Human Rights Violation Hearings — Lusikisiki — 1997-03-26

CHAIRPERSON: We request that we begin our proceedings for the day.  If we could bow down our heads and pray please.
THE COMMISSION COMMENCES WITH PRAYERS

CHAIRPERSON: We request that Ms Maya gives us the proceedings for the day.

MS MAYA: This third day of our hearings in Lusikisiki, the 26th of march 1997, I am going to read a list of people who are going to be witnessing today before this Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
 I am going to read their names as they would have appeared.  Some of them are not here yet, therefor we are going to start with those that are present.  I am going to read the witness' name, the victim, and what happened to the victim.  Also where the victim comes from.  
 We have Adelaide Khanyisile Matandela, he is going to talk about Dumisani Macbeth Matandela, who was murdered in Maseru from Matatiele in 1982.  Then Adelaide Mokete Bungane, who is going to talk about Mzwandile Mbuso Bungane, who was also killed in Maseru in 1982.
 Refiloe Iris Koadi is going to talk about Allan Khorong Koadi.  He is from Mt Fletcher and disappeared in 1985.  Eleazor Keswa will be talking about himself.  He was severely ill-treated from Umzimkhulu in 1981.
 George Ndini Simayile, who will be talking about David
Simayile, who was murdered from Flagstaff in 1986.  Nyatelwa
Mnoxwa, who will be talking about himself.  He was tortured.  He is from Bizana and this happened in 1971.  Mgotywa Japan Ngwenya will be talking about himself, attempted murder in 1982.  
 Nodinga  Doris Mamanci Twabu, who will be talking about Siyabulela Twabu who was murdered in Bizana in 1985.  Ndengezi Makhokhoba, who will be talking about Mfolwane Mbele, who was tortured in Bizana in 1970.
 Merriman Sipho Sikutshwa, will be talking about himself, Lena Mamanci Sikutshwa, they were both severely ill-treated in Bizana in 1960.  Thengiwe Bester Khwezi, will be talking about Mabila Ju Khwezi, severe ill-treatment, Bizana, 1971.
 Hlokomani Alfred Shaza, will be talking about himself and his wife, Madimane Shaza, severe ill-treatment, his house was burnt down, his wife murdered, who was pregnant, his son was murdered and his house burnt down for the second time to a place where he had run to, this happened in Bizana in Durban, this happened from 1963 to 1980.
 Louisa Nonzwakazi Ndamase, will be talking about himself, severe ill-treatment in Tabankulu in 1991.  The next are from Matatiele and they are talking about the same incident:  Ntombentsundu Gladys Ndaba, will be talking about herself.  Her house got burnt down. 
 Ansarah Ndabakazi Zokwe, talking about Obet Zokwe.  Eunice Nozizwe Ndaba, will be talking about herself, her house was burnt down.  Nombuyiselo Tabalaza, will be talking about herself, her house was burnt down.  Busisiwe Ndabambi, will be talking about herself, her house was burnt down.
 Jeanette Nomachule Ndlebe, she will be talking about 
herself, her house was burnt down.  Barnabas Mbulelo Kekeni
Ndleleni, will be talking about herself, her property was damaged.  This all happened in Matatiele in 1990.
 Nkebe Soswiti Mdutshane, will be talking about himself of attempted murder.  Welcome Mtutuzelijare, will be talking about himself, attempted murder.  Mandlakayise Singleton Lumbo, his house was burnt down.  Mabutha Magebethu Tonga, will be talking about Dlayiseka Tonga, who was murdered.
 Mantwanantle Thandeka Mbalogontsi, will be talking about Vulindlela Mbaligontsi, who was murdered.  Amos Mazizi Kango, will be talking about himself, his house was burnt down.  They are all from Flagstaff, the same incident.  
 Thank you Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Ms Maya.  We would like to greet and welcome everybody here today.  We thank them for the effort they took to be here, even though the weather is not so good.  We will try to do this quickly so that people can go home whilst the weather is still good and the roads are good.
 We will start with Adelaide Khanyisile Matandela and Adelaide Mokete Bungane.

REV XUNDU: Mr Chairperson, may I swear them in.  Adelaide Khanyisile Matandela, won't you please stand up.

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: (sworn states)

REV XUNDU: Thank you.  Mrs Iris Koadi, please stand up.

REFILOE IRIS KOADI: (sworn states)

REV XUNDU: Excuse me Mr Chairperson, I read incorrectly number 3 -  Adelaide Mokete Bungane.

ADELAIDE MOKETE BUNGANE: (sworn states)

REV XUNDU: Thank you Ma'am.  Mr Chairperson, they have been sworn in properly.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Reverend Xundu.  Thank you Ma'am, we are going to listen to you as you are going to give us a fuller picture of how our people were attacked in Maseru.
 We will ask Ntsiki Sandi to lead evidence on behalf of the Commission.

ADV SANDI: Thank you Mr Chairperson.  Good morning to you.  We are going to start with Mrs Matandela.  As she had already said Chairperson - the Chairperson had already said that you are going to talk about your children that were shot.
 Mrs Matandela, your child was Dumisani Macbeth Matandela, is that so?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: Yes.

ADV SANDI: How old was he?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: He was 22, because he was born in 1960.

ADV SANDI: Would you tell us briefly about his life before he went to Maseru?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: My son was at Msweshwe Secondary School.  When the schools reopened in June, he went back to school as usual.  That is the last time I saw him.
 A while after that a policeman came asking me where my son was.  I said that he is at school.  He then asked when last I saw him.  I said that the last time I had seen him was when he had gone back to school.  He then asked if he had come back home at all.  I said no.  
 Then he came another time and asked for photographs.  He had a picture, his niece's picture.  I was wondering why he was showing me this picture.  He said that children don't do what they are supposed to do at school.  I did not know what he was talking about because as far as I knew my child was at school.
 He asked for his pictures, I went to get his pictures.  He - I said actually that we did have photo albums, I showed him the albums.  There was a picture that was vague, he was looking at the side, he then asked for this picture.
 I thought that perhaps he is going to use this picture.  He said he would bring it back, I have him two pictures.  He left with the pictures.  He never came back with the pictures to this day.
 After that, police would come at all sorts of hours asking for my sons, the one was in Johannesburg.  They asked when he was coming back, I said I did not know.  
 They would open my cupboards, throw my clothes on the floor, walk around.  They would leave without having said what they wanted from me.  In December Mrs  Mgqwala came to me house with Mrs Mhlavuli.

ADV SANDI: How were you related to Mrs Mgqwala?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: She was just a neighbour.

ADV SANDI: You say it was she and Mrs Khanyisile?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: Yes, they then told me that they got a report telephonically saying that my son was passed away.  I was very confused.
 They then reiterated that Dumisani had passed away.

ADV SANDI: Was Dumisani one of the victims that had been shot in Maseru?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: Yes.

ADV SANDI: Were you able to go to Maseru as a family to the funeral?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: We were not allowed to go to the funeral.

ADV SANDI: Did you make a request?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: Yes, we went to the police to request permission.

ADV SANDI: How did you feel that you could not even bury your child who was shot dead in a foreign land?  How did you feel that as a family, you could not see him for the last time and bury him?

ADELAIDE KHANYISILE MATANDELA: Well, we were not allowed.  We did not have passes, we were simply not permitted.

ADV SANDI: How did you feel?