Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bloemfontein — UNKNOWN

MR LAX: Mr Buys, Petrus Cornelius Buys, was sentenced to nine yearsfor the murder of your son, and in 1995 he was given what is called correctionalsupervision. Part of his sentence was changed to correctional supervision, whichmeans he was allowed to come out of gaol, but subject to certain very strongconditions. As far as we are aware the other two were acquitted. Was your soninvolved in any political activities of any kind?

WITNESS: I didn't know becaue Iwouldn't be with him every time, but the Saturday his coffin was held high up, and then that'swhere I realised he must have been belonging to any party.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... or he must not have been? I am not quite clear.--- I have never seen him with my eyes, because every time I would be at home,but his coffin was held high above, and it was my first time to see that.

MR LAX: Did you think that that meant there was some political connectionin the way he was being buried?

WITNESS: Yes. They were singing, and the police startedassaulting them and telling them they are not allowed to do that.

MR LAX: Thank you. I have no further questions, Chairperson.

MR LAX: Just one question or two. You say that during the time whenyou spoke to Spaceman Moroka his remark was, "What have the whites done to Thoboko?"What was happening? Was it very common that the whites were attacking blackpeople?

WITNESS: I would say yes, the whites were attacking the blacks, because Thobokowanted to inquire about the whereabouts of the party, and they saw these whitemen following them. And then the other one managed to run away, and he wentto the party and he told the others that Thoboko had been chased by the whitepeople. They went to different police stations to find him, but they couldn't.Then Spaceman said, "What have the whites done to Thoboko?"

MR LAX: Were there any other incidents when the whites in your areahad attacked some of these blacks?

WITNESS: Yes, I would say it was the tendency,because things were not nice for us in Bophutatswana. The whites didn't wantany black people in town.

MR LAX: Is it correct that they ran over his body in a bakkie? ---I read in the newspaper. I only read in the newspaper that they drove over hisbody. I still have that article even today.

MR LAX: Thank you. The last question, you said that the minister whoburied him was instructed to be very quick by the police. Do you remember thename of that minister?

WITNESS: The police said he should quickly conduct the sermon.They were already facing their guns towards the people.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... name of the minister was doing the burial,who was conducting the funeral?

WITNESS: I've forgot his name, but he is the ministerfrom the Roman Catholic Church in Thaba Nchu.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... he lives?

WITNESS: Yes, I know where he stays.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... for full particulars you could get us fullparticulars?

WITNESS: I don't know whether shall I get the particulars from him,because I was confused. They were pushing us. They said, "Minister, come on,be fast."

MR LAX: I mean if you could get the particulars about where he is andwhat his name is. Do you think that you could assist us about that? Anyway,if you cannot we can make investigations about what his name was. Thank you.--- I won't be able to help you, Sir. Thank you.

MR LAX: Mama, I am quite concerned about your health. You mentionedthat just before the funeral of your son you were in hospital. Can you tellus more? Why were you admitted in hospital? What was wrong with you? What happened?--- It was high blood pressure and my chest. My whole body was sore, and theytold me that I had a high blood pressure.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... had it before?

WITNESS: Yes, but I was under thetreatment.

MR LAX: How is your health now?

WITNESS: I still suffer from high bloodpressure. I am living on medication.

MR LAX: Who is paying for your medication?

WITNESS: I have a girl calledElizabeth Gyeswe. She works at Cheapermans, and she is the only one working

MR LAX: Right. We would like you to provide us with your records, andwe do hope that we can offer some help to you regarding your health. Thank youvery much.

MR LYSTER: Mrs Gyeswe, we have all been shocked to hearabout what happened to your son, and we can only imagine how sad it must befor you to live with this memory. It was the system of apartheid which killedyour son. The people or the person that killed your son was raised in such away, he was raised in an environment in which racism was an accepted part ofour national life, and it was this way of life, this environment, which poisonedtheir minds, or poisoned his mind to such an extent that he could commit sucha horrifying act - to take an innocent person and to assault him, and then tokill him in the way that he did, and we express our deep sympathy to you.
You have heard Dr Magwaza say that if you wish to get furtherassistance from the Commission for your health we will be able to do that, andwe would like you to speak to one of the staff members before you go today.
We thank you again very much for coming in and sharing yoursad story with us, and we wish you every strength. Thank you.

MR LYSTER: We apologise for the delay. The witness whois coming to the stage has an artificial limb and he is taking some time toget to his seat. While we are waiting I would like to announce that we havea small sub office her in Bloemfontein. It's situated in the Stabilitas Building,which is in Maitland Street, right opposite the OK Bazaars, and that officewill be open from now onwards for the whole of this year, next year as well.If there are people in this area, Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, whowant to make statements, please go to that office and speak to Mr Pitso or theReverend Bosman, and they will assist you. And if there are many more peoplefrom this area who wish to appear at public hearings like this one it is certainlypossible that we would have a further hearing here in Bloemfontein. That isaside from the hearings that we intend to hold in other parts of the Free State,such as Harrismith and Welkom.
Thank you Mr Mohlahle. You have come here today from Qwaqwa,and you have come to tell us about a bomb blast in which you were involved in1990. Before you tell your story I'd like you please to stand, or if it's difficultfor you to stand please take the oath as you sit there.

MR MOHLAHLE: (Sworn, States)

MR LYSTER: Thank you very much. I am going to ask oneof my colleagues, Mrs Gcabashe, to assist you now in giving your evidence.

UNKNOWN: Good afternoon, Mr Mohlahle. How are you?Let me start by thanking you that you've come from Qwaqwa to come to this Commissionand explain to us what happened to you. I want to sympathise with you for what happened withyou and the injuries that you sustained. Will you please tell us about yourfamily background? Tell me how old you are?

WITNESS: I was born in 1961, July.

UNKNOWN: Thank you. I will request you to just give us a brief familybackground. Are you married, do you have any children, do you still have parents?--- We are eight at home. I am married. I have a mother. My father passed away.

UNKNOWN: Are these your sisters and brothers?

WITNESS: Yes, they are my sistersand brothers.

UNKNOWN: Do you have any children?

WITNESS: No, I don't.

UNKNOWN: Do you have a wife?

WITNESS: Yes, I do.

UNKNOWN: Are you working?

WITNESS: No, I am not working.

UNKNOWN: Mr Mohlahle, just tell us what happened to you that made youto be here today.