Amnesty Hearings — Bloemfontein — 1998-08-18

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: It's easy, because of their khaki uniform and their big hats like the cowboy hats and they were armed.  Some were armed with two firearms.  So it was quite easy to identify them.

CHAIRPERSON: Did they come into the shop dressed like that?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: Yes.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Can I proceed, Mr Chairman?

CHAIRPERSON: Yes.
"I was made to believe that the approval was given by the Director of Operations.  An order was given to attack the target."
	Now, what gave you the impression that the order was approved by the Director of Operations?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: It is because I heard that from the regional commander, who was my superior.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Now, last sentence
"I was assisted by George Thabang Mazete to draw up the map and plan of the target."
	Can you explain that to the Committee, how did that happen?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: George Mazete is a person who was recruited by myself to be the member of the taskforce, because I wanted it to be easy to get him when necessary.  It was appropriate for him to be there when we are doing the reconnaissance.  It was also good for him to get experience on how to do some of the things.

CHAIRPERSON: Where did you know him from?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: I met him there at Wesselsbron.  As I was doing this area assessment when I arrived there, I got to know people and I could see who are the people who were qualified to be the members of the taskforce, so that whenever it is necessary for us to get a person whenever we need some reinforcement, we knew whom to consult.

MR MALAN: Are you saying he was a member of the public at Wesselsbron?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: No, he was also a member of the organisation, the one that I belonged to.

MR MALAN: Where did you learn this?

INTERPRETER: Could the speaker please repeat the question?

MR MALAN: Where did you learn that he was a member of the organisation, because you only said you met with him Wesselsbron?  Who told you he was a member of the organisation?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: I used to see him wearing the T shirt of the organisation, and even in meetings, he would be present and he was one of the people who were participating during the debates and the discussions.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Did Mazete know that when you asked him to assist you in drawing up the map and making the reconnaissance, did he know that this place is going to be attacked?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: No, he didn't know.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Mr Chairman, if there are no questions on that paragraph, I want to move to paragraph 12
"Sebinzile came with arms and ammunition, and he was accompanied by Khotle when he brought the arms and ammunition.  The arms consisted of five R4's, one .38 revolver, .32 revolver, two rifle grenades, two hand grenades, one F1 and two M26 grenades."
	Can you tell the Committee, when these arms were brought to you, were you told where these arms were coming from?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: Yes, as the commander, I was supposed to know where they were coming from.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Tell the Committee where they were coming from?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: They were coming from Umtata.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Do you know how do they come from Umtata to Wesselsbron?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: As I was not there, I don't know how they came from Umtata or what happened, I only know that I got a report that they were from Umtata.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Mr Chairman, I move to paragraph 13
"I took one R4 and handed the rest to Khotle.  The other comrades were staying in Welkom."
	Now can you tell the Committee, why did you take an R4 and you gave the rest to Khotle?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: Yes, I was alone, I couldn't take all the arms with me, I could only take one and then others were to be handed to the Africans, so that if anything happens, they were not with me, all of them.

MR MBANDAZAYO: I proceed to paragraph 14, Mr Chairman, if there are no questions.
"On the 3rd July 1993, I decided that it will be a suitable day for the attack, as I established during my reconnaissance of the target that members of the AWB and security forces liked to linger around the supermarket and stay there chatting during Fridays and Saturday evenings."
	Now, can you tell the Committee with whom did you decided that this will be a suitable day for the attack on the supermarket?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: I took this decision with the regional commander.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Paragraph 15
"We were a unit of five, myself, Sebinzile, Ngesi, Sibande, all of us armed with R4's and in addition Sibande having a grenade, and Stelitzo Hale, the driver, unarmed."
	Now my question will be, can you elaborate on Sebinzile and Sibande to the Committee, because the other one you mentioned, they are the applicants, can you tell the Committee about Sebinzile and and Sibande?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: Sebinzile passed away in 1994.  Sibande, I don't know where he is, but they were the people who were there, together with Ngesi.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Now, paragraph 16
"The other comrades came from Welkom with arms on the day of the operation, and they arrived in Wesselsbron around half past eight.  I briefed them for the first time about the operation and it was easy for me, because all of them were familiar with the target.  The target was closing at 21:00, at nine o'clock, and we had to rush before they close."
	Now, can you tell the Committee about your briefing of the other members of the unit?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: When they arrived, I told them about the target, I told them that we're going to attack Wesselsbron Supermarket.  They then knew that the Wesselsbron Supermarket was in front of the taxi rank, it was easy for them to identify or to know the target I was talking about.
	Now, paragraph 17:-
"According to the plan, I was to lead the attack and others will follow.   Myself, Ngesi and Sebinzile were to enter the supermarket..."
...(intervention).

CHAIRPERSON: Just before you proceed there, on paragraph 16 still, when did the other comrades coming from Welkom, did get instructions to come to Wesselsbron, and how did they get instructions?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: They got instructions from the regional commander, because it was myself and the regional commander who knew the target, they received a message from the regional commander that they would meet me in Wesselsbron and I would brief them and tell them about the target.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Thank you, Mr Chairman.
"According to the plan, I was to lead the attack and others would follow.  Myself, Ngesi and Sebinzile were to enter the supermarket and Sibande would be at the door.  When we were inside the supermarket, I ordered the comrades to shoot and after that we took the money."
	Now, Mr Bhani, I want you to take the Committee through what happened when you entered the supermarket, give them a picture, all of us were not there, you were there, give them a picture as to what actually took place when you entered the supermarket at Wesselsbron?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: We stopped the car in front of the supermarket.  I was the first person to enter the supermarket.  When I was at the door, I met a woman.  I then grabbed this woman and took her inside.  I told them to lift their hands, all of them, and they did so, and other comrades came in.  I then told them to shoot.  After that, I told them to take money.  We then withdraw.

MR MBANDAZAYO: You told the Committee that you gave an order to open fire, is there any other person who was giving order, except yourself, regarding what is supposed to take place inside the supermarket?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: No, there was nobody else who was giving order there, except myself, Bhani, I was the one giving the order about what should be done.

MR MBANDAZAYO: Now, can you tell the Committee, do you know how much money did you manage to get at the supermarket?

MANGALISEKILE BHANI: We got R4 000,00 in cash and some cheques.  We then burnt the cheques and we surrendered the money to the regional commander.