Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bloemfontein — UNKNOWN

WITNESS: It was in 1990 in July on the 14th. I was at the RoodepoortHotel. After about 10 minutes I heard a loud bang. I heard a loud explosion.Thereafter I don't know what happened. I found myself lying flat on the ground.I crawled. There were no people there. I saw the fire extinguishers, and thefiremen took me to the hospital. I was taken to General Hospital in Johannesburg.I stayed there for a week. After about three days it's only then that I regainedconsciousness and I was told what had happened. I was told that they would haveto amputate my leg. Then I had to sign. I refused to sign the document becauseI said I didn't know who signed for the first leg to be amputated. Then theyleft me. I stayed two weeks. On the third week they gave me - they transferredme to Roodepoort Hospital. I stayed for three months. As I was still there theother people with whom I was injured came. I asked if they had openeda case. They told me they hadn't yet started, but they will be notified later.Since then nothing has happened until I was discharged. I went to make a statement.They refused. They said I was limping so I couldn't come to them. I went therethree times. Each time I was using my own money, and each time they were refusingto take a statement from me. Until I went to Johannesburg to seek some help.At Johannesburg they phoned them. They came and asked me who were phoning them.I said I didn't know, it's the people I went to for help. They said to me theywere phoned by certain people who said I didn't want to make a statement. Iended up making the statement. I requested the case number. They asked me whotold me that they would give me the case number. I said I wanted it on my ownaccord. They took the statement and went away, and nothing came out of it. Theyasked me whether I knew that I had to be paid for being injured. I said thehotel should be responsible for the payment, it's the law. They left me then.My boss at that time told me that I would have to leave my work. I asked himwhy would I do so. They said I wouldn't be able to discharge my duties. I toldthem to pay me for all the 12 years that I have worked there. They told me Iwasn't going to get any money. They gave me an amount of R1 276,41. Theevicted me out of the hostel. I realised that I wasn't going to get any help.Then I left until today.

UNKNOWN: Thank you, Mr Mohlahle, for relating this very painful story.Before I ask those questions, in your statement you have written that you arestaying at a certain police station. Can you please explain as to why youare staying at a police station?

WITNESS: My explanation - I never said that I wasstaying at the police station. I said I was always going to the police stationregularly, and they were refusing to take my statement.

UNKNOWN: Where do you stay now?

WITNESS: I stay in Qwaqwa.

UNKNOWN: Is that not a police station?

WITNESS: No. I gave the ... (incomplete- end of Side B, Tape 11)

UNKNOWN: You said there was an explosion where you were. Did you everget any clue as to who planted the bomb?

WITNESS: I never knew who had done that.I heard some rumours that the bomb was planted by white men, but they were neverfound.

UNKNOWN: You also said there are other people who came to you. Do youstill remember who these people are, when you were in hospital?

WITNESS: Yes, I do.

UNKNOWN: Please give us their names.

WITNESS: It was Stefan.

UNKNOWN: What's his surname?

WITNESS: Mohlahle.

UNKNOWN: What is he to you?

WITNESS: He's my uncle.

UNKNOWN: With who was he?

WITNESS: He was with Julius Mohlahle.

UNKNOWN: What relation is Julius to you?

WITNESS: He is also my uncle.

UNKNOWN: You went on to say certain people refused to take a statementfrom you. Who are these people?

WITNESS: It's the people who said they were handlingmy case, so I should go to them after being discharged. They were in Krugersdorp.

UNKNOWN: Were they policemen or ... (incomplete)

WITNESS: Yes, it was policemen. Do you remember any one of them? --- I think I remember oneblack person who came with them. I don't remember the other ones.

UNKNOWN: Do you know their names?

WITNESS: No.

UNKNOWN: You were amputated after your injuries. When were you amputated?--- I was amputated in July. If I remember well it could have been the 15thor the 16th, even the 17th. I don't remember quite well.

UNKNOWN: In your statement there's where you allege that it was a hotelfrequented by black people. Is that so?

WITNESS: Yes, it is so.

UNKNOWN: Can you remember whether during the time of the bomb explosionis there any specific thing that you can remember that relates to this explosion?--- I don't understand your question.

UNKNOWN: Let me just rephrase it. In your statement there's where yousay it was a time when the political parties were unbanned. Do you still rememberthat? You said it in your statement?

WITNESS: No, I did not.

UNKNOWN: But do you remember?

WITNESS: Yes, I do remember.

UNKNOWN: I will just remind you that there is something of that sortin your statement. At which hospital were you amputated?

WITNESS: It was HillbrowHospital - Hillbrow Hospital in Johannesburg. They call it General Hospital.

UNKNOWN: Just tell me about your work now. What company were you workingfor?

WITNESS: I was working for a mine.

UNKNOWN: What was the name of that mine?

WITNESS: It was Durban Deep in Roodepoort.

UNKNOWN: You went to the Roodepoort Hospital?

WITNESS: Yes.

UNKNOWN: What were you doing there?

WITNESS: I was driving what they calla winch at the mines. You said they told you that your services had been terminated.--- Yes.

UNKNOWN: According to your knowledge or ability could you have beenable to continue doing that job?

WITNESS: I wouldn't have been able.

UNKNOWN: What did the mine give you when you were told that your serviceswere terminated?

WITNESS: I was given an amount of R1 620,00.

UNKNOWN: In your statement you talked about an amount of R1 276,00.From who did you get this amount?

WITNESS: No, I didn't get that amount. In my statementI said it was R1 620,00.

UNKNOWN: Did you report your case thereafter?

WITNESS: I went to report thecase.

UNKNOWN: Do you remember who the investigating officer was?

WITNESS: Yes,I do remember.

UNKNOWN: What was his name?

WITNESS: His name was Gaga.

UNKNOWN: You spoke about an investigating officer whose name is ChrisDodden. Do you still remember him?

WITNESS: If I remember well I think Johannesburgwas the one that was handling the case.

UNKNOWN: Were you ever given the case number, or were you told as tohow the case was finalised?

WITNESS: He phoned them to come. They asked me who wasphoning them. I told them that it's the person who was taking my statement.I requested the case number.

UNKNOWN: After working for 12 years in a mine you only got R1 620,00only? How are you able to make ends meet?

WITNESS: I can't make ends meet becauseI can't work.

UNKNOWN: Besides being amputated are you suffering from any other illnessesor ailments that you think could be attributed to being injured in a bomb explosion?

WITNESS: Yes, thereare.

UNKNOWN: Just tell us about those ailments.

WITNESS: On my left hand, inthe ankle. My ankle was broken and my whole side was burnt. The other foot withwhich I use to balance is the one that troubles me most because it carries somuch weight.

UNKNOWN: Are you getting any treatment from anywhere?

WITNESS: Yes, I amtaking treatment from the hospital, at Manapo Hospital.

UNKNOWN: Where is that hospital?

WITNESS: It's in Qwaqwa.

UNKNOWN: Who is paying for your medical expenses?

WITNESS: It's the Government.

UNKNOWN: I understand you, Mr Mohlahle. I feel very bad that after havingworked for a period of 12 years that you emerged out of the whole situationpenniless. I hope that's where I will end. I still repeat that we really feelfor you. We really sympathise with you for what happened to you.