Human Rights Violation Hearings — Cape Town — 1997-06-09

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Would the people outside please be informed that they are making a noise.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Thank you, Mrs Galaweni. I just need to ask you a few questions for clarification.  You were - did your husband belong to any political organisation?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: He was a member of the ANC.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: And the day of his death, was he at home or did he also go to work like you went to work?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: He came back, as I said, he did phone me and he has mentioned that he is in the township. I had asked him to take the children, especially the youngest who was five years old.  He didn't even answer me when I requested him to take the children and then he said good-bye.  He had come back from work and he was at home.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: So where were the children when he was shot?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: They were in New Cross.  The other one I picked up after I had gone through 3A, Nancy.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Okay. So they didn't see their father being shot?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: No.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: And who were the people who saw your husband being shot by Barnard?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: The people that saw him, the one was Slimane, he says they were in front.  There were three of us, Slimane, he is no longer living here, he is living in the Transkei and Mr Djali and another third man. There were others whose names I don't know.  They said that they had heard a gun shot coming from the hill.  There was a big gun shot and it rang near us, and they tried to dodge the shots,and the next thing they knew was that her husband was shot in the forehead.   So they ran away and they disappeared.  What I forget is that the police did arrive and kicked him and said that he was dead. It bothers me very much. It has been bothering me for the rest of my life.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: You say in your statement that on that day you didn't only lose your husband but you also lost your house.  Did your house burn down on that day?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: Yes, it got burnt, because when I arrived into the area, it was burning, it was completely destroyed.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: So you lost your husband and you lost your house and all the things that were inside your house as well, on that same day?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: Yes, that is so.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Mrs Galaweni, how did you manage to cope with such great loss?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: What do you mean when you say how did I cope? Can you explain this coping?

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Yes.  You lost quite a lot, you lost your husband, you lost your house, you lost all the things that were inside your house.  How did you manage after that?

NOTAYINI NOMANGESI GALAWENI: I stayed behind and I didn't want to leave the area. I couldn't leave the area because my husband was a comrade. I worked, I worked at a few houses and they would also give me clothes.  I also received money from Yamile and Ndima, I don't know the third person's name, I don't see him that much.  They said that they should try and get groceries for all those people who had lost their loved ones. I used to receive these groceries. One woman said, who is a white person, said that I should take a letter to the councillors. I took the letter to the councillors that the government should assist me in raising the children.  After seven months, R600,00 arrived.  It was too small.  But I was working as well, just as I am still working now. Nancy, when she was 17, she couldn't receive part of this grant.  I complained. I think she was doing Std 7 at the time.  I asked them shouldn't she continue with her education. I complained but nothing came out of it. I used to get those grants and as well as working, until I got sugar diabetes. I am still working even now.  And the money is too little still.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: I don't have any more questions.  Before I make some closing remarks, I would like to hand over to the Chair in case others have questions to ask you.  Thanks.