Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1997-06-12

CHAIRPERSON: Our second witness Noxolo Mjila, please come forward.  Your 
sister, Thembisa Mjila, Thembisa Siwale, can also come forward.  Please stand up so 
that we can take an oath.

NOXOLO MJILA: (Duly sworn in, states).

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.

THEMBISA SIWALE: (Duly sworn in, states).

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  I will now hand over to Dr Magwaza who will lead 
you with questions.

PROF MAGWAZA: If you could forgive me please.  I will speak in English.  Thank 
you very much Noxolo and Thembisa for having come forward today to share your 
story and your experiences.  We welcome you.  Noxolo, could you tell us what 
happened on the 28th of January 1993.

NOXOLO MJILA: On the 28th of January 1993 I was with my sister at home, because my 
husband was working at night on that day.  A day before I spent a night alone.  This 
day I asked my sister to come and stay with me, because I was scared at night alone.  
Three young men came on this particular day.  One of them stood on the left side and 
the other one on the right side and the other one in the middle.  It was in Summer in 
January.  It was about eight o' clock at night.  We were listening to a story in the radio. 
 When these people entered our yard I went to them asking them whether I can help, I 
help them.  The other one on the left side said that we are looking for your husband.  I 
said do you know him, because I did not know these people.  They said that we are 
looking for your husband.  I said do you know the person you want?  This man said 
that he is my friend, I am from NU5.  I said he was not there.  He asked me where he 
was.  I said he was just around the area.  
 I was very scared of these people.  It was clear that they were up to 
something.  I thought that they wanted money or something or they wanted to rape us. 
 I was scared of them, because of the way they dressed.  The two of them had, were 
wearing balaclavas.  The other one was wearing a navy jacket.  Their hairs were 
dreadlocked.  I said my husband was around the area and it is strange that you say that 
you are his friend, because I knew all my husband's friends.  I wanted to close the door 
and this man took out a gun and he pointed me with the gun.  He then shot me in the 
shoulder and I felt pain in my arm.  We ran to the bedroom and my sister also followed 
me.  
 They entered the house whilst we were still trying to close the bedroom door.  
We were crying, calling out for our neighbours.  We were asking for forgiveness from 
them, but they were just shooting the door and he shot me again in the arm as we were 
trying to close the door.  My sister was also shot.  Three bullets in the liver, the other 
one in the thigh.  I lost strength, because I was shot.  I thought that I was going to die. 
 They then went through the bedroom saying that we had ADM weapons in the house. 
 The other one got into my bed.  There was a suitcase on top of the wardrobe.  I had a 
comforter in that suitcase.  They were looking for these weapons, but they did not find 
them in the suitcase.
 At that house, my house was empty, because my daughter-in-law just moved 
out.  They did not see these weapons.  I gave them the keys so that they can search the 
house.  They said to me you are going to tell us where your husband is.  They dragged 
me and I lost consciousness at that time and I regained consciousness outside.

PROF MAGWAZA: Thank you very much Noxolo for your quite horrendous 
experience.  Thembisa, is there anything you want to add to what Noxolo has said?

THEMBISA SIWALE: Yes there is.  When we were in the bedroom and they had closed the 
door they forcefully entered.  Perhaps I should start back from the door.  I saw 
someone there, someone I worked with at the company chemical, member of the 
union.  When I saw him I was hopeful, thinking that he would help.  However, he had 
forgotten my face.  He could not recognise me.  He is the one who got on the bed and 
looked on top of the cupboard and said here these weapons are, these ADM weapons. 
 He then pulled Lindelwa out.  I know that man, I am not doubting, I could point him 
out.  There is nothing more I would like to say.

NOXOLO MJILA: There is something I would like to add.  After we had come back from 
the hospital the police said they could not take a statement, because I was in pain.  
They then came to my house, took a statement.  A few days later the Mayor, Lulamile 
Nazo, came.  He was not yet a Mayor then.  He was together with Bonakele.  He said 
that this case should not be taken to the police as yet.  They are first going to 
investigate why this man shot us.  They then said they would come back and tell us, 
giving us feedback.  We waited for their response, for their feedback they had 
promised.  My father tried to phone Bonakele wanting to know what was going on.  
 We were still in pain.  There was nothing we could do about it.  Bonakele said 
we should go to the police.  He did not give the reasons as they had promised.  We 
were not connected to ADM at all.  Both my husband and I were not members of 
ADM.  We were not members of any organisation.  The police handling the case, 
Mqombothi, when my father went to him he said that these are cadres that he was 
dealing with.  We lost hope.  If a policeman was, if a policeman was tentative in 
helping us then and fearful, there is nothing we could do for ourselves.  Our lives have 
changed.  I am fearful.  If I am in my home I have to lock the doors all the time.  When 
I walk around I am scared, because I do not know what they wanted.  I do not know 
whether they are still watching me.  In my heart I think that they still want to murder 
me.  That is all.

PROF MAGWAZA: Okay, thank you very much.  I will just ask a few clarifying 
questions.  Can you tell us a bit what this ADM was?

NOXOLO MJILA: I do not know what ADM stands for.  However, I know that it was an 
organisation that was present here in Ciskei.

PROF MAGWAZA: You are saying that before these people came to your house, 
you were already scared and you asked your sister to be with you.  What was making 
you so fearful?  Were you already suspecting that people would come into your 
house?

NOXOLO MJILA: As I requested my sister to come stay with me, the reason behind that 
was that I was not use to being on my own.  My husband was on night shift that 
particular night.  I would ask anyone to come and spend the night with me.  
Sometimes my cousin if I was alone, just to talk to.

PROF MAGWAZA: Yes, okay.  Were you members of any organisation or was your 
husband a member of any organisation, political organisation?  Was he involved in 
politics?

NOXOLO MJILA: No Mam.

PROF MAGWAZA: No.  Nobody in the family?  You, the people who assaulted 
were ANC members.  Is that right?

NOXOLO MJILA: Yes.

PROF MAGWAZA: How did you identify them?

NOXOLO MJILA: My sister recognised the one, a man she had worked with.  Then I just 
put two and two together, because this man worked for COSATU.

PROF MAGWAZA: Okay.  One last question.  What do you expect the Commission 
to do for you, both of you, and your sister?  What are you expecting from the 
Commission?