Special Hearings — Prison Hearings — 1997-07-21

UNKNOWN: There were some of these common-law prisoners, even from the early stage, who were very sympathetic, who understood the question of oppression. As we continued, for instance we managed to expose the suffering that we were going through and when it became apparent that we were making a small breakthrough and some of the influence that we were exerting was also beginning to rise, it was this that finally compelled the authorities to fill that word, to separate political prisoners from the common-law prisoners.

THOMAS MANTHATA: I have no further questions so I will hand over to the Chairperson.

DR BORAINE: Thank you very much, are there any other questions?  Mr Dlamini?

MR DLAMINI: Thank you Mr Chairman.  Mr Mlambo as you know part of the aim of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to heal the country and bring about rehabilitation so that we can walk together as a united nation but when one listens to such traumatic experiences like yours, one feels that something more should be done.  I just want to get your view as to what you think this Truth Commission should focus on or perhaps put more emphasis on, in order to bring about national unity, healing and reconciliation, if you have any such views.

UNKNOWN: Some of the aspects did arise in our discussion, I must say that prison was a very educationally broadening experience because there were some that were saying, man we are going to look for these warders, we are going to do this but the overall concerns were that there would be more important tasks to do in building the country.  I would want to emphasize that prison warders were being drawn from only one segment of the population, particularly within the White population it was perhaps the people who could not fit elsewhere so proper training would have to be one of them.  There should be very, very clear ways of separating prisoners who are in there for serious crimes.  Those who are hardened must be clearly separated from the people who are perhaps there for very minor or petty type of crimes.  I would suggest that people who are being arrested for small or petty crimes should in fact not be put in and criminalized in the process because if they interact with hardened criminals, they are certainly going to learn the tricks of committing more serious crimes.

DR BORAINE: Mrs Seroke?

MRS SEROKE: Mr Mlambo in your statement you mention that when you were in prison, Robert Sebukwe was also there but separated and isolated and serving six years after the completion of his sentence and you would wave hopefully, I suppose that was a symbolic way of getting in touch, how did you feel about his presence in that prison when you were there?

UNKNOWN: I would say that his presence was quite an inspiration to us because we could see that here was a man who had a very, very good job lecturing at Wits, a White university and he had sacrificed all that so he was an inspirational figure to us.  The manner in which he was treated did cause a lot of concern for us because there was no need for him to be kept in prison when he had actually completed his sentence.

DR BORAINE: Mr Mlambo thank you very much indeed.  You've been very modest in the description of the very long period of time you served in prison.  I know for a fact that you lost an eye while you were in prison, you haven't even mentioned that, you have focused on the fact that many of you were there together and you don't want to push yourself forward and now you are continuing to serve a country that you want to see healed and we are very grateful for the witness that you have given today, we wish you well in the future.  Thank you very much for coming.
 There will be a twenty minute break and we would like to come back at half past eleven sharp please as we've got a lot of people we want to hear.  There is tea for the witnesses only I'm afraid as we cannot cope for everyone in these facilities but you are very welcome to go and stand in the sun, thank you.
Hearing adjourns for tea.