Human Rights Violation Hearings — Welkom — 1996-10-09

MR DLAMINI: Thank you, Mama.  We have noted your concern that you would like to get to the truth surrounding the death of your son.  We'll try our best and ask you for the co-operation and the help of the two known people, namely Moatludi and Moloi, to help us.  And also we have noted your request on behalf of the community for more schools to be built and we'll convey that request to the State President who will decide after we have finalised the whole work of the Truth Commission in two years time.  I will not hand over back to the Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mrs Gcabashe?

MRS GCABASHE: I want to take you a little bit further back.  I do understand that this is a very painful story for you to keep on repeating it, but we just want to get some clarity on certain aspects.  According to your statement the police were giving you different versions  as to how your son died.  They first alleged that he had robbed a house and he had fought with someone.  As he was involved in politics, do you know as to which political organisation he was affiliated to?

WITNESS:   He was affiliated to the ANC.

MRS GCABASHE: How long was he in the ANC?

WITNESS:   It was quite some time but I can't say accurately as to the number of years.

CHAIRPERSON: Professor Magwaza

PROF MAGWAZA: The question I would like to address you, Mama Moroane, is about you and your family.  How has this experience affected you and your children?

WITNESS:   It has affected us quite adversely because we are traumatised by the situation.  I'm always depressed and even his brother died when he was at work and the other one is not even working.

PROF MAGWAZA: I can see that, you know, you're very hurt.  Are you getting any treatment for your health?

WITNESS:   Yes, I do go to the clinic to get some treatment.

PROF MAGWAZA: And it's treatment for what?

WITNESS:   They say I've got high blood.

PROF MAGWAZA: Did you have it before your son died or is it something that developed afterwards?

WITNESS:   I suffered from high blood after my son's death and when the second one died the situation became worse.

PROF MAGWAZA: Can I ask one question?  What happened to your second son?  How did he die?  Your other son, how did he die?

WITNESS:   Are you referring to the one who died while he was at work?

PROF MAGWAZA: Yes?

WITNESS:   He was stabbed at work but we do not know as to how he died because he was brought home  already dead.

PROF MAGWAZA: I think, Mama Moroane, you have a very tragic story about your family which was so big and now what has tragically befell your family.  And I understand why your health has been affected.  One of the things which we try to do is to help.  We look at how we can help as soon as possible in come other instances and, for people like you, like to make arrangements with the Health Department to see how they can investigate your condition and help you as much as they can.  But for other things as has already been stated, we have noted everything and we will pass it to the President.  Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Mama Seipati.  There's something which is very impressive about your request, this one about - thinking about the community.  Our schools are really bad in the townships.  That you could link this with the request of your son's death is something very marvellous.  That you still think about the community in spite of the fact that you have lost so much.  Even the husband who shared with you this pain of your son's death is no more with you to be with you and support you.  Mr Mdu Dlamini has already said - and this had been reiterated by Professor Simangele - that we have noted all this and we shall channel it to the government.  And also these people who are mentioned here, Policeman Moloi and Policeman Moatludi, the investigation unit of the TRC will try by all means to see if they cannot come forward and tell us about the story about how your son died whilst he was in the cell.  Thank you very much, Mama.  God bless you.
/CHAIRMAN

CHAIRPERSON: Now, the next witness is going to be Patrick Morake.
EXCHANGE OF GREETINGS BETWEEN CHAIRMAN AND WITNESS

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you for coming to give us the story which has been a cancer in your heart eating you and through the grace of God the TRC was introduced so that people can tell their stories.  But before you do that I'm going to ask you to stand up and take an oath that what you are going to say here is true, God being your helper.

PATRICK MORAKE: (Sworn states) (Through Interpreter)

CHAIRPERSON: Now, I'm going to ask one of my colleagues, Mrs ReginA Gcabashe, to lead you in the process as you tell your story.

MRS GCABASHE: Good afternoon, Mr Morake.  How are you feeling today?

WITNESS:   I'm fine.

MRS GCABASHE: As the Chairman has already said that I'm going to help you to lead your testimony so that we should get the facts as to what happened.  Just before we start I would like to ask you as to how old you were at the time that this took place.

WITNESS:   I was 20 years old at the time.

MRS GCABASHE: Are you still staying at the very same place where you were staying when this took place, that is at Jewel Park?

WITNESS:   That is correct.  I'm still staying there.

MRS GCABASHE: According to your statement you said this happened - you were shot at by the Wit Wolwe.  Can you please explain - or even before you explain just tell us briefly about your family as to whether you still have parents, have you got any siblings?

WITNESS:   There are  two boys at home.  I still have parents but at the moment my father has since passed away as well as my elder brother so I'm left with one brother as well as my mother.

MRS GCABASHE: Is your mother working?

WITNESS:   No, my mother is not employed.

MRS GCABASHE: Are you employed?

WITNESS:   Yes, I am employed.

MRS GCABASHE: Where are you working?

WITNESS:   I'm working at the Beatrix mine.

MRS GCABASHE: You can now relate your story.