Human Rights Violation Hearings — Grahamstown — 1997-04-08

NOMBULELO ETHER MSUTU: He was, Tobile was found not guilty in court.

JUNE CRICHTON: Did he have dependents, children?

NOMBULELO ETHER MSUTU: Yes, he has two children, a boy and a girl who are struggling because of the unstable grant and I have to contribute towards their school education from time to time.

JUNE CRICHTON: Mrs Msutu, what are your expectations from the Commission, what are you hoping that we will do?

NOMBULELO ETHER MSUTU: I thank you.  My requests are two, that these children be educated and cared for.  This is my wish, because Tobile's life was cut short and my things at my house were destroyed too, but that does not matter as much as their education.  I would like the Commission to assist in their education, because Tobile, to think that Tobile is a cruel person, he humiliates this boy.  You know, when he sees him in public, he throws him a 50 cents or something and this boy refuses to take his money, he regards it as dirty money.  Up to this day I would not leave him, you know.

JUNE CRICHTON: Mrs Msutu, thank you for your testimony.  I am going to hand you back to the Chairperson now.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Msutu, we thank you for having come forward to tell your story.  You have reminded us of a very painful period where people were killed and where conditions were set even for their burial.  You have reminded us of a time where the Government was getting involved in things that had nothing to do with Government, as such, limiting amounts of people that could attend funerals.  As you say you applied for permission to have 500 people attend the funeral and, ultimately, you were granted permission for only 200 to attend the funeral.  We remember that period very well.  It was a very painful period.  We as priests were told how long our sermon should be and what we should say and what we should not say and who we should allow to speak and who not and we were told that only a certain priest could conduct certain funerals and others were not allowed to speak.  Those were very difficult times.  We understand that this story has upset you and that it is very difficult for you to find inner peace, but I would like to ask you, in the name of this Commission, since you have come forward to tell your story, that you now leave it in the hands of this Commission, because we are now living in different times and you have to leave the law to run its course.  We will investigate the statement you have made and the allegations which you have made before us, but we would not like to hear, at any stage, that you have taken the Law into your own hands because of fury and find yourself in jail, because of that, at any stage, and do something you would be sorry about.  We trust that after having told your story and shared your pain with us here today, that you will now leave it in the hands of this Commission so that the Commission can do its work, because you can rest assured that you will not be oppressed or harassed in that manner again.  There are many woman who have experienced the pain that you have experienced.  There are many woman who have experienced worse.  We would just like to ask you, since you have come to this Commission, that you now leave it in the hands of this Commission.  Thank you very much.

NOMBULELO ETHER MSUTU: I have a request that the perpetrators be brought forward so that we can see who they are.