Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bloemfontein — UNKNOWN

WITNESS: My story is this. It was on a Sunday when T K Mopedehad come to Botshabelo. It was a Sunday. On that Sunday I didn't go to church,and I went to listen to T K Mopede's speech with regard to us being Dikwankwetla.When he had finished delivering his speech we went back home. We dispersed,we went to our respective places. On our way back apparently there were Comradeswho were watching us. There were two of us. As we were on the way home theycame and they grabbed me by the neck. I thought they were just joking, but whenI looked I realised that it was quite a group. There were children, boys andgirls. They picked up stones. They were busy following us. We even went into another man's yard.The woman there chased us out of the yard. We didn't even know the people. Theykept on harassing us. They even pelted us with stones. They pelted me with astone on my right shoulder because I was trying to protect the gentleman withwhom I was going. As I was doing that the stone hit me on the ribs. I felt aterrible pain on the ribs. I tried to go on as if I wasn't feeling any pain.I tried to fight back, but they were busy pelting us with stones. At that timepolice appeared. They were driving the big kombi. What surprised me was thatthey didn't come to where we were, but they just went around the street, whichmeant they gave the Comrades a chance to run away. They chased them and theComrades ran away. I had fallen down at that stage, and the person I was withhad also fallen down. I dusted myself off and I was taken by the people whoknow me. I was taken home. When I got home I found that I wasn't feeling well,I couldn't breathe properly. My grandson heard. He took me in his car to thehospital. When I got to the hospital I spent a long time without being attendedto. By the time they came to me it was already in the afternoon on that Sunday.Then they took me to the x-rays. They just gave me tablets and said I must gohome, they'll see what to do with me. I was taken home. I slept at home. Thefollowing day I could not bear the pain. I couldn't breathe properly. My shoulderwas very painful. I came to Bloemfontein to see Dr Smith. He is the one whotried to help me. Because I did not have money I couldn't go back to be re-attended.Because of my ribs that were broken Dr Smith told me that had I delayed I couldhave died, but he helped me tremendously. So I went to him twiceand I got much help. I was supposed to have gone to him again but I could notafford to, because my health isn't quite well. Thereafter we were called tothe offices in Botshabelo. When we got there we found that it was a group ofpeople. There were attorneys from Bloemfontein. We couldn't discuss anythingbecause the ANC members asked that this case be dropped, and that the Dikwankwetlagroup shouldn't be assaulted. This matter ended unresolved. Thereafter I gota letter that said I should go to Botshabelo office. Then I went there. Thenthey asked me about this whole thing that took place. I explained it to them.That's where I'll end.

MRS GCABASHE: Thank you, Mr Pistol. In order for us to clarify certain issueswe'll ask a few questions. You said in February 1990 that is the day on whichyou were assaulted. You told us that we were next to Emmen, or you were closeto Emmen. That is a place. Just explain what sort of a place is Emmen.

WITNESS: Thatplace where we were assaulted?

MRS GCABASHE: Yes, the place called Emmen. Just tell us more about it. ---They just told me it's Emmen, but I wasn't aware, I didn't know it was Emmen.

MRS GCABASHE: Is it the name of the area?

WITNESS: No, it's the name of the street.It wasn't explained to me as to whether it was a place or what, because I didn'tknow the place, but it's not very far. It's in the M Section, from where Mopedewas delivering his speech.

MRS GCABASHE: You said you were taken to the hospital at Universitas. Whotook you to the hospital?

WITNESS: Yes, the hospital in Bloemfontein, Universitas.It was another boy that is my grandchild. He took me in his car and took meto the hospital.

MRS GCABASHE: What's his name?

WITNESS: The name of the son? The name of the grandsonis Thoko. It's Thoko. It's the son of my daughter.

MRS GCABASHE: You said when you were at the hospital they took you for x-raytests.

WITNESS: Yes, they did.

MRS GCABASHE: Did they ever explain to you as to what were the results ofthe x-rays?

WITNESS: No, I was never told anything.

MRS GCABASHE: Were you given your records?

WITNESS: They never gave me anything.They never gave me the papers. Dr Smith asked me where they were. I told himthat I don't have any knowledge as to where they were. Dr Smith wanted to getthe doctor who was treating me, but I didn't know, I had no details, but hewas at the Botshabelo Hospital.

MRS GCABASHE: You said a Casspir arrived. Were there any people arrestedamongst the group? Were there any arrests made on that particular day?

WITNESS: No,they never arrested anyone. They didn't even make a follow-up, none whatsoever.

MRS GCABASHE: You said you went to Dr Smith. Do you have any report fromDr Smith that he attended to you?

WITNESS: I do have a report from Dr Smith. I dohave them at home. I even know where he stays.

MRS GCABASHE: If we would like you to give us those papers would you be ableto do so?

WITNESS: Dr Smith is next to - opposite to Listen, where there is SANTA.There is a house where he is having his surgery.

MRS GCABASHE: Do you have any letters or documentation? Do you have a reportas to his examination?

WITNESS: Even if they  were there probably the children had already thrown them away.

MRS GCABASHE: You said you were called to Botshabelo, you were called towhere there were attorneys. Who called you to this meeting?

WITNESS: You mean theattorneys meeting? I don't know who called us, because when we were called onthat day we just went there as a group. The attorneys were from Bloemfontein.If there were not three, there were four or five. I don't know any one of them,but they addressed this matter. That's where it ended with these attorneys.

MRS GCABASHE: Were they talking about the assault by the youths? Were theyaddressing you with regard to the assaults?

WITNESS: Yes, they had come to addressthat matter.

MRS GCABASHE: Thereafter what did they do for you? What did these attorneysdo to help you?

WITNESS: Absolutely nothing. It just ended there, because they weresaying ANC had said that this matter must never ever happen again. That's whereit ended. They said they were requesting us - they were requesting the ANC neverever to trouble people again, and that's where it must end.

MRS GCABASHE: In your statement you gave testimony about Nthako Vusi Johannes.You said he's your witness. You said he's the one you were with when you gotassaulted. Is he still around if we would like to talk to him with regard tothis matter?

WITNESS: I can't understand your question.

MRS GCABASHE: If we would like to speak to Johannes is there any way we canget hold of him?

WITNESS: Maybe you can get him. He is still around.

MRS GCABASHE: Mr Pistol, I thank you very much. I feel for you. You werea victim of circumstances, but we hope that these  /days are

MRS GCABASHE: days are now gone by. They belong to the past. I thank youvery much. I'll hand over to our Chairman.

MR DLAMINI: Thank you, Mr Chairman. Babu Pistol, canI ask one or two clarifying questions? What is the present relationship betweenDikwankwetla Party and the ANC? Do you still have harassment from the ANC Comrades?--- Right now it seems as if they have actually subsided. They are no longeras wild as before. It seems as if they have gone down. They are not as violentas before, because at that time you couldn't even go outside without requestingpermission from them.