

MR LAX: No further questions Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Sipho, any questions arising out of questions put by the panel?

MR SIPHO: Yes, thank you.  Although you may not have been part of any specific structure of the ANC, do you know what the attitude of members of the ANC would have been to members of the Inkatha Freedom Party?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: What was it, a close friendly relationship or was it a hostile one?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: There was no friendship between the two.

MR SIPHO: And as such, would it have been acceptable for ANC members to be seen in the company of IFP members?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: No.

MR SIPHO: And the deceased in this case, was an ANC member who had been seen in the IFP camp, is that not so?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: Yes, that is correct.

MR SIPHO: And it is this that motivated the events of that day?  Is that right?

XOLANI BRAVEMAN TSOTETSI: That is correct.

MR SIPHO: I've got no further questions.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR SIPHO

CHAIRPERSON: Ms Thabete, any questions arising?

MS THABETE: No questions Mr Chair.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS THABETE

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Tsotetsi, that concludes your testimony, you may stand down.  Thank you.

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