Human Rights Violation Hearings — Durban — 1996-08-28

UNKNOWN: I am sorry that I will be forced to ask you this question.  We want to know as to where Thubelihle's mother is?  Where is she staying?

WITNESS:   She is staying at V Section.

UNKNOWN: As well as the daughter?

WITNESS:   Yes.

COMMISSIONER: Mr Khumalo, we want to thank you very much for coming here and telling your story to us today.  Like the first witness, Mr Thusi, you have given us a very good description of what life was like for people who were opposed to the Government in the 1980s.  In your case it was not you, it was your son who was an activist, a youth activist, and it was he who lived and worked and died in Umlazi township.  You said in your evidence that he did not die, you said that he was slaughtered like an animal, that he had 52 stab wounds, and we have heard a lot of evidence like this before in other areas.  We heard evidence, for example, in Port Shepstone, where somebody was attacked because he belonged to the UDF, or because his son belonged to the UDF, and the attackers killed a one-month-old child, or a one-year-old child and burnt the body and put it into a pit toilet, and we were left wondering what drives people to do such terrible things, and we, like you, are left wondering what made do what they did to your son.  It is evidence of a deep contempt for human life, and also contempt for the dignity that a person should have after he or she has died, and it is also evidence of the deep divisions in our society.  Like the last two witnesses you have also mentioned the name of Mr Wellington Sabela, and as I have said, although he is dead, the party of which he was a member, the IFP, must take responsibility for the things that he said and the things that he did.  You also mentioned two other members, one who as an IFP councillor, Mr Cele, and a member of the Security Branch, Mr Dlamini, all of whom wanted to see your son dead.

COMMISSIONER: So thank you for having the courage to share the memory of your son's ... (inaudible - end of side A) ... wife today, and that you get some comfort from being able to appear here together.  We will do our best to investigate your son's death, and hopefully we can - after we have investigated we can provide you with some answers as to why he died and who killed him.  So finally again, thank you very much for coming in to talk to us today and sharing that story.

WITNESS:   Thank you.

COMMISSIONER: The next witness is Mr Dlamini, and his son.  Are you able to hear me and understand me through the ... (incomplete)

MR DLAMINI: Yes, I can hear.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... township, and you have come to tell us about the death of your son, Jacob Dlamini, and your harassment by the IFP.

MR DLAMINI: That is correct.  That's my other son.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... you here today as well.  Thank you.  Now, before you tell us this story can you please take the oath.  I can see that you are having some difficulty.  You don't have to stand up if you don't want to.
J DLAMINI

COMMISSIONER: Mrs Gcabashe will help you now with your evidence.

MRS GCABASHE: I do greet you, Mr Dlamini, as well as your son.  Is your son going to testify, or he's just rendering support?

WITNESS:   No, he's just accompanied me.  He's not going to give testimony.

MRS GCABASHE: As the Chairman had already said that you have come to relate to us about the death of your son.  Even before you go on further to talk about your son, we know that you lost a son, and could you please just give us a brief background as to your family, whether you still have a wife, how many children do you have, all that has to do with your family.

WITNESS:   I was in Gauteng.  I was staying in Krugersdorp.  I had a cinema there.

MRS GCABASHE: Please just give us a brief background about your family.

WITNESS:   My family is my son.  His name is Induna Dlamini.  I also have a daughter.  Her name is Sana Dlamini.  As well as Moses Dlamini, who was left after my son had been killed.  That is at Lindelani.

MRS GCABASHE: You had three children.

WITNESS:   No, I had five children.  The two were killed.  There is not even a single one who got ill, but they were killed by certain people.

MRS GCABASHE: What about their mother?  Do they still have a mother?

WITNESS:   Their mother has recently died.  That is in 1995.

MRS GCABASHE: Do you have any grandchildren?

WITNESS:   Yes, I do have grandchildren, I have plenty, but they are not staying with me.

MRS GCABASHE: Even before we move on further you said your children, that is your sons, were killed.

WITNESS:   That is correct.

MRS GCABASHE: What about the other ones there too?  How many are alive?  Did this have anything to do with politics, or they were just killed?

WITNESS:   The other one was killed by Thomas Shabalala at Lindelani.

MRS GCABASHE: We are still going to get to that, but we are still trying to get the background as to the other children, because you said they were also killed.

WITNESS:   That is correct.

MRS GCABASHE: Now, my question is did it have anything to do with politics?

WITNESS:   It has something to do with politics, that is correct.

MRS GCABASHE: Now, amongst those who died what were their names and what were the circumstances surrounding their deaths?

WITNESS:   The youngest was Nthombolongwani Dlamini.  His other name was Jacob Dlamini. What happened to Jacob?   ---   Jacob was at Lindelani Station.  He was about to take a taxi home.  As he was still at the station he saw Inkatha Freedom Party.  He was asked as to what he was waiting for, and they started assaulting him at that point.  He tried to plead with them and he told them that his father was very well known.  He mentioned my name.  And at that time when he mentioned my name that's when they decided that they should kill him, because they said I had organised a vigil for Mrs Nxengi.  He stayed for four days at the hospital, and thereafter he died.  He had been assaulted and he had injuries all over his body.

MRS GCABASHE: I am listening.  You can continue.

WITNESS:   After that had happened - he was killed because he had mentioned my name, and that I had allowed Mrs Nxengi's funeral to be conducted at the Umlazi Cinema, which belonged to me.  That is why he was attacked.

MRS GCABASHE: So that we get a clearer picture, you were talking about the fact that you were in Krugersdorp.