Human Rights Violation Hearings — Kimberley — 1996-06-10

CASE NO: CT/04106

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN Duly sworn states

DR BORAINE: Thank you very much, will you please be seated.  Mr Bosman you are a young man and you have suffered a great deal.  We are very grateful that you have come, we hope you will feel comfortable and relaxed as you tell your story.  And to assist you to do that, my colleague Glenda Wildschut will now take over from me, thank you.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Thank you very much Mr Chairman, I would like to point out to you that Mr Patrick Bosman was a young man involved in merely handing out pamphlets during a consumer boycott but since that day - that faithful day when all he was doing, was handing out pamphlets at a consumer boycott Mr Bosman's life has changed dramatically.  
 Good morning Mr Bosman, are you comfortable there.  I wonder if you couldn't just move closer to the microphone.  Okay, all right Mr Bosman could you tell us a little bit about yourself.  Tell us who you are, where you come from - perhaps how old you are and what you are  doing presently - what you are doing now.

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Patrick -  Patrick just take your time and tell your story slowly, okay.

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Patrick you are talking about at the time when you were in the police station and you were beaten and tortured in the police station.  Your shoulder was broken, is that right?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Did you ever receive any medical treatment for your broken shoulder at that time when you were beaten?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Are you all right to continue now, Patrick?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Patrick have you ever worked since that incident?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Can I ask you,  you mentioned earlier on that apart from your body being very badly injured you also feeling that emotionally you're not well.  Can you tell us a little bit about that?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: This passing out that happens to you, does it happen [indistinct]

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: So talking now is quite difficult for you, Patrick?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Patrick thank you very much for telling us about your story.  There might be other people on the panel who would like to ask you some questions, but we are very aware that it's - it's very difficult and it's painful and we want to make it as easy as possible for you.

CHAIRPERSON: [indistinct]  Dr Boraine?

DR BORAINE: I'll be very brief, Patrick are you receiving any medical treatment now?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

DR BORAINE: So at the moment you are not receiving any treatment at all?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

DR BORAINE: Thank you, when you left the hospital after you were assaulted and you spent about 2 - 3 days in the hospital,  you laid a charge of assault at the Kuruman Police Station.  What has happened about that?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

DR BORAINE: Can you remember ever been called to attend an identity parade so that you could point out who hurt you so badly?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

DR BORAINE: The last question then  you don't have to tell me that now but unless you want to but can you remember and perhaps we could get it from afterwards or now the names of the people who hurt you and assaulted you when you were in police custody?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

DR BORAINE: Are any of these still in the Police Force - are any of the people who hurt you still working for the police?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

DR BORAINE: Thank you very much Patrick.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Patrick, now that you've come to tell your story to the Commission, we know that you've suffered a lot but what is it that you would expect from the Commission.  What is it that we can do for you?

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: XHOSA -

CHAIRPERSON: XHOSA -

NO TRANSLATION: [THIS FOLLOWS ON TAPE 2]

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: [indistinct] the white guys - white policeman who hit me at the police station.  So I don't know how you could help me, you can offer any help you can offer to me if you can.

CHAIRPERSON: Thanks a lot and we are very touched to hear something of this nature and we know that the freedom we have achieved didn't come - it came through a lot of struggles.  We therefore ask God to give you strength through the problems we have and we'll try as a Commission to help you with your problems.

NZIMENI PATRICK BOSMAN: Thank you very much.
STATEMENT -