Human Rights Violation Hearings — Mooiriver — 1997-05-29

WITNESS:   After they disappeared and I realised that soldiers were around I went to the neighbours' houses, and then I realised that there was no one.  I came back to my house.  When I was at the gate Tryphina Mchunu came.  She was carrying a baby, and she said to me, "Mrs Makatini, here's the child."  I said, "Whose child?"  She said it was Mamo's child, and then I said, "Where is Mamo?"  And then she said to me, "I heard that she ran away and she left her child."   And then I asked her, "Now, how come you have the child?"  She said, "Sibongile gave me, and Sibongile said she was given the baby by the soldiers."  I took the baby, I went inside the house.  I took a blanket, a small blanket, I wrapped the baby behind my back, and then I told my grandchildren that I was going out to look for my daughter.  And then my grandchildren asked me where.  I said, "I don't know, but I am going to look for her."  When I left my house at the gate I met Tryphina again, and then now she was with other women.  And then she said to me, "I was scared to tell you, but Mamo has passed away."  And then I asked Tryphina, "Why didn't you tell me?"   She said she was scared.  And then I went there to look for her body.  I found her there.  I found her lying dead, and her stomach was big and her mouth was wide open, and her eyes were opened as well.  I called her.  She couldn't reply.  I came closer to her body.  I closed her mouth, I closed her eyes, and I managed to do so.  At that time ANC youth came and asked me, "What happened?" and they asked me if it was her, and I told them yes, it was her, and they sympathised with me.  These boys took grass and tried to bury the blood.  And these were young boys, ANC young boys, and they helped me.  And they said to me, "We were just passing, going to look for more damage," and I was left there with my daughter or my granddaughter.   And my granddaughter told me that she was going to fetch a blanket, and she went there to bring a blanket.  And police came, I was still there, and they took her body.  And when I asked the police if I had to leave with them now they said, "No, we can't take you together with the body because we are still going around taking more corpses, but we will take your name."  And I gave them my name, Tryphina Masondo, I gave them my address, 43, and they told me they will come back if there's a need for them to come and fetch me.  That's how they left.

CHAIRPERSON: So did they explain to you how your daughter had died, what means had been used to kill her?

WITNESS:   I think she was stabbed.  I don't think she was shot.  I think she was stabbed by a spear.  I am not sure if she was shot, but I think she was stabbed by a spear.

CHAIRPERSON: And did the police ever come back to you and take any statement from you?

WITNESS:   You mean the police who took her corpse?

CHAIRPERSON: Did anyone come and take a statement from you?  Did you make a statement to the police at all about your daughter's death?

WITNESS:   After I went back home a car came to my house.  That car came from Gwala.  And I went to Pietermaritzburg, and I went to ... (inaudible) ... I gave the police there my statement in relation to the death of my daughter, and that's how I got her death certificate.

CHAIRPERSON: And did you attend any court case or inquest, or anything of that sort relating to your daughter's death?

WITNESS:   No.

CHAIRPERSON: Were you ever told by the police or anybody else as to who was responsible for killing your daughter?

WITNESS:   No.  They said unknown.

KHOZA MGOJO: The soldiers who gave Sibongile Tryphina's baby, did they explain to you where they found the baby?

WITNESS:   They said they found the child next to her mother's body.

KHOZA MGOJO: Your daughter, the one you're staying with, is she working?

WITNESS:   No.  She was working at that time.  She was working at Woodlands.

KHOZA MGOJO: Now is she working?

WITNESS:   No, she is no longer working.  She came back because she was ill.

KHOZA MGOJO: These grandchildren of yours, how old are they?

WITNESS:   The first-born was 14 years in 1991, and the other one was 11 years old.  Now I think they are a little bit grown up.  One of them is still in school.  The other one is no longer in school because she was mentally disturbed.  The younger one is still in school.

KHOZA MGOJO: What is his name?

WITNESS:   His name is Zeblon.  Zeblon was 11 years in 1991.

KHOZA MGOJO: In other words he is now 20 or 21.

WITNESS:   He is in standard four.

KHOZA MGOJO: The name of the other one?

WITNESS:   His name is Thokozani.

KHOZA MGOJO: No longer in school?

WITNESS:   No, he is no longer in school.

KHOZA MGOJO: What standard did he leave school?

WITNESS:   He was in standard eight last year.

KHOZA MGOJO: Why did he leave school?

WITNESS:   He was mentally disturbed.

KHOZA MGOJO: Is he getting any medication?

WITNESS:   I am trying.

KHOZA MGOJO: Where are you taking him?

WITNESS:   I am taking him to doctors and to sangomas.

KHOZA MGOJO: Do you take him to psychiatrists?

WITNESS:   No, I never.  I never took him to psychiatrists because I don't know them.

KHOZA MGOJO: What about Zeblon?

WITNESS:   He is doing okay.  It's not that well.  He is not that good.  Naturally he is too slow.  He is scraping very slow.

KHOZA MGOJO: What about you?

WITNESS:   I was traumatised and I was a little bit disturbed mentally.  I am a little bit disturbed.

KHOZA MGOJO: You will need to give these ladies your names.  One of them is the one next to you.  You can give her your name so that we can try and see if we can find any assistance for your grandchildren to receive medical attention.  Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Masondo, we thank you very much for coming in and telling us that story today.  Your daughter died on the 4th of December 1991, and we've heard several other stories from people who were here yesterday and the day before about that particular night.  She died in what has become known as the Second Brandville Massacre, and from the information that we have received from other people, and from what we've been told by the police and others, 18 people died on that night when residents of the hostel left ... (incomplete - end of Side A, Tape 1) ... were women, and your daughter was one of those people.  As I said yesterday, it is difficult for us to understand the brutality of people, of armed men, men with spears and guns, who would attack defenceless, unarmed people.  The image of a woman fleeing with a baby on her back is an image which should evoke sympathy in most people, and it is very difficult to understand what caused those people to kill a person like your daughter.
But you story is important, it helps us to gain an idea of exactly what happened in those days, and your daughter's death is more than just a statistic, it's a real story now, and it helps us when we have to prepare our report.  It helps us to gain that knowledge of what really took place on that day.  So, while we understand how painful it is for you, we want to assure you that it's important that you have come here today and told us your story, and we thank you for being brave enough to have done so.  Thank you very much indeed.
/CHAIRMAN

CHAIRPERSON: The next witness is Mrs Linah Ndlovu.  Good morning, Mrs Ndlovu.  Can you hear me through your earphones?

NTOMBIZONKE LINAH NDLOVU: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you for coming in.  You are also from Brandville, and you will tell about the death of your son, Sibusiso, who also died on the 4th of December 1991.  Before you give your evidence we'd like you to take the oath please.

NTOMBIZONKE LINAH NDLOVU: (Sworn, States)

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Mgojo will now help you with your evidence.

KHOZA MGOJO: Good morning.  How are you feeling this morning?

WITNESS:   I am fine.