Human Rights Violation Hearings — Pietermaritzburg — UNKNOWN

MR SINGH:  I have got one question that I would like you to clarify, Mr Mngadi.  I have been listening to this Seven Days War.  The previous witness says it could not be called a Seven Days War because there was no war, but people were being attacked, maimed and killed.  But the way you put it you put it as if there was a fight, different groups fighting.  I wish to know from you that as the residents, or former residents, of Ashdown, was it different from other areas?  Did you have any arms and did you fight or ward off the attacks?

WITNESS:   What I can say from my own perspective is that we were fighting simply because we could not do otherwise.  We had to protect ourselves.  It's not that we were armed beforehand and that we knew of the attack, but we found this as a mechanism in order to try and ward off the attacks in order to protect ourselves.  But it was not a planned war situation like in other places.

MR SINGH:  There's Bonginkosi Zondi whom you referred to, that you said he was injured.  Where is he presently?

WITNESS:   He is working in Durban.

MR SINGH:  What type of job is he doing?

WITNESS:   He's working at Nedbank.  His hands are not functioning, he's disabled, but he can use a pen.  He is able to write.

MR SINGH:  Now, according to your statement you said you have come to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but you have not stated as to what your wishes are, or what suggestions are you coming up with.  Do you have any specific wish that you would like to be granted?  We do not have the powers to grant people's wishes or promise anything, but we do pass recommendations to the Government.  Now, is there anything that you have in mind? As a member of the community that was torn apart what do you think you would like to be done with regard to that community?  The manner in which the attacks took place you were in a war situation.  That makes you a very unique community, but now as you are representing that particular community what are your wishes or suggestions that you can bring forth?

WITNESS:   I would like this Commission to help the people who were affected, especially those who are now destitute.  We would like them to get some help from the Government with regard to rebuilding their houses and putting back the fabric of society to be intact.  And, for instance, there is another person that I know who was disabled due to the attack.  I would like him to get some help, whether it's medical help or any sort of help that he can possibly get.  But my main wish was that if there's any help that this Commission could render it would be appreciated.

MR SINGH:  We wish you to encourage all the members of the community who were involved in this skirmish to come forward so that they can speak for themselves, and they can put their stories forward, tell us their first-hand experiences.  We would appreciate it if you could relay the message if possible.

WITNESS:   Yes, I can try that.

MR SINGH:  Mr Mngadi, you have added your voice to that of the other seven witnesses who have given evidence here today, and like them you have given a very vivid account of the attack on Ashdown.  But you also told us about the years which preceded the Seven Day War, and it is this period which one of the witnesses this morning, Mr Radley Keys, described as a low intensity civil war ... (incomplete - end of Side A, Tape 5) ... gauntlet, and your community's response to that, and your account of these preceding years is important, and also obviously your account of the Seven Day War itself, because it enables us to form a view of what really happened in those days, which will then enable us to make recommendations to the Government as to how your communities, and the other communities that suffered, may be helped.  So we want to thank you very much for coming in here today.  Thank you very much.

WITNESS:  Thank you.