Human Rights Violation Hearings — Worcester — 1996-06-25

ADV POTGIETER: Mr Mrubahta, good morning, I just want to check whether you can hear me over the headphones, you can just indicate.

MR MRUBATA: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you very much, welcome here before you we accept, receive your evidence, is necessary for you to take the oath and for that purpose I'm going to administer an oath to you and ask you to swear to that.
PRINGLE NTANDO MRUBATA Duly sworn states

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you very much, I hand over to Pumla Gobodo.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Thank you Chairperson,  I greet you Ntando.  Could you please take off the earphones because you won't be using them.  We are going to communicate in the same language.
We have heard quite a long time about what happened to other people,  some people were murdered and the people who were responsible for that were vigilantes,  the Amasolomzi .  We would like to get more details about who are these vigilantes, who were they ?

MR MRUBATA: When I started to live at Zolani I found people who were called as Amasolomzi or vigilantes.  We didn't like what was happening because we knew that it was not long for us to have been here and we were suspicious of these people.
I was staying with my cousin and he was a vendor, he was selling vegetables.  We joined the struggle and we were members of the political organisation.  One day there was a funeral of one of our friend's mother, we attended this funeral, and we came back there was nothing particular to say anything about.
In the evening late the people who were travelling to Robertson were about to go, after a few minutes we heard a cry, and then we rushed through the place we wanted to see what was happening.  And we - on our way we saw Msizi Klaas.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Was he also a vigilante ?

MR MRUBATA: Yes, he was also a vigilante.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: We want the people to get clearly who were these vigilantes, where they black people who were also community members who were working together with the police?

MR MRUBATA: They were people who were selected as males who were suppose to patrol and try to prevent the aims of the youth.   I would state that the way in which they were nominated was not quite clear but usually they were expected to work in the evenings so as to implement a curfew for the youth especially after 9 pm.
And they were also Councillors who were elected and this was not known to us how were they elected and we objected to that.  We also learnt that the oppressive and repressive Government wanted to reinforce more people to guard and then the vigilantes were also placed in our vicinity so that they should be able to patrol.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Some of them were working at Langeberg during the day but in the evening they work as vigilantes.  In our research, investigations we realised that Chief Mabizela has findings that these vigilantes were the people who was working at Langeberg because it was the agency which was mostly responsible for employing the people from Ashton.  
And it was said that the people were bribed, were employed and then that employment was used as bribery so that they can also assist to work with the Councillors.  And also there were people who were  allocated houses and  other community members didn't benefit from the system.  
They were used as the eyes of the Community but it is understood that it was the impression that was given by the system so that they can curb the progress of the struggle.
We would like you to give an explanation of how did you lose both of your legs as you are now in a wheel chair, we understand that you are now confined in the wheel chair, how did this take place ?

MR MRUBATA: This happened when we rushed to the place where we heard that there was a cry.  We discovered that there was one of our comrades who was at the back of the van.  And then this gentleman pulled the car along the street.  During the period there were lot of people who were coming around and we wanted to hear what was going to be said by this the occupants of the van.
What they did was just to wait for the people to come nearer and then we heard the gunshot  and we dispersed.  I went to another house which was nearby because I was afraid of being hit by the bullet.  After a while the gunshots  subsided and I then I thought that I should get out probably nothing would happen to me.  
Unfortunately, when I was coming out of this  house I could that there some of the vigilantes who were nearby.  And then the minute they saw me Panie said here is this dog we've been looking for, and then I knelt down and I realised that I was unable to crawl.  
I saw Toto coming and then he said he also felt something I also could feel that there was something on my legs but I didn't understand what was happening.
Mzwakhe took me and he tried to drag me into one of the houses.  The youth now came along and they wanted to know what was happening and I could feel that there was something which was happening on my legs.  They also looked through and wanted how I  was the injured and then I was taken to hospital.
 [indistinct] father helped to transport  me to the hospital at Montagu, I lay on my back but I could feel that my feet were burning.  Thereafter I lost consciousness at Montagu.   My colleagues  informed me that when I lost consciousness they were chased away by Brilletjies, this was one of the policeman and amongst them there  were also vigilantes.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Were the vigilantes shooting with the guns ?

MR MRUBATA: Yes, they used the guns to shoot me.  I recovered and when I recovered I saw that it was this Brilletjies.   I closed my eyes again,  I think I fainted again, I was taken to Worcester Hospital.  The following day I regained consciousness again and I could feel as if I was on drips.  I didn't bother to understand what was taking place and I could see that there were  policemen who were guarding me but this didn't bother me much.  
As I completely regained my consciousness it was on a Sunday, there was another gentleman who asked me what happened I also wanted to know  what happened because I was not quite aware of  what was happening.  They stated that I was shot.
The following day on Monday, there was a Coloured and policeman I didn't know what was happening because one of them was handcuffed. I was trying to find out if I was handcuffed also but I could see that - no I was not handcuffed.  The doctor came in and the policemen left the ward.  
On the 3rd of June 1986 I was taken to Conradie Hospital, during the transfer then I was on treatment.  I realised that  I had a bullet inside my body I complained and reported that I could feel that there was still a bullet in my body.  When I enquired why they didn't remove the bullet they stated that they couldn't do it because it was on my ribs.  And as it is inside the rib there are two things that might happen.  I might die or if I could live I would be a cabbage.
And then I asked them what else can  help me about they said no, I can stay with this bullet and there no damage that would take place.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Are you having a bullet in your body ?