Human Rights Violation Hearings — Ladybrand — 1997-06-25

WITNESS:   I just forgot his name, but the policeman who was with me on that day can be in a position to give the name of the doctor.  He was Constable Nketso.  I think he can also be a witness to this effect, that the doctor mentioned that he doesn't want to affect his profession.  He just examined me and gave me medication, and a file was not even opened in my name.  I still have a problem with my eyes, and I have developed ulcers.  The ulcers developed during the hunger strike, and it was discovered that I have ulcers.  I even stole one of the documents at the clinic to show that I am still undergoing treatment.  These are the two things that trouble me a lot.  I have been assaulted several times.  The Mangope people also assaulted me.  I never opened a case against the Mangope people because it was a separate government, and I was just happy that they released me.  But they released me after heavily assaulting me, and when I arrived at home I did not lay charges against them.  Now, this whole thing affected my parents, especially my mother.  She passed away in 1993.  She was against me being involved in politics.  Mr Likotsi has alluded to the fact that we did not inform our parents.  It is true, because our parents were members of Dikwankwetla.  Now, everything that we were doing they saw it as being done against the government.  She was affected, and my first-born was also affected.  My marriage was also destroyed because of these problems.  Sometimes I am in prison, and my wife turned into an alcoholic.  She was now a jealous person, and in 1990 she took a decision that we should separate.  I was a single father now, raising the children, and I decided to remarry, and I am happy that I am still a married man and I have a family.  That's what makes me happy, although I am not working.  I am expecting my child in October.  Now, these are the problems that I have, and I think this has affected me.  Because of my involvement I could bear the pain.  This is briefly my story.  I request the Commission to investigate the IBL issue.  It was collaborating with the National Party Government.  They were provided with weapons.  There was a well-known hit squad, a notorious hit squad, and police could not arrest them.  Special people were employed to service in these hit squads.  Dikwankwetla also had its own hit squad.  The third issue that I would like the Commission to investigate is that Mr Tsumela, the deputy-commissioner, was the station commander at that time.  He has a lot of information.  Many people died, and the members of their families were forced to bury them without revealing anything.  Such issues ended up nowhere.  He is now the commissioner of the Free State.  He should come out clear.  He should tell the truth in all these things.  I thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: It's a bit tricky because we cannot mention his name here.  Okay, I think basically you have mentioned the things that you would like the Commission to do - the investigation of the IBL, and I also think your physical health suffered as a result of all those assaults, and also you are not working.  You are not working because you can't find work or because you are not feeling well?

WITNESS:  I am not working because I don't get employed.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you tell me what happened to Moses Mhlapo?

WITNESS:  Moses Mhlapo was reinstated in the company, and he individually resigned.  He is now owning taxis.  But he was also assaulted.  That is on the day we were arrested together.

CHAIRPERSON: Okay, I will ask my colleague if he has some questions.

MR LAX: I don't really have a question, I just have a comment to make, and that is that you were one of many thousands of people who were detained, and the issue of that hunger strike was a very important issue in breaking emergency, as it was then.  I just want to say that if I remember correctly it started Bloemfontein, that hunger strike, and spread to all the other prisons around the country, so the example your people set took a big campaign around the country.  I just wanted to make that comment.

WITNESS:   I thank you also.  I do not know what happened to Mr Galegi, because his wife did not submit a statement.  You know, his death is a mystery.  I do not believe that appendix can kill a person.  I wish that Mr Galegi's death be investigated.

CHAIRPERSON: You have contacted his wife?

WITNESS:   I had contact, but I think she has moved back to Durban.  I do not know her whereabouts in Durban.  She went back to Durban.  His wife is Dr Hlongwane.  She is a medical doctor.

CHAIRPERSON: Ja, it will be quite important for us to trace her, but if there is any information you can help us that would be useful.  This is quite a very heart-rending type of experience.  I don't know how you have survived.  Your presentation has been quite long, but it was worth it.  I don't know think we would have been able to get a full picture of all the experiences if you have been any shorter in your presentation.  And again it's just the courage of young people.  I mean you were detained again and again, tortured endlessly, but you never gave up, and you are here today to give a type of testimony of your courage.  I wish that this time could be the time for you to reap the fruits of all the struggle you fought for.  Perhaps you shouldn't be sitting here unemployed, you should be beginning to build up your life with your new wife, because all those years are very hard for you.  We are going to include all your requests and your needs to our recommendations.  As we have said again and again, there is a reparation policy which will be implemented by the Government.  It might take a longer time to be implemented, but we are going to submit all your requests and needs as part of those broader recommendations.  Thank you very much again.  We have lots of respect for you.

WITNESS:   I also thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: LUNCH  ADJOURNMENT

CHAIRPERSON: /ON RESUMPTION

CHAIRPERSON: ON RESUMPTION

CHAIRPERSON: We welcome you back.  Before we start with our afternoon session I would like to introduce you to our Commissioner, and also our Regional Convenor for the TRC Office in KwaZulu-Natal/Free State, Mr Richard Lyster, sitting on my extreme left.  He will be here not only for this session, but for tomorrow as well.
I will now like to call our next witness, Fokwane Eunice Mokhothu.  (Pause)  We greet you, Mrs Mokhothu.

FOKWANE EUNICE MOKHOTHU: Yes, good day.  I am fine, and how are you?

CHAIRPERSON: We know you have been waiting for a long time since the morning.  Thank you very much for being so patient.  Before we start with your story Mr Richard Lyster will help you take an oath.

FOKWANE EUNICE MOKHOTHU: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

MR LYSTER: We welcome you here today, Mrs Mokhothu.  As Dr Magwaza said you have waited a long time to give this evidence, and you have also come from a long, long way away.  You have come from Bothaville, which we know is a long way from Ladybrand, and we are glad that you have come all this way to tell us a story which is obviously very important to you.  You are going to tell us about your son, Elliot Mebotsang Mokhothu, who was arrested and detained in Bothaville in 1985.  Now, just before you tell us about that incident can you just give us an idea how many other children do you have, or do you have any other children?

WITNESS:   Yes, M'Lord.  I am very sorry that my voice is not well.  I have five children.  They are all boys.  Four of them - or three of them have their own families, and this other one is just about to get married.  Elliot was the last-born.  I thank you.

MR LYSTER: And are you being looked after by your family?  Are you being supported?  We can see that you're an old lady now.  Are you on pension?  How do you support yourself?

WITNESS:   I depend on the pension because my husband died, the father to my children.