Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1997-06-09

UNKNOWN: Yes because he's still here in the Eastern Cape, he's a policeman.

REV XUNDU: Thank you Sir.  Do you have any requests for us to forward to the State President concerning this matter?

UNKNOWN: As my lawyer told me I should be compensated for the funeral expenses and that didn't happen, what I would like from the Government is for this to happened  because I did not kill anyone and I have to get something back.

REV XUNDU: What else would you like us to forward to the State President?

UNKNOWN: One other thing is that I would like Kepo to come forward and tell the Commission the truth.

REV XUNDU: In your statement you mention a creche, can you please explain that?

UNKNOWN: I don't remember mentioning that.

REV XUNDU: Maybe you would like a memorial where young children can be educated?

UNKNOWN: Yes I do remember now that I mentioned  I would like a creche to be built in my area.

REV XUNDU: Thank you Sir, is that all?

UNKNOWN: Yes that is all.

REV XUNDU: Thank you Mr Chairperson I will now hand over to you.

BONGANI FINCA: June Crichton?

JUNE CRICHTON: Mrs Gangala please.  Mrs Gangala can you hear me?

UNKNOWN: Yes I can hear you.

JUNE CRICHTON: I just need some clarification from you, you said that the father of this child Diliza was involved in a political organisation but that he was not, is that correct?

UNKNOWN: Yes that is correct.

JUNE CRICHTON: And he was eighteen years old so he was not a member of COSAS?

UNKNOWN: No he was not a member.

JUNE CRICHTON: So the attack on him was a totally unjustified attack.  The second thing I want to say to you is  you mentioned that somebody or "they" told you that other prisoners had killed him, who were the "they", who told you that?

UNKNOWN: The people who told me were my neighbours.

JUNE CRICHTON: Do have any idea how they found that out?

UNKNOWN: They saw this.

JUNE CRICHTON: What is your belief?

UNKNOWN: My belief concerning what Ma'am?

JUNE CRICHTON: Concerning his death, how do you believe he died?

UNKNOWN: He died because he was beaten up by the police.

JUNE CRICHTON: Thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: I want to check this point, Landile Jongile is he here?

REV XUNDU: No he's not.

BONGANI FINCA: Thank you.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the nine witnesses who appeared before the Commission to-day, the three who are on stage and the six who gave evidence this morning.  When I thank you I would like to say the incident in which people were shot here in Mdantsane at the station shocked the whole country, I think this also shocked other countries besides this country.  This is one of the incidents which showed clearly that the previous Homeland Governments were cruel especially the Government of the late L.L. Sebe.  I think this is one of the incidents which caused tension and conflict between people of this area and people belonging to Sinip and those who were working for Mr L.L. Sebe's Government.  That conflict and that anger and pain became clear in 1990 when the late L.L. Sebe was overthrown when there was chaos in Mdantsane, there was in this area, people were angry and their anger came from this incident but I would like to say like all other painful incidents such as this one this caused people to fight for their rights to belong to the South African Government.  The whole border region and Mdantsane was leading this region, Mdantsane was playing a leadership role in this region from this incident and this became clear in 1990 when the late L.L. Sebe was overthrown.   The other incident which happened was the Bisho Massacre.  Some of you were injured yourselves and some appeared before the Commission to give us their evidence, some lost their family members, some didn't even want to appear before the Commission because they are still angry at what happened at Eggerton Railway Station.  We would like to thank you for reminding this country ... (end of tape) ... after this country has been liberated so that when we are enjoying the fruits of freedom especially those who are leaders, they have to remember that Mdantsane played a leading role in our struggle.
 We have listened carefully to your requests, if it was upon us we would try and answer your requests now because we are talking of the heroes who sacrificed their lives to try and liberate this country but our job is to listen and after listening to you when we give the report to the President next year we will present your requests to the President so that he can see what he can do.  
 We would like to salute the people from Mdantsane especially those who lost their family members in this incident.  Where we were in the morning that's where the heroes are.  We thank you very much, you may now go back to your seats.