Amnesty Hearings — Boksburg — 1998-09-15

MS CAMBANIS: Please will you tell the Committee in your own words what you remember and what happened as a result of that explosion?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: It was in the morning on Sunday on the 24th April 1994.  I left my home, I went to work in the corner Bree and King George Street.  Early in the morning at about past nine we were waiting there at the corner of Bree and Wanderers.  There were policemen there and they were searching people.  After that, it didn't take long, the bomb exploded in Bree Street.

MS CAMBANIS: And what is the next thing you remember Mrs Ngwenya?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: After the explosion I was taken to hospital.  I couldn't see much.

MS CAMBANIS: And is it correct that as a result of this explosion you sustained injuries to your jaw and to your leg?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: Yes it's correct, I even have letters from hospital.  I can't eat nicely, I'm being injured, I can't even walk nicely, I can't work for my children.

MS CAMBANIS: And that you've had a series of operations all of which have been unsuccessful?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: Yes I had a series of operations and I also underwent an operation where a bone in my hip was removed and another bone was put in my jaw - it didn't work.  I have an iron and I'm going to die like this.

MS CAMBANIS: And ma'am on Monday of this hearing, you were unable to attend this hearing because you once again had to be admitted to hospital for treatment to your jaw.  Is that correct?  Yesterday?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: Yes that is correct.  There's a possibility that on Friday I'll be admitted in hospital because they're still trying.  There's part of my flesh which has been removed.

MS CAMBANIS: Mrs Ngwenya, we've annexed for the Committee copies of a letter from the Department of Justice dated 1994 which is the time at which you began enquiring about opposing any applications for amnesty in this connection, is that correct?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: Yes that is correct.

MS CAMBANIS: Would you please tell the Committee in your own words why it is that you are opposing amnesty for these applicants?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: First of all they've realised that they've injured people in Bree Street.  They continued doing these acts, they don't have a conscience.  They liked doing this and they enjoyed seeing us suffering for being black.  They were fighting blacks, like they said they were targeting blacks at the taxi ranks.  There's no taxi rank in Bree Street, there's no taxi rank there.

MS CAMBANIS: Mrs Ngwenya, finally - is there anything further you would like to tell or ask the Committee?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: Bree Street is far from ANC offices.  There's nothing that anyone can come and fight or politicians in Bree Street are very far.  They just looked for blacks and they were fighting blacks, that's all they were looking for.

MS CAMBANIS: Thank you Mr Chair, there's nothing further.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS CAMBANIS

CHAIRPERSON: Mr van Zyl have you got any questions?

MR VAN ZYL: I've got no questions.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR VAN ZYL

MR MOTLAUNG: I've got no questions Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Landman?

MR LANDMAN: No questions.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR LANDMAN

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Kriel.

ANDRIES STEPHANUS KRIEL: No questions.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR KRIEL

MS VAN DER WALT: This statement of yours that was handed over to us - in paragraph 11 you say that you oppose this application and then you say "I do not believe the applicants have told the truth about who was involved in the bombing."  Is that correct?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: ...[inaudible]

MS VAN DER WALT: In your statement you say that you oppose this application and then I'm going to read to you what it says there
"I do not believe that the applicants have told the truth about who was involved in the bombing."

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: There is no truth about whatever they have said.  I can't tell their truth even if I'm trying to follow up their statements, I can't tell the truth there.

MS VAN DER WALT: I read from your statement.  You say that they do not tell the truth about who was involved in the bombing?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: That's what I'm saying.  That's what I'm saying that they aren't telling the truth.

MS VAN DER WALT: You said they do not know who was responsible for it or did your attorney insert that?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: I'm hearing this on my own, I can tell it's not the truth.

MS VAN DER WALT: Why do you say that they are not talking the truth and that they are saying that they are not involved or not responsible?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: Because they said their targets were the taxi ranks and Bree is far from a taxi rank.  Bree Street is far from the taxi rank and it's not the centre of the city.

CHAIRPERSON: Isn't the statement saying that she alleges that the applicants were not involved?

MS VAN DER WALT: The way I see it is ...[intervention]

CHAIRPERSON: The word "all" does not have to be there but if you take the word "all" in the second line and you change it to "who" then it makes sense.  "Who all" were involved.

MS VAN DER WALT: You oppose this application.  I understand that you were injured and I do sympathise with you but if I understand your evidence then you do not want to reconcile either.  Is that correct?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: Yes that is correct.  I've suffered a lot and I'm going to go to my grave like this.  I also want them to suffer the same.  I will suffer like this until I die.  I want them to remain in prison.

MS VAN DER WALT: You are not willing like the parents of Amy Biehl who also suffered and where Amy Biehl was killed because she was a white woman, you are not willing to, like those parents, reconcile yourself with what happened.  Is that true?

SIFISO FREDA NGWENYA: I cannot force myself to forgive them.  I'm still hurting.

MS VAN DER WALT: Thank you, no further questions.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS VAN DER WALT

CHAIRPERSON: Yes thank you, you're excused.
WITNESS EXCUSED

MS CAMBANIS: Thank you.  Mr Archie Khumalo please.
	Sorry, Mr Chair before we proceed - in fact I only made copies for the Members of the Committee.  I don't know if we should take a short adjournment.

CHAIRPERSON: No, it's okay they can have one of ours.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Khumalo, what language would you prefer to use?

ARCHIE KHUMALO: Zulu.

ARCHIE KHUMALO: (sworn states)

MS CAMBANIS: Thank you Mr Chairman.
	Mr Khumalo you similarly consulted and prepared a statement, first paragraphs of which disclose details, reference numbers for the purposes of the TRC, is that correct?

ARCHIE KHUMALO: That is correct.

MS CAMBANIS: On the 24th April 1994 you were in your motor vehicle parked in Bree Street when the bomb exploded, is that correct?

ARCHIE KHUMALO: That is correct.

MS CAMBANIS: Please will you tell the Committee what you saw prior or noticed prior to the explosion of the bomb in Bree Street?

ARCHIE KHUMALO: Yes I can.

MS CAMBANIS: Please proceed.

ARCHIE KHUMALO: I parked my car at Bree Street.  It was cold.  I went to Morkels.  I saw a car coming and there was smoke coming from this car.  I can't remember whether there were two people but they started waving their hands.  After that or after two minutes a bomb exploded.

MS CAMBANIS: Were you injured as a result of that explosion?

ARCHIE KHUMALO: Yes, I had head injuries, my legs and my foot.

MS CAMBANIS: And there was also damage to your vehicle, is that correct?

ARCHIE KHUMALO: Yes there was damage.

MS CAMBANIS: Mr Chair, I see in paragraph 8 the last two lines, that I've coined a new term which I apologise for - it's "reason."
	Mr Khumalo, your instructions are that you oppose the applications of these applicants.  Is that correct?

ARCHIE KHUMALO: Yes that's correct.  I can't forgive these people because even my car was not insured.  I don't have a car today.

MS CAMBANIS: Mr Khumalo, is there anything further you would like to tell the Committee?