Human Rights Violation Hearings — Nelspruit — 1996-09-03

JOHANNES FREDERICK VAN ECK: Mr Chairman I'm here today to talk about what happened on the 16th of December 1985, on the farm Klerkshoop in the district of Messina. Mr Chairman, the result thereof of this landmine where I was also involved, four children that died and their ages range from three to nine years. Two women, they also died at the same time and four persons were wounded. One kid was not injured and one woman died immediately thereafter because of this bomb
NELSPRUIT  HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
4 VAN ECK
blast. 
 From the newspapers of Monday the 16th 1985, the ANC did take responsibility of this incident by a person who is actually their mouthpiece, Mr Tom Sabena. The news on the 5th of May 1980, two people, Mr Ncube and Madula, they were charged with killing. I had to attend this very case.
 On the first of March, 1991, the following people appeared before the court of law. The other one was actually sentenced to 21 years sentence and thereafter they were released. On the 18th of December, 1993, the Newspapers told us that Mr Ncube got an award for being a hero, which actually took place in a meeting in Soweto. And it was awarded to him by Mr Nelson Mandela.  This award took place on the 16th of December 1983.
 I'm expecting from the ANC, through this Commission, to answer the following questions:
Is it actually the way of doing things to kill innocent peoples, women and children to show that you're a hero?
 Is this actually your way of doing things to kill children of ten years and younger in order to obtain your objectives? 
 Is this your way of doing things to kill innocent women or anyone who is just an ordinary citizen to achieve your objectives?                          Is this your way to perform in a cowardly fashion by planting landmines on isolated private properties where you know innocent citizens are moving about?                                     Is this your way of doing 
 things to eliminate the families of citizens 
NELSPRUIT  HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
5 VAN ECK
Is this your way of doing things to inflict citizen families and with unbearable suffering?
 Is this your way of doing things to citizens and families and friends, to give them this pain by killing their loved ones?                         Is this your way of doing things that you justify all your murderous acts by linking it to a struggle against a regime?                        Is this actually habit or your or policy to differentiate between just and unjust, murder?    Is this your way of doing things or policy to call a killer of innocent women and children a freedom fighter?                                          Is it your policy to honour the murder of innocent women and children?                               Is it your policy to honour cowardice?            Mr Chairman I must ask you if it is your policy or practice to condemn bomb attacks like those at the Olympic Games but to revere the murder of women on our own soil as acts of bravery?         
 Is this your way of operating so as not to follow a trail of blood in order not to see what trauma you inflicted on the innocent?                    Is it your policy that only some citizens have human rights?  
 Is it your policy to discriminate against citizens who differ with you politically and is it your way to react inconsequentially?
Here I will stop my questions. Mr Ncube, and Mr Londula, 
they were actually found guilty and they were charged and they were also released.  Thereafter some of them were  NELSPRUIT  HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
6 VAN ECK
given awards. Were they honoured for justifiably, or was it to draw the attention further away from the people who gave the command for such cowardly and gruesome deeds?  Were Mr 
Ncube and Mr Londula, not merely marionettes or instruments in the hands indifferent politics?
 ics?        Mr Chairman, if there can be parallels drawn on these facts, between the way they did things and those of the officials of the previous regime, those who are undergoing hell on earth because they carried out their instructions in their work situations as Mr Ncube and Mr Londula plead. As they were carrying the very same instructions, I am saying leave Mr Ncube and Londula where they are but leave also the officials of the old regime where they are.  If it is not acceptable go on with your witch hunt the officials of the past but you've got to lock up all those all those who have been found guilty of killing the innocent.
  Mr Chairman, to talk about a land mine experience step by step and to describe it, is very traumatic for myself and it causes that I have to relive, relive this ghastly incident . That's why I illustrate the influence in a short and brief way by putting it in the form of questions. But these questions can only be answered by you, yourself.
Do you know how it feels to be blasted by a land mine?  Do you know it feels to be in a temperature of between of 6000 and 8000 degrees?  Do you know how it feels to experience such a blast that is so intense that even the 
fillings in your teeth are torn out. Do you know what trouble reigns if you survive the blast and that you must observe the results thereof?  Do you know how it feels how it feels to look for survivors, only to find the dead and maimed?  Do you know it feels to see crippled loved ones NELSPRUIT  HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
7 VAN ECK
lying and burning? Do you know how it feels to look for your three year old child and never, Mr Chairman, never to see him again and for ever after to wonder where he is?   
 Mr Chairman do you know how it feels to try to cheer up a friend  while your own wife and two children lie dead?
Do you know how it feels to leave a baby of 18 months behind to go and look for help?

YASMINE SOOKA: Mr van Eck.

JOHANNES FREDERICK VAN ECK: I am nearly finished.

YASMINE SOOKA: No, no, you know we've got your story in the form of a statement, but it will be very much easier if you can tell us, I know it's not easy, but can you try tell us shortly the way it happened.

JOHANNES FREDERICK VAN ECK: Mr Chairman I'll meet your requirements, although I've said in the introduction why I've done in this way.

YASMINE SOOKA: You can also very briefly tell us what happened, it does help us to understand it because you're are posing questions and if you could make the background a little clearer?

JOHANNES FREDERICK VAN ECK: You want me to give you the detail of the situation?

YASMINE SOOKA: Yes very briefly if you could just outline the details in the story that you want to highlight.