Special Hearings — Mandela United Football Club Hearings — 1997-11-26

BAREND THABISO MONO: I did not know and I believe those who were with me did not know, because while we were still in that room, we had a chance to ask each other: "What's going to happen, what is happening really"?  I said to them: "I do not remember - or I don't think that there's anything that's going to happen, I saw Mrs Mandela - maybe we are going somewhere".
 From there Jerry Richardson came into the room and they separated us.  They took myself and Stompie to a separate room that was opposite the room that we were sitting in.  When we arrived in that room we found Slash and Isaac, I do not remember who the others were.  In that room we heard the reason for us to be fetched.  
 Slash started by asking Stompie: "Stompie, why are you an informer, why are you selling out our people"?  Stompie tried to explain to Slash that: "I've never sold any people to anybody". He asked him: "Where did I sell the people"?  Slash said to him: "In Parys".   Stompie said: "Who are these people that you allege I have sold out?"  Slash said: "Three members of the MK".  
 Stompie said: "I do not know anything to that effect, I do not even know the people you are talking of". He referred him to me because I knew Stompie from Parys, and I understood Stompie very well.  We used to go to Potchefstroom with him when there were funerals. We would be together and meet there.  What Slash was alleging I did not even know, I even asked him myself: "Who are those people, I do not even remember the names that you have just mentioned.  I don't remember of  any three MK members who were arrested in Parys because of Stompie.  I do not believe that Stompie was ever an impimpi because he was very young at that time". 
 I said: "He might have taken out names because he was assaulted".  And for that reason they would not regard him as an informer because they would understand themselves that if you are in the hands of the police something must just happen".

MR MAKANJEE: Was Mrs Madikezela-Mandela present at that stage?

BAREND THABISO MONO: At the time when Slash and them were asking Stompie questions, she was not there, we had been separated.

MR MAKANJEE: Can you tell us what happened after that incident?

BAREND THABISO MONO: After trying to explain to Slash what happened, he asked my why do I agree to be molested by a white priest. I said to him: "Explain further, what do you mean when you say I slept with a white man"?  He said: "Why do you allow the white man to have sex with you"?  I said: "No, nothing of that kind ever happened to me, I don't bear any knowledge of that".  I said: "Please explain further, where do you get this information from"?  He couldn't provide an answer - that is Slash.
 A person came into the room bringing the food, and we said we were not hungry.  After some time another person came in and he said we are wanted in the first room, the room that we were put in first - that is the room where Pelo and Kenny were left.  When we got into that room they were already seated, all the people were sitting down. We joined - we joined Pelo and them.  After joining Pelo and them, Jerry said someone must bring a chair for Mummy, Mummy should sit on the chair.  Then another chair was brought and then Morgan took another chair.

MR MAKANJEE: Who was Mummy that was being referred to?

BAREND THABISO MONO: He was referring to Mrs Mandela.

MR MAKANJEE: Did Mrs Mandela then enter the room?

BAREND THABISO MONO: Yes, she arrived in the room. When she arrived in the room she questioned us why we allowed a white priest to sleep with us. We did not approve of that, and then she asked Stompie why was Stompie selling the people. Stompie disagreed with that kind of information, and then she started hitting us with fists, one by one.  After that the whole group joined in the assault.

MR MAKANJEE: So just to recap, you said that Mrs Madikezela- Mandela asked you - who else with you was accused of sleeping with the priest?

BAREND THABISO MONO: It's myself, Pelo and Kenny. Stompie was accused of being an informer.

MR MAKANJEE: After you were assaulted with fists, what happened?

BAREND THABISO MONO: After the assault with the fists, the whole group joined in the assault.  They kicked us, they lifted us up, and we were thrown to the ground.  After some time they started hitting us with sjamboks.

MR MAKANJEE: ... hitting you with sjamboks?

BAREND THABISO MONO: Mrs Mandela started hitting me with a sjambok - we were lying down.

MR MAKANJEE: Mrs Madikezela-Mandela has said that on the day in question she was in Brandfort. Can you comment on that?

BAREND THABISO MONO: I do not know what to say. I saw her. She was the person who assaulted us with fists and hitting us with sjamboks - I do not know which Mrs Mandela was in Brandfort.

MR MAKANJEE: Thank you. Just to clear up a few other points.  We have heard Mrs Falati saying that Stompie was not questioned about being an informer, but rather that the accusation regarding Stompie was that he slept with the priest. Can you comment on that?

BAREND THABISO MONO: If I remember well, Stompie was asked a question, why did he sell the people out? Even Slash asked him questions about selling the people out. He was never asked about sleeping with the priest.

MR MAKANJEE: Did you know Stompie from Parys?

BAREND THABISO MONO: Yes.

MR MAKANJEE: So you were one of the people who knew Stompie closer than most others at the Manse, is that correct?

BAREND THABISO MONO: I believe it was myself and Pelo and others from Potchefstroom, but myself and Pelo were the two people who knew him very well because, between 1996 and 1997, we stayed together in Potchefstroom prison for quite a long time. We even spent the Krishtmas and the New Year in the prison together.

MR MAKANJEE: Do you know whether there was a story in the house which came from the boys in Parys, that Stompie was an informer?

MR NTSEBEZA: Excuse me, sir, did your client say between 1996 or 1997?  We want to clear that up.

MR MAKANJEE: Was that 1996 and '97 or '86 and '87?

BAREND THABISO MONO: I'm sorry, it's 1986 and 1987.

MR MAKANJEE: Miss Falati also stated that Stompie, while you were staying at the Manse, there was an incident where Stompie came out of the room that he was sharing with Pelo and yourself, and complained to Miss Falati that you and Pelo were caressing Stompie, can you comment on that?

BAREND THABISO MONO: [Laughs] It's my first time to hear this and I believe this is a lie because we never shared a room with Stompie, and Pelo never shared a room with Stompie, that was the first point.  The second point, I do not believe that Stompie would go and tell Mrs Falati such a thing because they were not in good terms in the house.
 I do not believe that he would have gone to report this matter to Mrs Falati, they were really not in good terms.  He would tell Paul, because, if there was any misunderstanding, Paul was a go-between and bring about peace.

MR MAKANJEE: As far as you were aware, was Stompie Sepei an informer?

BAREND THABISO MONO: I do not believe that.

MR MAKANJEE: Thank you, Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: You have canvassed all that you wanted to? Let me not tempt you but, I mean, you have covered everything?

MR MAKANJEE: Mr Chairman, there are a few other aspects I could cover, if you would permit me.

CHAIRPERSON: All right.

MR MAKANJEE: Could you tell us about a gentleman called Guybon?