Human Rights Violation Hearings — Kimberley — 1996-06-11

CASE NO: CT/00653

YASMINE SOOKA: Nkosinathi will you please stand.  Advocate Potgieter will administer the oath.
NKOSINATHI NKOHLA Duly sworn states

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you very much, you may be seated.

ADV NTSEBEZA: Now I believe that you have already been sworn in - you are Nkosinathi.

NKOSINATHI NKOHLA: Yes.

ADV NTSEBEZA: Okay we may start - I think you have heard what has been said.

NKOSINATHI NKOHLA: Yes it is so.

ADV NTSEBEZA: I'd like you to give us some details,  just a briefing of who are we talking to, who is this Nkosinathi - where have you worked - have you ever attended school and please give us your background up to the day when you were arrested because as I hear from Sipho's statement you were also involved as far as the police are concerned.  Can you please give us a few details.

NKOSINATHI NKOHLA: I was born and bred here in Kimberley, I attended school at Singesa Lower Primary.  I started schooling at Singesa and I went to the Singesa High School.  In 1985 I was in Standard 5 at the time - I started to be engaged with the Galeshewe Youth Organisation.  During that time my involvement was to go to Warrington where I was organising and I was trying to  [indistinct]   our students and some of those who were not yet  [indistinct]  
The following year I received a report that I was supposed to go to Standard 6 but I received a letter to say I mustn't come back to school.  This prevented me to be admitted in any other school.  As the time went on I was arrested.   The police arrested me and they assaulted me.  I couldn't tolerate their assaults.  They wanted to influence me against the gentlemen who has just spoken.
There was a time when the Comrades realised that I was arrested again I was called in before the vigil and I was requested to apologise.   At that time I had to attend night schools or adult education,  I was having conscience, there were times when I was very affected by what had happened to me.   I went to Kuruman - this was the former Bophuthatswana - I got employed there in one on the mines, but it was a temporary job.  I was discharged and I went back and I stayed unemployed.
During that period I met the Bophuthatswana Youth and he wanted to form some organisation.  I was anxious all the time, I couldn't breath freely and I didn't have to think alone, I was always afraid because the police have taken me away from the people that I loved and because they have tortured me in prison.
When I got the opportunity then we started to form the youth structures in my area and the surrounding areas.  One of our Comrades was released he is now the Premier presently.   We  wanted to get some material so that we can continue with formation of structures.  
Mr Mani said we must come here in Kimberley so that we can get what we wanted and then that is when we started organising.  I was more involved and I tried to show that I am a staunch member and I was  trying to fight what was done by the police.  The Security Branch were treating the people  so badly so we felt that it is the time  that we should do something about all that was happening during this period.
The other day when we were at Kuruman whilst we were organising to form a branch of the South African Communist Party,  I had direct contact with the office here in Kimberley.  At the end I worked voluntarily for the organisation and I was fully occupied in distribution of pamphlets in the office  of the SACP.  At that period I was then arrested.

ADV NTSEBEZA: Let's come to the day when this happened in Kimberley, we are talking about the day  end of Tape 3, side A ...  going and when did you come back?

NKOSINATHI NKOHLA: I can't remember when I left  Kimberley - but I can say it was about the 20th or the 22nd - I was on my way  - if I can remember very well it was between the 4th and 5th there was a conference at NUM - here of the NUM - I was travelling with the NUM organiser so I was on my way to that conference.  I was given an opportunity to state what is the position of the party.
And then I was asked when am I coming back - so I stated that I will be coming back in May between the 20th or 22nd.   From there I went to Kuruman and I put up for the night at my sister's place - I met the Comrade Tembeka - I got a lift to go to Sishel - I got a lift from a person that I know and this person went to deliver something -  some goods in a garage.  I gave him the direction because he was not quite familiar with the area from the place where we were it was about a meter - a kilometre from Sishel.  We agreed to meet at that point because he was not supposed to come there in my presence.
After delivering his goods at the garage, he had to go to the supermarket then I had to go and go to Velaphi's place and that is where I was accommodated.  I put up for the night again and we left the following day where we went to the soccer fields.  There was a game playing - there were some sections which were playing.  After the game we went back to Velaphi's place.  We didn't stay long when Velaphi knocked from work I think it was between 5 and 6 and then during - at 6 o'clock we were supposed to go to a general meeting and everybody expected me that I should  be there.  
So I did go so that I can give them details and the position  about the party.  So we were told not to say much because this was the meeting of the NUM and then we were given an opportunity to state the date when we are going to say much about the SACP, then we all agreed that it is so.
On the third day I spent another day at Velaphi's place.  Again on this third day now we went to the hall I addressed a meeting during that period when we wanted to form an interim structure so that it can take off - the work  off the ground.  There was someone by the name of Mali - because he said he would not be able to participate in the meeting.

ADV NTSEBEZA: I just wanted to know when did you come back if you don't mind just tell me when did you come back to Kimberley.

NKOSINATHI NKOHLA: I came back to Kimberley on the 27th and 28th.   Comrade Mzambo was supposed to meet me so that we can go to the conference in Johannesburg - so that we can campaign against the Bophuthatswana Government.  So it was between the 27th and 28th May 1993.

ADV NTSEBEZA: Can you tell us, are you aware that this had already happened when you came back?

NKOSINATHI NKOHLA: Yes I am aware.

ADV NTSEBEZA: Then what happened, why were you arrested?

NKOSINATHI NKOHLA: You know, when Comrade Mzambo told me about the conference I went to the library to obtain some of the books.  I went to the hair salon to Sashi's place and then because I didn't have money he said he cannot pay me or groom me for free because he doesn't take credit.
Then I had already heard about the hand grenade which was thrown in but I did not know the details of what happened.

YASMINE SOOKA: [indistinct]  allow some members of the crowd outside to come in - so we will break for a few minutes - please don't leave your seats - it's simply to accommodate those people who want to enter the hall.

ADV NTSEBEZA: Now, let's - let's go back to what you were saying there Mr Nkohla.  We are at a stage where you are back in Kimberley and you are actually preparing to attend a meeting in Johannesburg which was going to be around the 29th May 1993.  If you could carry on from there on.