Human Rights Violation Hearings — Uitenhage — 1996-08-28

CHAIRPERSON: We are going to call Beauty Lulama Mbixana.  We are going to hand you over to Dr Ramashala who is going to lead you.

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: (sworn states)

MAPULE RAMASHALA: We greet you Ms Mbixana.  How are you?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: I am fine thank you.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: The story you are about to present to us is about your brother who was 14 years old, who disappeared in November 1986.

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Yes, it is like that.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Now, you heard only on the 15 July 1996 that your brother died 2 months previously.  When did you see him?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: That was in September.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Now let's take you back a little bit and then you can tell us your story and explain as to what actually happened and you can take your time in doing so.

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: In 1986, in September, there was a funeral in Avenue A in New Brighton in Port Elizabeth.  We used to see him joining the toyi toyi, but on this particular day, we were not aware that he was there. Then I noticed that he was not present, then we said that if he was there, he would of been very proud that he was one of the people making a toyi toyi, but I was unhappy that it was quite some time that we
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couldn't see him, so I decided to go to Motherwell and I asked why it was dark in the house.  Then in fact there was another sister of mine, who invited me to get into the house so I went in, and I asked why, then he said that Mpimpi died.  Then I was shocked.  Then he said to me don't talk aloud because you will be killed then I said no, I don't care for that.  I asked who the people were, who had done this because I want to see the body.  Then he tried to stop me, but I forced my way.
 I went away, and on my way I met a young boy and I asked about the base around here.  Then this boy referred me to a house of a member of the street committee.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: What is the base?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: That is the base for the comrades.  Then in this house, that belonged to this lady, I asked about Mpimpi, and he said, oh, please whisper, don't talk loudly about it because it is long that Mpimpi died.  Then I said, then how can I get his body, and I asked who the murderers were.  Then he said that he was killed by Msindise and Sam, and another one.  Then I said that he must show me where these people lived so that I can demand his body.  Then he discouraged me, stating that I could be killed, but I forced my way.
 And on my way, I met one other boy who made some signs and these children were very violent at that time, so I went there and I pleaded with him, and asked where Mpimpi's body was, then he said please wait and he asked someone else to come and said, this lady is looking for Mpimpi, so we must give her some bus fare, and they asked me to bring a coffin, together with spades, so I did exactly that.  
 I went to those children in this car, and it was quite 
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late in the day and then I said here is a car, I have brought it to you.  Then I asked them to direct me to the body.  Then they said, wait.  Then a friend of Mpimpi came out from a crowd and called me aside and said that I shouldn't go with these people, then he asked us to turn back.  Then all of a sudden, there were caspers, there were helicopters and they urged us that we should turn back because they thought we were clever, so we decided to speed back to Port Elizabeth.
 I thought perhaps that his body had been picked up by someone, or perhaps by the ambulance people, so we went to the mortuary, but we couldn't find his body.  Then we even went to the Uitenhage mortuary and on our way to Port Elizabeth, we saw a child that had been burnt, and I thought it was him, but I was making a mistake.
 Then there was a prayer meeting.  There were prayers for the whole week.  Then on the first day, the policemen fetched me and they found out from me what was happening at home, and I told them that we had lost a brother and they asked why the people of the Church were jumping, then I confirmed that these people were from the church, and they felt dissatisfied and they said that one day I would tell the truth.
 Then, just before the funeral, they again decided to go back and did not find that corpse that we had seen and then we stopped conducting prayers and then the White men were after me.  Even for about three times, they would come and collect me and assault me and then I decided to escape to the Transkei.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Your sister, Nomaladi, is she the one who kept this news to herself for three months, because she had
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difficulty to say these things to you and she could not even get to town?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Yes, she could not get to town because they were on guard, that she should not get to New Brighton.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Who was Ernest Malgas, here you mentioned that you went to Ernest Malgas to inquire about your brothers whereabouts?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: This was another lady who used to pray for the people.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: And even now, you don't know the whereabouts of your brother?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Yes, because our mother was affected.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Sam and Msindise, where are they?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: They live in Motherwell.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: What are they doing?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Sam escaped, but Msindise and the others who did this are still there.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Can we get their addresses?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Yes, I can get their addresses and bring them to you, but they are not far from my sister's place.  All we need is the body, so that when my mother dies, at least she should be satisfied about her son.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Now, what happened to your brother, how did he die?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: They say that he was shot and they buried him.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: But here in your statement you say that he died by being necklaced, he was burnt.

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: People say various things, some say they burnt him, some say that they buried him, each one has got his own version of the story.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Now, I can see that this is really hurting
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you and it really touched you deeply.

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Yes it does, because even my husband disappeared just at that time.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: What do you mean, you mean he disappeared, or he died?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: No, he disappeared.  Just exactly at that time of this incident.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: How is your health?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: No, I am alright, I am quite well.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Then, what is the request you would like to give to this Commission?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: I would like this Commission to look for this child, because the people who did this to this child are still alive and I feel that these people were in collaboration with White people, they were doing evil things to the people.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Is there any other thing that you would like to add?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Yes, then my 3 year old once more was killed. I did include this in my statement.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: How did this child die?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: No, he did not die, he was shot on the thigh and he was admitted in hospital and there for there months.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Is he still alive?

BEAUTY LULAMA MBIXANA: Yes, he is still alive.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Is there any other wish that you have?