Human Rights Violation Hearings — Moutse — 1996-12-02

MR MAHLANGU: There were people at Kwagga and they came down because we were going to have a meeting in the community hall.  As they were still waiting for the whole group so that they can make a convoy to Siyabuswa the lights were switched off at Siyabuswa Garage and their cars were poured with petrol and people were assaulted.  Mahlangu even died on the spot.  Those who managed to escape took different directions and they went to inform others that our people have been killed.  I was also among the people who were informed and we went into the whole area to go and hunt those who attacked our people.  There was a fight and some of them were captured and we went with them to Siyabuswa.  When we arrived in Siyabuswa I decided to leave because I was a diabetic person.  I said I want to go early to bed because if I do not do that I am going to be dizzy.  I left them and I went to bed.
 The next morning when I went to see them again they were still there.  I said to them, what are you going to do with these people.  They said to me, no, do not mind.  We are just going to release them.  I followed them up to 
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Motete to make it a point that they dropped the people off. The police were there and my people told the police to leave this person alone because he will revert the whole information.

RUSSELL ALLY: But what happened at Siyabuswa in the hall where these people were taken to?  Do you have any knowledge of what happened to them and who was involved?

MR MAHLANGU: When I arrived at this hall at Siyabuswa I decided to leave because I am a diabetic person and you are always sleepy and I went home to sleep.  What happened thereafter, I do not know.

RUSSELL ALLY: And did, after 1986, when KwaNdebele got its own police force and there was also the South African Police and also the Defence Force.  To your knowledge was there ever a special relationship between the police and Imbokhoto because some people claim that the police often protected Imbokhoto?  How would you respond to that charge?

MR MAHLANGU: Imbokhoto once worked with the police.  It was co-operating with the police at the time when the people were telling the police that their area is not safe especially at night and they raided the area.  When they a gun in a house that is not licences they would take it to the police.  People were always taken to Imbokhoto when they have appeared before the King.

RUSSELL ALLY: To your knowledge, was Imbokhoto every involved in any unlawful or criminal activities?

MR MAHLANGU: According to my knowledge I have never heard anything, I have never heard any criminal case that was done by Imbokhoto.

RUSSELL ALLY: Thank you, Father.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much. Any further questions?
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Joyce Seroke.

MS SEROKE: Mr Mahlangu, you say Imbokhoto, you are still a member of Imbokhoto.  Are you still a member?

MR MAHLANGU: Yes, I am.

MS SEROKE: Now, tell us, what is the vision of Imbokhoto, what it its main objective?  Is it still the same one as when Imbokhoto began?  What is Imbokhoto doing now?

MR MAHLANGU: No, Imbokhoto is now a political organisation.  It is now concentrating on political matters.  The name changed from Imbokhoto to Sindawunye Progressive Party and it became the opposition party in the KwaNdebele Cabinet, but the KwaNdebele Government did not allow it to sit in the Parliament.

MS SEROKE: At the time you were going to home to sleep because of the diabetes did you not hear what happened after you left?  The next morning when you went back you found them still there.  Did you not ask them what happened after you left?

MR MAHLANGU: When I arrived and asked them what happened they harassed me and they even said they would assault me.  One of them pointed a gun at me.  He said how do I get it right to go home and sleep and thereafter come back, ask them what have they done.  I decided to leave the matter as it was.

CHAIRPERSON: Any further questions?  Fazel Randera.

DR RANDERA: Mr Mahlangu, can I say we are glad to hear that the petrol that was doused on you that day did not come alight.  My question is really related to that.  Do you know how many other people actually ...

MR MAHLANGU: I will not specifically say how many people have been affected, but many people were effected really.
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Some of them were burnt and I normally say I am the only person who survived the petrol during those years.  I know many people who were burnt to death.

DR RANDERA: Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.  Thomas Manthata.

THOMAS MANTHATA: This you did not say, I do not know whether you were stopped.  Would you perhaps know at what point did King Mayisha abandon the idea of the independence for KwaNdebele?

MR MAHLANGU: I do not know what motivated the King to leave this independence issue.  I really do not know, but he told me to support him and the Chief raised it in the Parliament.  There were votes and it went on, but the one who requested me to support him never ever raised this issue in the Cabinet.  What made him to decline from raising it, I do not know.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Right from the beginning when you talked about Imbokhoto you sounded like saying that Imbokhoto wanted all the Ndebeles to be one thing.  That is why you made reference to the Ndebeles in Moleklane?  Am I correct?

MR MAHLANGU: At that time, we must remember this issue started at the King and all the Ndebeles were listening to the King.  All of them wanted to emerge as Imbokhoto.  The Moleklane and the Ndebeles come in this issue at the time when we wanted to meet and decide on the name.  The King said let this be Itwala and we said, no, we have Itwala which is a rock at Harmanskraal, but let us suggest another name.  That is when we came up with this Imbokhoto name.  I have minutes of the meeting.  If you want the minutes, I still have them.  They were written by Tron and he gave us files.  I gave the minutes to the Commission of Enquiry,
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but many people have minutes, they did not submit them to the Commission.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Sorry, I may be making you to repeat.  What was the attitude of Imbokhoto towards Moutse incorporation?

MR MAHLANGU: Imbokhoto was co-operating because their area was taken into Lebowa and Moutse was incorporated into KwaNdebele.  It was obvious that we were going to be left with nothing if our place is incorporated into KwaNdebele.

THOMAS MANTHATA: You still maintain that Imbokhoto is still alive and kicking?  What is its attitude towards the unity in and among the KwaNdebele people and with the Moutse people at this time?

MR MAHLANGU: Imbokhoto is doing nothing for the people of Moutse and KwaNdebele.  It is only happy for them and it thanks them.  Those who did not want to be incorporated were not supposed to be forced and we cannot fight them.  Those of KwaNdebele would not want Imbokhoto, did not want independence and we just left them as they were.  That is why we did not even want to fight them physically.  We decided to move away into an isolated area where we can have peace of mind.

THOMAS MANTHATA: But what would you say today with the call made by King Mayisha that he desires reconciliation and peace in the whole region of Moutse, KwaNdebele?

MR MAHLANGU: We share the same sentiments as the King even though our hearts are sore because we are broke as now.  There is nothing that we can do.  That is a most disturbing first factor.  If he can compensate us, maybe, or help us in any way, we can accept that and go back.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Thank you Mr Mahlangu.