Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1997-06-11

CHAIRPERSON: We would like to call Mandla Tobezweni to come forward.  Mandla Tobezweni, we welcome you.  We would like Reverend Xundu to help you take an oath.

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: (Duly sworn in, states).

REV XUNDU: Thank you Mr Chairperson, he has been properly sworn in.

CHAIRPERSON: Tiny Maya.

MS MAYA: Thank you Mr Chairperson.  Mr Tobezweni, your story before the Commission today concerns yourself.  You were arrested and tortured in Ciskei, especially 1987.  Is that correct?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: Yes, that is correct.

MS MAYA: I will now give you time to tell us your story, briefly.

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: Thank you.  On the 20th of July 1987 at about half past two, I was at work at that time. I was called to the office.  I thought that they called me, because I had a telephone call.   When I got to the office there were White men from CBA and Cambridge.  They called me inside.  They told me to go with them to Cambridge.  I said to them that I left my jacket in the locker.  They told me to go with them as I was.  We went at about three and there was another worker who was taken with that car.  When we were near the John Vorster Bridge, one White man said that I had a link with a banned organisation.  I did not answer that.
 We got to Cambridge.  There was an album in Cambridge.  He paged through this album looking for a particular person, but he did not find the photograph of this person.  He then took me to a Ford Sierra.  He told me to put my duster coat in my face.  When we passed Highgate I peeped through, because I wanted to know where they were taking me to.  They were talking with each other at the time.  What I forgot is that when they did not the photograph in that album they said that I am going to tell them the truth in Mdantsane.  When we got to Mdantsane they were angry and they dragged me and they were pushing me towards the burglar proofs in Cambridge.

MS MAYA: Before you can go forward, Mr Tobezweni, I have a request.  Unfortunately, the statement before us shows us that the names of the police who tortured you are not here and that means that you cannot mention these names here.  We only heard about their names on Sunday when we were talking to you.  I would like you not to mention their names, because they are not in your statement.  You may proceed.

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: They put, they took me to the office in Mdantsane and when I got there, there were about 16 Security Branch officers.  They told me to sit down.  I sat down.  They asked me about Sipho Dlomo.  I said I do not know him.  They said that I was going to tell them the truth.  They put me in a table and they hand-cuffed my legs.  They also hand-cuffed my, they tied my hands behind, putting a plastic in my face asking whether I knew Sipho Dlomo.

MS MAYA: Where did they put the plastic?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: They put the plastic in my face.  I said that I did not know Sipho Dlomo.  They asked me about Mathemba Vuso.  I said, yes, I knew Mathemba Vuso, we use to play soccer together.  They asked me where he was.  I said I do not know.  They said that you are going to tell us the truth.  They put a plastic again saying that what I was saying, they were going to write it down.  They put a tube in my face for a long time.  My hands were tied behind and I was also hand-cuffed in my legs.  The tube was still in my face.  I lost strength.

MS MAYA: For how long did they do this to you?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: We got there at half past three in the police station.  They did this up until half past five.

MS MAYA: After this did they release you or were you arrested?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: I was taken by the police, they took me to NU12.  In NU12 they put me in cell number eight.  It was dark at that time.  The police who was there showed me blankets, toilet and water.  I was feeling pain at that time.  After that the police locked me inside and left me there.  I was feeling pain in that cell and the next morning at about eight they came and look at me.  I was still there.  The following day, on the 22nd, I was arrested on the 20th and on the 22nd of July they came again.  They called me as GCN24 and they called my name out.  On the way one police asked me whether I went, I knew Port Elizabeth.  I said that, yes, I use to go to Port Elizabeth.  He asked me whether I knew Buing.  I said, no, I do not know that.  Can I mention their names?

MS MAYA: No, do not mention them Mr Tobezweni.  Thank you.

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: They then took two tables, they took a plank about a metre long.  They placed this plank in my arms and between my legs and my arms.  They tied it, asked where Mathemba was.  I said I do not know.

MS MAYA: Let us go back, we will come back to this issue.  Why were they arresting you?  Did you have any connection with political organisation in the township or what was happening?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: I did not have any connections with political activities.

MS MAYA: The people who were asked from you, where, who are they?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: Mathemba Vuso was playing soccer with me.  He left in 1982, left for Johannesburg to look for work.

MS MAYA: After he left to Johannesburg was there any connection between the two of you?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: No.

MS MAYA: The people who were in exile, who came back were you in connection with them?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: He just came back saying that he was from Johannesburg.  He came together with his friend.  He introduced me to the friend, they left again.

MS MAYA: You were not aware that they were coming from exile?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: No, I was not aware.

MS MAYA: Thank you.  Please continue.

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: They tortured me, assaulting me, asking me about his friend, Mathemba.  They asked me where he was staying.  I said I do not know.  They put plastics in my face and they put a tube in my face from ten o' clock to two o' clock.

MS MAYA: This torture, when did it stop?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: I was released on the 20th of October.

MS MAYA: All this time you were being tortured in this way?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: I was tortured on Monday and on a Wednesday.  Especially on a Wednesday.

MS MAYA: Why did they, what happened, why did they stop torturing you?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: They stopped torturing me when one man came.  This man was also arrested.

MS MAYA: You said that the name was, the man was Sindi Dlangula?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: Yes.  I pretended to be dead, because they put a plastic in my face.  As a result of that I could not breathe.  After putting off the plastic they would put on a tube in my face.  I pretended to be dead, because I could not breathe.  They were scared at that time.  They tried to beat me in my thighs with a sjambok and I could not move.  They then took a cigarette, they burnt me with the cigarette and they used seven cigarettes.  They wanted me to wake up and I was relaxed at the time, because they put off the tube in my face.

MS MAYA: When Sindi Dlangula got in they stopped torturing you?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: I urinated myself and I was trying to look around to these people who were torturing me.  While I was still trying to wake up they kicked me again and I could not breathe again, but I managed to get up and I sat in the chair and Sipho got in.

MS MAYA: You said that you were released in October.  What happened?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: I saw the police coming in October telling me I was released.

MS MAYA: Did you appear in a Court of Law?

MANDLA TOBEZWENI: No.

MS MAYA: As you were tortured in this way and you got injured, did you lay a charge or did you go to any attorneys for advice?