Amnesty Hearings — Welkom — 1998-11-17

ISAAC MOHOMANE: As I've already explained that comrade has approved that we should do something, the unit which I've already formed.  He explained to me that that is an underground cell and then our task was to counteract violence which was done by the police and the State in torturing and harassing our people.
	I remember well that it was on Thursday when we reached an agreement that I should come and see him so that we should come up with the final decision of what to do.  We met on the 3rd of June, then he asked me about my unit and I said we are a unit of four, then he gave me a 357 pistol which was fully loaded so that we should go and carry out an operation on Friday, which was the 4th of June.
	On that day whoever was a policeman was supposed to be shot at.  He gave us orders that we should not disarm them, we should shoot them and we should not take their guns so that the message should be sent to their masters that their days are numbered and that that message should reach their masters and their bosses.
	On Friday I went to see my comrades and set up an appointment that at 5 o'clock we should meet at comrade Mosia's place where we used to do our training.  At 5 o'clock I arrived at Mosia's place.  I arrived there around half past five.  I found comrade Mosia and Jack Mofokeng.  We waited for Solomon Sera because he was working, so that we should wait for him and explain what he should do.
	Around half past six to seven comrade Solomon Sera arrived together with his car, he came with his car.  We sat down and planned about the operation because the commander has already issued a command target location, so that those people which are targets are the police and the area which should be targeted were police stations and shopping centres because they used to go there for lunch or supper.  If we don't get them at the shopping centres we should go to the police station where we would find them.
	On that particular day, it was around past eight to nine when we decided that myself and Solomon should go together and patrol as to where we would find out targets.  After we left, Solomon Sera took a decision that we should start at the shopping centre and look at the parking area as to whether their cars are not parked in that area, as I've already explained.
	When we arrived at the parking area we were able to identify one of the police cars, that was a Mitsubishi Canter.  We knew exactly that that car was used by the police.  We stayed there for a few minutes.  I told Solomon Sera that we should leave and then go and fetch our other remaining comrades because I was having a gun which is a 357, which I took it from the commander and the 15 shooter I left it with Solomon Sera.  
	We went back to fetch comrades and together with the gun we went back to the shopping centre.  Around past 9 to 10 'clock the kombi was still there where we saw it earlier.  We agreed with Solomon Sera that we should go and park the car a kilometre away from the scene.
	He returned after parking the car, Phillip Mosia.  We instructed him to go and survey where those police were inside the shopping centre.  He went inside the restaurant.  He returned and gave us a report that they were still in the restaurant and they are still eating and they had bottles of liquor.  
	After he returned we stayed outside and waited for them to come out.  They came out around half past eleven.  I informed Solomon Sera to return to the car so that after finishing the operation we should find him in the car.
	I had the 537.  My assistant who is Jack Mofokeng was having a 15 shooter.  Unfortunately at half past twelve they went out.  That is where we started shooting.  We were given an order that we should not disarm them, we should shoot them so that the message should be clear, so that the authorities should know that if the police continue with their torture therefor their days are numbered.
	After we finished with the operation we went to the car.  I gave the driver those guns so that he should leave with them.  He left me at my place where I slept.

MR MHLABA: And when were you arrested, was it the following day of after some days?

ISAAC MOHOMANE: I was arrested on the following day, that was the 5th of June.  After my friend has arrived whom I attended school with before we were staying in Soweto, when we were in his car together with his friend we met the police and they wanted to search the car and ourselves.  From there they asked us whose car was it and then the driver answered them that whose the owner of the car.  They informed the driver that they suspected the car, that it was used for theft.
	They took us to the police station and phoned John Vorster Square and phoned as to whether that is not a stolen car or was involved in criminal activities.  We were taken to the charge office.  We were divided into various places.  I was left in the office until the following day, then they locked me in the cell.
	I was released after they asked me about the incident which happened a day before, then I told them that I know nothing about that incident.  They asked me as to whether, where do I know those people from with whom I was in the car.  I told them that I only one person who was the occupant of the car, because he was a student with me before.  Then I was tortured and they asked me about guns.  Then they detained me.
	On Monday during the night they called me together with others then we were released.  On the 9th again they came to detain me again about this incident.  That is where I was charged.  I was taken to Court.  After that I was convicted then sentenced for death.

MR MHLABA: Did you have an opportunity to report back to your commander about the operation after this incident?

ISAAC MOHOMANE: He was already aware that we've accomplished this operation because he told me that he will see that, if we can follow the method he informed us about to operate, to do this operation, he would know that we are responsible for that incident.

MR MHLABA: Why did you identify the two deceased and kill them, or why in particular them or police officers, to put it differently?

ISAAC MOHOMANE: As I've already explained, on that particular day the order was given that whoever is a member of the police whom we'd meet on that particular day we should shoot.  We were given an order that those we would attack we should not take their guns from them.

MR MHLABA: You mentioned that you were given powers to establish your own unit, what other powers were you given insofar as it regards running your unit?

ISAAC MOHOMANE: Other powers I was given was that if as a commander of that particular unit I feel that my unit is running short of weapons, I must consult my commander and inform him about that need.  They ...(indistinct) given me an order to disarm the police so that our unit should be well armed.

MR MHLABA: How big was your unit in membership size, how many people did you have in your unit?

ISAAC MOHOMANE: We were four in that particular unit.

MR MHLABA: And what was the chain of command, were you supposed to report back to your commander or anyone of the units could go and talk to your commander?

ISAAC MOHOMANE: Yes, that was an order which I was given, that I should not do things on my own, I should not take any decision on my own without consultation with my commander.  I must consult my commander at all times in the ANC offices in Phuthaditjhaba then he would assess the situation and the need.  After that assessment he would make a decision in terms of my report and his assessment.

MR MHLABA: After this incident, did you ever have an opportunity to meet your commander, either while you were in prison or shortly before you were arrested?