Human Rights Violation Hearings — Welkom — 1996-10-09

CHAIRPERSON: We need to correct the date then because according to your statement here you say that you received a message - Puleng received a phone call about the death of Mohapi in 1989.  So I hear now that you say that it's 1991.  So which is which?  Was it 1991 or 1989?

WITNESS:   '89 is the correct date.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  I just wanted to check about that.  Mama, you are one of the women who have really suffered.  In the first place you grew up in hell.  The home is where people should be happy so that when you are at work somewhere, if you find some problem you say that, "Oh, I wish the time for going home was around so that I can go back and be happy at home with my family."  But it would appear that your house a ... (inaudible) ... of fear and torture where you as your whole family were tortured and I guess that affected even your children psychologically.  Children who grew up in homes where there are fights, they are affected psychologically when they grew up.  And so you underwent that type of a torture bringing up your children when the father was there and later you had to be confronted with this type of experience of losing your son and you don't even know where he is buried.  That also is a torture for the parent not to know where his or her child is buried.  We are bearing this pain with you, Mama.  In fact we think you are very strong that you could even come here and testify and tell your story because you have gone through hell.  We have noted your request that you want  your son's bones to be returned from Tanzania so that he could be buried in Tabong at home.  We have noted your request that you would like that the truth should be told about how your son died.  We shall try and liaise with the ANC offices and find out if they cannot help us about all the facts surrounding your son's death.  Where, how he died, which is true in these three versions which are given?  That he committed suicide. If he committed suicide, why he committed suicide?  What are the reasons for his committing of the suicide?  Or this one fighting for a girl.  If he was fighting for a girl, with whom was he fighting and then who's that person who killed him?  And then this other one which says that he was sent to come to South Africa for a mission.  If he was sent, then what happened?  Did he refuse?  And if he refused, what happened then?  What cause his death?  I think it's the ANC which will be able to help up with these questions.  The investigative unit will make these investigations and we'll try and channel your requests especially about this one of reburial.  There are many parents who have children buried somewhere who would like them to be fetched - their bones.  We just hope that where he was buried the place can still be identified so that his bones can be brought back home.  Thank you very much.  And I thank your daughter for being so close to you even though she's married but she can still give you the support.  This is wonderful, young lady.  We commend you for that, starting from the time when you were in PE channelling the messages to our mum and going to Johannesburg to find out about your brother.  That is great.  It means  that you are very much ... (inaudible) ... indeed.  Keep it up.  Thank you very much.  But we must also commend your husband that he can allow you to come to support your mother.  We need to commend him for that - that little act.  It needs to be mentioned.  Thank you very much.

WITNESS:   I also thank you, Sir.  Can I say something.  Mr Mdu Dlamini said something - he asked a question and you had to intervene.  I can't remember what it was.

CHAIRPERSON: What question was that?

MR DLAMINI: Probably, Mr Chairman, she's referring to my suggestion that they need to visit the local office of the ANC and find out more about special pensions that I think the ANC is trying to put together for people who lost their sons and husbands on exile.  A kind of compensation or pension but I'm sure more details could be obtained from the local ANC office.

CHAIRPERSON: Okay, can you try and follow that up through your local ANC offices?

WITNESS:   Yes, Sir, we will try to follow this matter up.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: We have come to the end of our day and I also want to register my sincere thanks and appreciation to those people who came here and were prepared to remain up to this point.  We have taken a longer time today because we had to make some additions and also it's very difficult to stop the people when they're pouring out their pain because the whole aim of the Truth and Reconciliation is that we must say everything.  We must not leave out anything.  And again I want to  register my thanks to my dear brothers, the TV people who are here with us, and maybe the press people somewhere who are with us up to this moment and the member of the community who are with us up to this time and the witnesses.  Tomorrow is the last day and we shall begin again at 9.00am and it is going to be our last day at Welkom and we still ask also for the people to please invite people to come and see out statement takers -those who have not told their stories.  Somebody cannot tell a story for you, you have to tell it yourself so that this pain comes out.  There are many people who have not told their stories.  Can they please be encouraged to come forward to see our statement takers tomorrow to come and tell their stories.  May we now stand for the benediction.  May our God bless our gathering today so that the wishes of His people become true that their story telling and their feeling of their secrets and the opening of their hearts would help them in their lives.  May now the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us till for ever.  Amen.  We remain standing until the witnesses are channelled through.  Where are our briefers.  Can you take then through.  Okay, thank you.  You can then dismiss.
PROCEEDINGS ADJOURNED TO 1996/10/10
/TRANSCRIBER'S