Human Rights Violation Hearings — Klerksdorp — 1996-09-26

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Molete, good afternoon, can you hear me?

MRS MOLETE: Yes, Sir.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you comfortable?

MRS MOLETE: Yes, Sir.

CHAIRPERSON: I am sure you must be tired, it has been a long day.  You too come from Hartebeesfontein.

MRS MOLETE: Yes, Sir.

CHAIRPERSON: You have come to tell us about Jackson Molete.

MRS MOLETE: Yes, Sir.

CHAIRPERSON: He was attacked and killed on the 13th of August 1992.

MRS MOLETE: Yes, Sir.

CHAIRPERSON: Before I hand you over to Prof Meiring who is going to be helping you with your statement, can you please tell us who is with you?

MRS MOLETE: That is my husband, Sir, Daniel Molete.

CHAIRPERSON: I welcome Mr Molete too.  Mrs Molete, would you please stand to take the oath.

ANNA MNONO MOLETE: (Duly sworn, states).

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Mrs Molete.  Prof Meiring.

PROF MEIRING: Mrs Molete, welcome from me too and welcome to your husband.  We have just heard the story of Mrs Mogapi. Her story took place in July in 1992.  Then six
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weeks later in the same small township, your story happened.  But before I ask you to tel your story, please tell us a little bit about yourself.  We see your husband, but I would like to know whether you have children and how old the children are.

MRS MOLETE: I have two children. The other one is schooling and the other one is not at a school.

PROF MEIRING: Thank you very much for that.  Please tell us what happened on that day, it was the 13th of August, you were in your house with your family.

MRS MOLETE: With regard to this matter I was not present.  He was together with Daniel Molete and his other sibling. That was on Saturday evening.  I went to Tigane office because I heard from the loudspeaker that people are wanted, people whose families have been killed by members of the Inkatha. Daniel Molete was not at home.  He went to Wolmaransstad to attend a municipal meeting, and I went to the office and I told the story as I was told, because I didn't witness the story myself. I told them that the house belonged to me. I wasn't at home, but on my arrival I asked what happened and I was given the story.

PROF MEIRING: Thank you.  And you say in your evidence that it was on the 13th of August, it was about seven o'clock at night, your brother-in-law and your husband were stabbed by a lot of IFP members. Is that what happened that day?

MRS MOLETE: Yes, that is correct.

PROF MEIRING: And then you say your brother-in-law, Jackson Molete was stabbed to death with a narrow iron rod, but your husband, Daniel, he managed to escape. How did it come about?  You say something about Johanna Molete called people.
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MRS MOLETE: Yes.

PROF MEIRING: Can you tell us about that.

MRS MOLETE: Daniel Molete has instructed me just now to let him speak, because he was there and I wasn't at home.

PROF MEIRING: Mrs Molete, you must tell Daniel that he must ask the Chair, he cannot instruct you, but he can ask the Chairperson whether he may make speak.

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, Piet.  Mrs Molete - we will first hear what she says.

MRS MOLETE: Daniel ...

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Molete, just a minute, just a minute.  Just a minute.  We have in fact noted that your husband is really the person who was involved in that particular incident and it is also appeared to us that it was perhaps a matter of convenience that you gave us the statement.  Your husband is here now and I do agree that it is perhaps more preferable for us to hear from him exactly what happened first-hand, what happened. But again, just subject to the arrangement that he will have to give us a statement, a written statement, which our staff will take from him.  But I will allow him to tell the story.  So if you want to add anything else to your story, to what you have already said, you can do that, and if you have done, I am going to ask your husband to be sworn in.

PROF MEIRING: Mrs Molete, just before your husband speak, is there anything else you want to say, while it is still your chance to speak?

MRS MOLETE: No, Sir.

PROF MEIRING: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: All right.  Dr Randera, can you swear Mr Molete in, please?
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DR RANDERA: Thank you. Mr Molete, will you please stand to take the oath.

DANIEL MOLETE: (Duly sworn, states).

DR RANDERA: Thank you, Mr Molete.

PROF MEIRING: Mr Molete, let us go back again. Yuo and your family in Tigane in Hartebeesfontein at Tigane, that's right. You and your brother-in-law were sitting at your house. It was the 13th of August 1992.  It was seven o'clock at night and then things happened.  Please tell us about that.