Human Rights Violation Hearings — Krugersdorp — 1996-11-11

MRS MAPHOSA: Yes, I do want to meet them.  I want them to tell me.  I want to get it from the horses mouth as to what happened, what did my son do.  So that even if he dies tomorrow I should know why he died.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Maphosa, I just want to come back to what I think both Dr Russel Ally and Ms Seroke have asked you.  Which is when did you find out that your son was part of the Gadaffi group?

MRS MAPHOSA: After he had been assaulted.

CHAIRPERSON: But you had heard in the community that there was the Mazimzims and the Gadaffis?

MRS MAPHOSA: Yes, I had heard at that time, but I did not really care much about what was happening around me and I never thought he was actually involved.  I did not even want to involve myself in such matters and follow them up.  I only followed the matter up after he had been injured.

CHAIRPERSON: We also heard that some of the Gadaffi members were sent to, somebody said Transkei, other people said KwaZulu-Natal to see the traditional doctors to make them themselves invincible.  Did Vincent never disappear for a
KRUGERSDORP HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
12 M MAPHOSA
period of time?

MRS MAPHOSA: Not to my recollection.  Even the day on which he was going to be assaulted, it was at about past seven in the evening.  He was from the shop.  I had sent him to the shop and he said he was going to his friends place.  They wanted to study and he would come back that very same night.

CHAIRPERSON: Now, this story that you have told us is from Vincent, right.  Can I just say that we do not have a statement from Vincent.  You said that he has made a statement.  He has not made a statement.

MRS MAPHOSA: Yes, I was told by Vincent.  This was related to me by Vincent.  Whatever is written in there was submitted by me.

CHAIRPERSON: But he has not made a statement to the Truth Commission.

MRS MAPHOSA: No, he did not.

CHAIRPERSON: And the names that you mention of the people who abducted Vincent and them, did you ever speak to Philiman Mtolo to see whether there was any agreement on the names?

MRS MAPHOSA: Whose names?

CHAIRPERSON: The names of the people, the Mazimzim people who took your son and the other people away from the tavern.  Philiman also survived, did he not, he is alive?

MRS MAPHOSA: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Now, did either Vincent or Philiman make a case against the Mazimzim?

MRS MAPHOSA: Yes, they did.

CHAIRPERSON: And did it go to court.

MRS MAPHOSA: It went to court.

CHAIRPERSON: What happened in the court case?
KRUGERSDORP HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
13 M MAPHOSA

MRS MAPHOSA: We went to Potchefstroom for the first time.  That was in 1992, August 1992.  When we got to Potchefstroom we stayed for quite some time and we were told that we should go back home, we were going to be advised as to when the matter was going to be heard.  Then in 1993 the attorneys who kept contact with us further told us that we were supposed to go to Pretoria Supreme Court.  That was in 1993.  That is where at the Supreme Court we went with the police as well as Sibo Siswo and Steve Mudibede.  That is where the case was dismissed in Pretoria and we went back to Potchefstroom.  That is where the case was also dismissed.  They said they did not have enough or sufficient evidence to convict.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you just tell us who the lawyers were who represented Vincent?

MRS MAPHOSA: It was first Shelley Welsh.  I have forgotten some of the names.  The other one was Amanda, the one who was with the advocate when we went to Pretoria Supreme Court.  When we went to Potchefstroom we had a State Attorney or State Advocate.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mrs Maphosa.  I have no further questions.  Is there anything else you want to say?

MRS MAPHOSA: With regard to Vincent's matter?

CHAIRPERSON: Yes.

MRS MAPHOSA: I request the Truth Commission to help me with regard to Vincent's treatment because it is quite expensive and I cannot afford it.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mrs Maphosa, we have heard you.  We have also heard your plea to meet up with some of the people who you think were involved in the attack on Vincent and we hope that we will be able to arrange that for you at some
KRUGERSDORP HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
14 M MAPHOSA
stage.  We also have heard ... 
KRUGERSDORP HEARING TRC/GAUTENG