Human Rights Violation Hearings — Durban — 1996-08-28

WITNESS:  Bhekumuzi is still attending school, as well as Mzwandile, Silindile, Phindile.  The other one had to stop school because she had certain problems that led to her not going to school any more.  There is another one who could not continue with her studies. What standard did that one leave?   ---   She had done matric, and wanted to further her studies, but she could not continue.

KHOZA MGOJO: Does she want to further her studies?

WITNESS:   Yes, she would like to further her studies.

KHOZA MGOJO: At the time when this incident took place did your family belong to any political organisation?

WITNESS:   No, we did not belong to any political organisation.  We were just ordinary citizens.

KHOZA MGOJO: What about your parents?

WITNESS:   As well as our parents.  They were not involved in any political activity.

KHOZA MGOJO: When were your parents born?

WITNESS:   I don't remember their dates of birth, but it is in their death certificate.

KHOZA MGOJO: I'll remind you wherever you have forgotten.  In April 1990, that is on the 11th, at night, what happened?

WITNESS:   It was at about quarter to 10 in the evening.  Myself and my younger sister we were sitting in the living-room.  My parents had already gone into the bedroom, but they were not yet asleep.  As we were just sitting we heard some movements outside, and we heard some movement on the roof.  Then I stood up, because I was sitting next to the door.  I stood up and I saw some shadows outside, and I heard - I could smell some petrol at that stage.  When my sister tried to stand up she couldn't because she is paralysed.  That is Nombuso Xaba.  She is paralysed, so she could not stand up properly.  She was knitting jerseys and I was doing dressmaking.  The children were asleep at that moment.  At the time I stood up I went to the dining-room door because I could hear them hitting the back door.  I peeped through the curtain.  Outside it was dark, but inside the house there was some light.  I switched off the lights inside the house and I switched on the lights outside the house, and I could see a group of people.  They were full in the yard, and they were busy hitting the door, and I went into my parents' bedroom and I found that they were awake already.  They asked me what was happening.  I told them I did not know what was happening.  Just at that moment the door was kicked open, and when the door got opened the group of people came inside the house and they met me.  Just as I was waiting there they opened the other door.  Now I was caught in the middle.  They were getting in from the back as well as the front door.

KHOZA MGOJO: Did you see them?   Can you identify them?

WITNESS:   Yes, I knew them.  I could see them.

KHOZA MGOJO: Amongst the people who forced the door open is it true that there was Big Boy?

WITNESS:   Yes, it is correct.   Big Boy's surname is Shezi.   ---   That is correct.

KHOZA MGOJO: Is it correct that there was also Mapipi?  Mapipi's surname was Shezi.  As well as Qeqeza.  Qeqeza's surname was Shezi.  And Nana.  Nana is a male.  Is it correct that there was also Siphiwe Jiyane?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

KHOZA MGOJO: As well as Lunga Zwane, as well as Peter Shangase?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

KHOZA MGOJO: And Bhekizenzo Cele.

WITNESS:   That is correct.

KHOZA MGOJO: All of those people were staying in the neighbourhood?

WITNESS:   Yes, they grew up in front of me, because most of them were younger than me.  I could say that we grew up together, but I regarded them as children because they were younger than me. Was there any clash that took place between your family and them?   ---   No, there was no clash that took place.  They never liked us, but there was no clash in particular.

KHOZA MGOJO: Is there any reason why they did not like you?

WITNESS:  I could say it was jealousy, because I don't have any reason that I could pinpoint for their behaviour.

KHOZA MGOJO: What jealousy were they having?

WITNESS:   I think because my parents were hard workers, and they had actually refurbished the house and they had done some renovations, and we were trying to make life better for ourselves, and I think that's where their jealousy stemmed from.

KHOZA MGOJO: Did they belong to any political organisation?

WITNESS:  Yes, they were ANC comrades.

KHOZA MGOJO: Is it correct that one of them pointed a gun at your head?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

KHOZA MGOJO: And the other ones had assegais, axes, as well as knives?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

KHOZA MGOJO: What did they say to you?

WITNESS:   They said, "Bitch, we want your mother."  They said they wanted my mother, and I asked them as to what they were going to do with my mother.  They told me that I should not be asking them questions, and they were pointing guns at me, knives, as well as axes, and I reversed towards my mother's bedroom and I opened the door.  As I was opening the door I discovered that my mother, as well as father, were now standing, they were on their feet, and my mother asked them as to what they wanted.  They never asked any questions or answered.  One of them, that is Big Boy, who was having a large axe, went and chopped my mother's head right in front of me.  He chopped my mother's head.  At the time when he hit my mother with the axe I saw my mother lifting her hands up, and she came to my chest, she staggered and put her head on my chest.

KHOZA MGOJO: You must take your time.  We do understand that you were traumatised, and this is a very painful experience.  You should take your time.  (Pause)  It's a very traumatic experience to see your parent being hacked to death right in front of you.  It's very traumatising.  She was hacked to death like an animal.  Now you grabbed your mother.

WITNESS:   At that time they were pulling me as well as my mother, and I was also pulling her, because at that time she was powerless, and I was sort of dragging her out of the house.  The other one was having a panga, and they hacked her with a panga.  Whoever had a weapon was busy hacking my mother as I was holding her.  I took her outside the house.  As I was at the gate I turned my back towards the house.  I do not know what happened at that time in the house.  Then I went out, and as I got to the gate my mother was not screaming or crying.  She was quiet all the time, and I thought she had died at that time, but when I got to the gate my mother jumped and she fell.

KHOZA MGOJO: Is it correct that they still stabbed your mother whilst she was outside?

WITNESS:   Yes, they continued stabbing her.  They only stopped stabbing her when she fell to the ground.

KHOZA MGOJO: Is it true that at that time she had fallen down they started setting her alight?

WITNESS:   At that time Peter poured petrol over my mother, then Mapipi set my mother alight.

KHOZA MGOJO: Peter?