Amnesty Hearings — Vanderbijlpark — 1998-08-12

MR TSHABANGU: Yes, I do confirm that.  Especially if I were to briefly state something about Teacher Mbele.  Teacher Mbele did teach us while we were doing standard three in primary school.
	When the violence erupted and people were burnt, I was very close to Mr Mbele.  He was like a friend even though he was older than me.  I used to visit him, we could sit and watch TV together or do things like friends.
	The reason why he was killed, I think it was because of the visit that I paid him together with my friend who passed away, Sidiso.  We visited Teacher, Mr Mbele.  We asked to sleep in his house.  We stayed there and we had a wonderful time.
	A friend of mine was burnt the same day with Mr Mbele, was Fere.  On the following day when we were to leave, we got a message that he had been necklaced, burnt with a tyre and Fere was also necklaced.
	I think what caused the death was because of the visit we paid to him.

MR STRYDOM: Approximately how long was that before the attack on Boipatong?

MR TSHABANGU: I can't say.  Let me say I don't remember.

CHAIRPERSON: Would it have been one year or two years before?

MR TSHABANGU: If I am not mistaken, I think it is less than six months.  If I remember well.

MR LAX: Sorry Mr Strydom, can you just repeat the name of the second person, I just didn't catch it properly.  Your friend, not Teacher Mbele the other person.

MR TSHABANGU: Fere.

MR LAX: Was that his surname or his first name?

MR TSHABANGU: It is the name through which we knew him.  We used to know him, he was known as Mfere Fere and we as his friends, we used to call him Fere.

MR STRYDOM: Now, there was already mention of the meetings that took place before the attack on Boipatong.  I want you to comment and state your version of what happened at the meeting where Mr Mkhize was chairing that meeting before the attack.

MR TSHABANGU: On that day, we were asked or requested to attend a meeting.  We gathered and a lot of things were discussed.
	Up to a stage where Mkhize had to take the stage and speak, Mkhize said stay vigilant and be prepared for a battle against the people who are always killing you, and after that, we dispersed.
	He said he can't say which day, what time and where, but we should always be ready.

MR STRYDOM: What did you understand by that?

MR TSHABANGU: I understood this to mean that we should be prepared for the fight or battle.

MR STRYDOM: After that, but before the attack, did you hear anything further about the possibility of an attack on any Vaal community?

MR TSHABANGU: I am left behind, can you please repeat your question.

MR STRYDOM: After that meeting where Mr Mkhize said those things which you have just mentioned, did you hear anything further about the attack before the 17th of June 1992?

MR TSHABANGU: No, I didn't hear anything.

MR STRYDOM: What happened then on the 17th of June 1992?

MR TSHABANGU: The trumpet was blown, we went to the stadium.  Arriving at the stadium, Mr Mkhize addressed us telling us that we should go fetch our arms because the day has arrived.  I will say women and children did come to the stadium, they were requested to go back to the hostel.
	We, the men, went back and took our arms.  I personally fetched a knopkierie and the others went back to fetch whatever weapons they had and we went back to the stadium.
	We were told while we were in the stadium, that there are firearms, those who want to use them, can come and collect them.  I was one of those who wanted an AK47 and because the number was small, the number of firearms was not enough I found that they had already finished all the AK47's, so I was armed with a knopkierie.  We were sprinkled with intelezi and then we left KwaMadala hostel.

MR STRYDOM: At the stadium when you arrived back with your knopkierie, who was the people in control?

CHAIRPERSON: Were you carrying a knopkierie or a stick?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes, it is a knopkierie.

CHAIRPERSON: You were carrying an ordinary stick?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes, an ordinary stick.  When I am referring to stick, I don't mean a small stick that you can pick from a tree, I mean a stick, big stick which you can hit a person to the extent that he can die.

MR STRYDOM: I asked you who the people in control were at the stadium when you returned with the stick?

MR TSHABANGU: I won't remember exactly those people.  I think Mkhize was one of the people who were in charge at the stadium.

MR STRYDOM: Do you remember what instructions if any, was given at the stadium before you left the hostel?

MR TSHABANGU: I never heard any instruction discussed.

MR STRYDOM: Why did you decide to join the group to go to Boipatong?

MR TSHABANGU: I think we have the common suffering, the people who stay within the KwaMadala hostel, as opposed to those who were staying outside the hostel.  Therefore I identified myself with them, with reference to things like burning and other many things.
	We were also the victims because the ANC attacks were directed against us.  I think there are many reasons, but I think the few that I mention are the most important reasons why I identified with the group and I accompanied them.

MR STRYDOM: Did you realise that some people may identify you in Boipatong?

INTERPRETER: Please may you repeat the last part of your statement?

MR STRYDOM: Did the applicant realise that certain people may identify him in Boipatong?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes, it did come to my mind.

MR STRYDOM: But why did you go nevertheless?

MR TSHABANGU: I have already convinced myself that I won't enter the houses because it was going to be easy for them to recognise me in the houses.  I stayed in that place for more than 20 years.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you also called Nana?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: I want you to have a look at the aerial photograph in front of you, that is Exhibit M1.  Can you just show the route and explain the route that the group followed into Boipatong?

MR TSHABANGU: I don't know where I have to start, is this the line, a railway line?

MR STRYDOM: Just have a look at the Exhibit, do you understand the Exhibit.  Do you see the hostel, do you see Boipatong townships and do you see the factories?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Did you leave the hostel through the main gate?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Did you - I am going to lead the witness where I think there is no dispute, did you follow the route adjacent to the tar or in the tar towards Frikkie Meyer Boulevard?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Close to the intersection of Nobel Boulevard and Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, one can see a certain area with what appears to be a hedge or trees surrounding that area.  Can you just explain what that is?

MR TSHABANGU: It is a nursery.  We went behind it.

MR STRYDOM: If you say behind it, did the group move through the veld towards that pedestrian bridge?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Do you see on the Exhibit what appears to be a tree next to the township?

MR TSHABANGU: If you are referring to point K, yes.

MR STRYDOM: Did the group move passed that tree?

MR TSHABANGU: What happened is when we arrived under the tree, we all sat down.  Then we divided into two groups and walked down Msheshwe Street and entering Boipatong.

MR STRYDOM: Msheshwe Street is the most southern street of Boipatong, is that correct?

MR TSHABANGU: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Which group were you?

MR TSHABANGU: I was in  Mr Qonqo's group.

MR STRYDOM: Where did that group enter Boipatong?

MR TSHABANGU: We proceeded along Msheshwe Street, we turned up and entered Leqwa Street.

MR STRYDOM: Did anything of note happen in that area?