Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-09-09

WITNESS: That is not all I want to ask the Commission for.  I said that after this child had been shot in September, I had to flee and go and live at Kiep Kiep for about eight months because I was running away even from this one because I couldn't trust him.  It was as if he could even kill himself and then I left.  We found that the person we had left to care for our house was going to buy with the option of buying and in the flat which had been built by these children when they went to join the army, is that I had to even remove the sinks and to take everything of mine and when I got there I found that the village chief was looking for me and then asked me please to demolish the walls because the people that the assailants are going to hide behind these walls and then I went to the government to ask them for assistance which I did not receive and those people then came and they demolished the place and I was told to remove the old place after it had been demolished.  So I ask the Commission to please assist me because I lost my place in that fashion and that is what happened.

UNKNOWN:  How often did you go back to the house where you were staying before?

WITNESS:  Yes I went back when everyone was quietened down and I took this child's money and I built these three rooms once again.

UNKNOWN: Thank you very much Ms Nqabisa.  If there is anything that you omitted to say, you can mention it when questions are being put to you.  Thank you very much.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 1 - 9 SEPTEMBER 1996

CASE NO: 12

BONGANI FINCA: Mr Chairperson, we would like to call forward Zwelenkosi Baba Gwayi.
ZWELENKOSI BABA GWAYI   Duly sworn states

UNKNOWN: Thank you Mr Chairman.  Zwelenkosi, can you hear me?

WITNESS:  Yes.

UNKNOWN:  Can you please tell us your story of the 7th in front of the Commission in short.

WITNESS:  On the 7th September, on Monday there was a march to Bisho.  We went safely from Victoria grounds.  When we were facing the Bisho stadium, comrade Chris told us to sit down.  We didn't sit down.  We went on our way.  We went to Bisho and when we were there comrade Ronnie Kasrils was leading us and we went through the gates of Bisho and when we were on the field, the helicopter came and it drove us towards the stadium and I heard shots.  After those shots we ran away trying to get to Bisho, to Bisho stadium.  When we were near the bridge we heard another shot, that was a bullet passing me and the comrade in front of me fell down.

UNKNOWN:  Did you go to the hospital?

WITNESS:  Yes I went to Gray hospital and the Gray hospital was full and we were transferred to Cecilia Makiwane and I was helped there.  I didn't sleep there, I came back on Monday and I went home.

UNKNOWN:  Do you have any place in your body which was shot?

WITNESS:  No.

UNKNOWN:  Were you studying at that time?

WITNESS:  Yes I was studying at  [indistinct].

UNKNOWN:  Did you go back to school?

WITNESS:  Yes I did.

UNKNOWN:  What is your wish in front of this Commission?

WITNESS:  My first is that a Commission should request  [indistinct] to fund us with money but I know that it doesn't have money.

UNKNOWN: After this accident, what has changed in your life?---  No I just lost my three teeth.

UNKNOWN:  Otherwise you went back to school and you are studying now?

WITNESS:  Yes I am studying.

UNKNOWN:  You said the people who were shooting you, you would want them to come in front of this Commission?

WITNESS:  Yes.

UNKNOWN: Thank you sir.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Order please!  Mr Deputy Minister we would like to apologise.  We have just got two more.  Is that all right?  Thank you very, very much.  We thank you for your graciousness.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 1 - 9 SEPTEMBER 1996

CASE NO: 13

THEMBEKILE PHILLIP CEBA: THEMBEKILE PHILLIP CEBA   Duly sworn states

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you Chairperson.  Would you put on the headphones Mr Ceba.  Good afternoon, or good evening.  Can you hear the translation?

WITNESS:  Yes I can hear the translation.

ADV POTGIETER:  Thank you.  As we have heard earlier, you were one of those persons who were also present at the march that we are talking about here and you were in fact shot and injured in that march, is that correct?

WITNESS:  Yes that is true.

ADV POTGIETER:  Now we have already listened to some testimony about the circumstances as to what happened so I would like to take you straight to the point where the shooting started and then we can listen to your story from that point onwards.  Now according to your statement, it was when you were about reaching the stadium that you heard shots.