Human Rights Violation Hearings — Newcastle — 1996-09-10

COMMISSIONER: And I think it's important to understand what made people do these sorts of things.  You probably heard the young man who gave evidence before you, Mr Vusi Ntuli, and he said because of the experiences that he had had at the hands of policemen he harboured a deep suspicion of policemen, and it's probable that the person who did this thing, planted this bomb, had a similar feeling, that he was prepared to go to any lengths to show opposition to what he saw as the system, and in the process of doing so people like yourself were very seriously injured.  And we see today that you have - you obviously have suffered, and you've told us that you are a different person to what you were, although you have demonstrated considerable courage to come here today and to share your story with us and with the public in front of the television.

COMMISSIONER: We will certainly make recommendations to the Government about how you should be assisted.  You've lost your legs.  It's a very, very major part of what makes you a whole person, and money can't compensate for that, it cannot make it better again, but it certainly can help, and we will be making recommendations to the Government on your behalf.  So we are glad that you were able to come here with your wife and your sister.  We're glad that they are supporting you so well, and that since this terrible incident that you have managed to find a supportive wife and to father three young children.  So thank you again very much, and we wish you well, you and your family.

COMMISSIONER: Mrs Sithole, we welcome you here today.  Thank you for being patient.  You have waited the whole afternoon, the whole day to give your evidence.  You have come from Osizweni township to tell us about the death of your son, Mthunzi Sithole.  Is that correct that he was your son?  Before you tell us that story can you stand and take the oath please?  Can you stand up and take the oath?

LINDIWE SITHOLE: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Mr Dlamini will help you now.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: (Question not interpreted)

WITNESS:   He was born in 1963.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: He was 28 years old, is that correct?

WITNESS:   Yes.  You mean in 1986?  Oh, you mean when he died?

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Yes.

WITNESS:   He was 28 years.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Would you please put us to a picture of your family.  I am a single parent at the moment because I am now a widow.  My husband died in 1989.  He left me with two boys and one that I adopted, so all in all there were three.  My husband died in Louwsburg.  After he died my mother went there and brought me to Osizweni with my children because my husband had died.  I tried to raise my children without a husband and without a father and brothers.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Is your mother still alive?

WITNESS:   No, my mother died in 1991 as well.  My mother got scared after Mthunzi had been arrested, and my mother was now sick.  She used to pray that the Lord should help her to see Mthunzi before she died.  Mthunzi was released in April and my mother died in May.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: These other kids, are they still alive?

WITNESS:   Yes, they are.  Even though I was struggling I tried to take them to school, and the youngest one went and joined the military force.  And then the girl is at home, she is not attending school, and she has got a child now.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Thanks, Mrs Sithole.  Would you please tell us more about Mthunzi up until when he died?

WITNESS:   I was very much disturbed when I lost Mthunzi.  I also get very much worried when he was arrested because he was the only child that I could rely on.  He was in standard 10 and he was repeating standard 10 at that time.  I was struggling.  I didn't have a house of my own.  I was with my mother at my mother's house with my children.  And while Mthunzi was still attending school in 1986 November I was at home.  I think it was about 10 o'clock.  I can't remember the date.  That was the day Mthunzi was arrested.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: In November is it the day when police came to your house?

WITNESS:   Yes.  Yes, police came and they searched my house.  They wanted to know where was Mthunzi, and Mthunzi was there.  He was busy doing his laundry.  They searched the house.  I was amazed what was going on and I tried to ask them what was really going on.  No one explained to me because these policemen were busy searching.  And then they took Mthunzi with them.  They closed his eyes, they handcuffed him, they took him to the car, and one - all of them were white except for one policeman.  I asked one guy, whom they said he was their boss.  I said to him what was going on, what did he do.  The only explanation that they gave  me is that he was terrorist.  I went there the next day.  I had his jersey with me.  And they asked me if I was his mother.  I told them yes, I was his real mother.  It's been a long time since this thing happened.  Lots of information I cannot actually retrieve it now, because even my health I am no longer very well.  My memory is not that well.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Take your time, Mother, because this is really a bad time for you, and you never thought you need to keep all this information to tell to the Commission because you never knew that there will be such a thing as Commission.  So don't rush yourself, take time, think about it.