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

CHAIRPERSON: And how old are they?  Are they still at school?    /---   The

CHAIRPERSON: ---   The last-born is at school and she is Albertina Mutsi, 11 years old.  She is the only one attending school and the others are now grown-ups and the other one has got her own family.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  I believe that Sipho was the only son.

WITNESS:   That's correct, Sir.

CHAIRPERSON: What is Sipho's date of birth?  When was he born?

WITNESS:   He was born on the 22nd of December 1967.

CHAIRPERSON: 22nd December 1967.

WITNESS:   That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Mama, I will ask you to tell us about Sipho's involvement and also the harassment by members of the police.  Can I establish first, were they the South African Police or the members of the security branch, do you know?

WITNESS:   He was harassed ... (intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: Maybe before you start, can you just clarify for us here whether they were South African Police or from the special branch?

WITNESS:   It was the special branch.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Could you please start by telling us Sipho's involvement and the subsequent harassment by members of the special branch?   Probably you are going to stop at the time when they arrested him because I think Silo and Patrick will take it from there and then I'll come back to you again.  Thank you.

WITNESS:   When I began to realise that Sipho was a political activist it was then that many policemen and the Mogoregi who was named "Fly" in Tabong who was a special branch member together with a white man called Venter, together with Piet, they were coming to visit him many times look for him then I kepT on asking, "Why do you look for him?"  They say, "We're going to discuss with him and then we'll bring him home."  They would take him and when he  came back he would lose appetite, he would not be able to drink water or even milk.  He would say he cannot even swallow.  Then he would be silent until I kept on asking that, "Exactly what's happening?", then he said, "There's nothing.  I don't know why these people are coming to be many times."  Then they said, "There's nothing wrong which he did.  We're just asking him questions."  That is the life he was living week in, week out until the time I made him to flee because I realised that I'm going to lose him.  Then he went away and then came back.  Then he joined by Silo Ditebe where they were able to hide themselves.  Then the other group called Matsibi Sokolode and Hothuli whom they came to look for him.  Then I told him that he went to Wesselsbron.  Because he's a person who's an artist he's at Wesselsbron.  He has been asked by shop owners to come and decorate at their shops.  You'd find him on the windows in one of the shops in town.  I was creating an opportunity so that I'll be able to go and notify them to hide themselves.  I told those people that he went to Wesselsbron.  They kept on coming looking for him.  At times they would find him.  When Matsibi Sokolode and Hothuli said to me I should reprimand him.  If I don't reprimand him, I'll wake up when he's far away where I cannot find him again.  So I tried to reprimand him.  Then one day he came to sleep at home.  As I was staying with a friend.  Then I whispered to tell him about the whole situation.  That person is Jacob Thabosi Tsake.  Then I said to him the Hothuli company said they're going to come back.  Then if they're going to get him, I should know that it's going to be win or lose  situation.  Then I said I'm going to use your wardrobe to hide him.  Then this man kept quiet.  He didn't say yes or no.  I said, because I've no chance.  I don't know where I should take him to.  They would look for him wherever he was.  Then I said at the time when they arrived, I'll go to the small bedroom then I would wake him up first before I opened the door.  I was not successful in that attempt.  I ... (inaudible) ... him alone.  His sister's children were there and my two daughters were there.  I was still pregnant with Albertina.  They didn't know my attempt, it was only Jacob who knew.  I was surprised when I was trying to walk slowly to the bedroom to find that this door which I thought I would keep on opening it so that it cannot make any noise to give them a sign that I'm trying to make an attempt to make him flee, I found that it was closed.  I tried to open it but it made a noise.  When I opened the bedroom, I found that the window - it was the window which didn't have curtains, but the curtains were removed and hanged on top.  The window acted as if it is a window without curtains.  When I tried to wake him up, one policeman said, "We are already here.  Don't try to hide him.  We knew that he's here.  We saw him even before you tried to make him escape."  I didn't have any alternative I had to wake him up so that they should not see him first because they would wake him roughly then they would start kicking and clapping.  I used to wake him up first before I opened the door.  Then I said, "Wake up.  Those people are here.  There's no change they have seen you."  Then I asked them that who has pulled over the curtains.  Then I didn't get an  answer.  Even today I didn't get an answer.  Even if when the doors were closed but at that day the curtains were rolled up and his bed was just next to the window.  Then I could see that the person who was rolling up the curtains was making it possible for the police to see him clearly.  It went on.  The took him and brought him back.  I gave him R4,00 to leave and go to a place where he can hide because now I can see that there is an enemy in the house whom we are living with.  This enemy whom I don't know.  So please if you can go to a certain place.  Then he went.  It was on a Thursday when I saw him for the last time.  It was then that on Saturday that I learnt that he was arrested.  Then the person called Sichaba came to inform me, who is staying at Odendaalsrus, to bring be an information that Sipho has been arrested.  But he looked upset.  Then I said as they used to take him and bring him back, maybe he will come back.  On Saturday I didn't see him.  On Sunday I went to the charge office to try to find out what is he charged for.  Then they old me that the police called Pele welcomed me.  Then he said there is no help, as he was hit by the car by a minister of the Lutheran Church.  Even this case of being hit by a car, we have cancelled it.  We're not going to continue that because now he is interfering with the government therefore we have no time for the case.  I asked why he was arrested.  They told me that he's sticking his fingers right into the business of the government.  Then I asked, "Can I give him these new clothes?"  They I said, "I want to see him."  Then I asked them as to whether is he well.  Then they said, "How are you talking?"  Then I said, "I want  to know as to whether he's still healthy."  He doesn't have scratches because I told you that you always come at home then I'm asking that, "Yes, you always take him.  You must bring him healthy without any scratches, without any scar."  They told me that he has no scars, he has no wounds.  That is then that David Tsijake who is the son to Jacob Tsijake, they told him that Hothuli took him.  He was taken to the charge office.  Then he found Sipho lying down on the floor and the blood was on the floor mixed with water showing that he was poured with water.  His hands were tied at the back.  Then wen Hothuli entered, he said when he asked Sithole as to whether, "Has this dog made himself dead."  That's when Sithole answered Hothuli.  He said, "I said he should come with a stretcher and out this dog to the mortuary.  When he has last seen his grandfather he will wake up."  This Sithole who has already died now, he was an adjutant at that time.