Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1997-06-10

UNKNOWN: At the time of the shooting we were staying in Vincent Gardens North and when I came to hear about the shooting I was totally devastated knowing that I had to bear the financial situation myself.  The rental we paid there was R1 300 which I was unable to afford with the death of my husband.  I got        R1 200 out of my salary as I wasn't being paid correctly for my qualifications.  I couldn't pay  for the funeral.  My mother-in-law paid all the costs.  To this day I haven't been able to pay her back.  I had to change jobs because as I said financially I could not cope.  I had three children at that stage.
 Ten months after my husband was killed my daughter was killed in a car accident.  The guy had no licence and he was speeding and drunk.  He was fined R750.  That was what her life cost.  He got off scott free which tells me in this world.  There's no justice in that the people were killed at the High Gate didn't have to die they weren't ill, they weren't sick.  I managed to get the cheapest flat in Baysville which was Seven Hundred Rand at the time which I could  not afford either but it was better than sitting somewhere where there was no place to stay with three children.  In the end that building was sold and I had to move again.  Just bear in mind that the first time I had Seven Hundred Rand plus Seven Hundred Rand maintenance deposit plus lights and water which was Five Hundred and something Rand at that stage.  It came to over a Thousand Rand which I had to have spot on to move into Baysville from the house.  Then I had to find another flat because the building was sold so I had to make another loan for the next lot of maintenance deposit, lights and water etc.  
 I didn't have any food or money.  The Red Cross and God bless them were the only people who phoned me and said we have a food parcel for you because I didn't even have a slice of bead.  They had a food parcel for me and Six Hundred Rand and one day when I'm on my feet I want to bless somebody to give them something, to bless somebody who's in need because I was very grateful for that.  
 As I say in the Daily Dispatch I read that one of the guys (and his picture was in the paper) that was responsible for the killing at the High Gate got fourteen years suspended for thirteen years.  What kind of justice is that?  If anybody steals a loaf of bread in a shop because he's hungry he gets three months jail sentence or doesn't even get out there but if you rape, murder and kill you get a Two Rand fine and you walk scott free and enjoy the facilities of life.  I just say to myself the renegades that were responsible for various attacks are being paid by the Government.  At the moment they're sitting in high positions like big heroes and we've got to face a financial battle.  
 Why do we waste our time in listening to what everybody has to say and opening up our wounds here.  Nobody feels anything for us.  I'm speaking for all races not because I'm White and this one is Pink, Yellow and Green.  I'm speaking for all of us.  There's a lot of people that are in the same position that I find myself in.  Let us just take the King William's Town Golf Club the guy who's responsible there for the killing is sitting in a fantastic position to-day earning money.  Mr So and So from Mc Goo's bar who was responsible for that disaster is sitting in a high position in the Government sector and after all this I say to myself you've got to be a criminal to get ahead in life.  All these renegades who've completed their murders and brutal violence are being looked after in high positions in the Government earning fat salaries and we the victims sit with a financial battle to make ends meet.  The Truth Commission too I'm sure you get compensated for what you are doing.  It's been four years now but has anybody asked me do you need a loaf of bread?  No.  If I look at all the victims sitting here from the High Gate and everybody that I've seen on TV that has come to testify and nobody has done anything.  You've only got the Lord to look up to and I say the human race hasn't done anything for you but God has looked after you, God has looked after us.  
 At the moment my daughter has been chosen to go overseas to represent South Africa in the United Kingdom and I need R10 000 but I trust in God for he has provided for me up to now and he will provide for us when she leaves in November.  Must you be a criminal to get to the top?  Do people like us have to pay the price where our families get brutally murdered for the sake of political power.  What power have we got?  What power has any political party got or any ordinary man in the street.  God create us and this is the word that God has given me because I prayed.  I don't want to be here because I'm wasting my time but I'm here for God I'm representing him here to-day and this is the word he gave me.  God created us.  He gives us his power and wisdom to do his will.  God is love and anyone walking in the Spirit of love has the qualities of the Spirit which is love, kindness, compassion and understanding.  When you look at the world to-day where people go about killing murdering and raping for the sake of recognition and status be it for political reasons or whatever then the truth about them is that they walk in darkness for the evil one is a destructive force for if they walked in the Spirit of God some only has the name of Jesus on their lips.  If you genuinely have God's love in your heart you would demonstrate the Spiritual qualities which is love, kindness, compassion and understanding and striving for inner peace and peace, goodwill to all man.  You have no power.  Nothing on earth belongs to us it is all on loan for the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it.  The things on earth are given to us to enjoy to choose between right or wrong.  You might be a man or a woman in a high position with all the authority you can have but the day you fall down and die, where is your power?  You have no power.  Where is your wisdom?  When you walk in darkness you have no wisdom you act like a fool.  God has eternal power and he has the last say.  My one and only hope is in the Lord who is the only ruler of this world and the only one who has power when he will come in all his glory to judge the world.  There might be no justice on earth, people get away with deceitfulness, brutality to human beings and they just walk away without justice being done but one day when you meet Jesus face to face you will have to stand and answer and God will ask of you not how you won but how did you play the game.  Don't be trapped in a sick society where true morals and standards and values get thrown by the wayside for the sake of status and power for you have no power.  We can only have power in God and as an ordinary person, an ordinary man in the street I want to say to all of you to-day that God wants us to focus on him.  Two wrongs don't make a right.  Have peace, God's peace, do good to mankind, help your friends.  We are all God's people irrespective of who or what you are and the Holy Spirit will come down on each and every one and all the nations must look up to Jesus because if you know God's love how can you hurt the person next door to you.  That is all I have to say.

MS MAYA: Thank you Mrs Whitfield, I would like to ask you just a few questions as I said earlier.  It is obvious that the death of your husband has affected you has changed your life and the life of your family and especially financially.

UNKNOWN: That's right.

MS MAYA: I would you to share with us the effect that his death has had on you and especially your children and also tell us how many children you have, their ages and whether they are schooling or not.