Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bloemfontein — 1996-07-04

MR LYSTER: (Inaudible) ... you mentioned that in your statement. If youcan just finally tell us about how you were assaulted by the Amabutho, and thenwe'll ask your mother if she has anything that she wishes to say or to confirm.In 1990 or 1991 you were beaten, you said, by the Amabutho, is that correct?--- No, I didn't mention anything about the ANC. I was poisoned, I even wentto the doctor, and my ankles were swollen. They were supposed to interrogateme, but when we were on our way they discovered that I couldn't walk, and theyasked me, "Why are you walking so slowly?" I told them that my legs were swollen.I didn't want to tell him what happened because I knew that I was going to revengeat one stage, and they took me to a doctor called Dr Oosthuizen. I tried totell this doctor everything, but he didn't want to listen to me. The policemenalso encouraged me to tell the doctor what happened. They were begging me toeat, and the Fountain Police wanted to know why was I not eating, and I wouldonly keep quiet and ignore them. I didn't realise that they were poisoning me. At night when Iam asleep I would feel my head going round. I would as if there is a persontrampling on me. At times I would even feel like, you know, a train is justdriving on my body. And I was told that the food that I ate affected me. Theytook me to the doctor then, and the doctor gave me an ointment and some fewtablets. They did not give me tablets. I went to Burke Road Police Station,and that's where they gave me the tablets. I didn't trust this policeman anymore when he called me. You know, I was suspicious, and I thought he was goingto tell me something funny and I didn't give heed to what he was saying. I tookthe tablets and I swallowed them. I pretended as if I swallowed them, but Iput them under my tongue. And then I showed them to one of my friends. I said,"Look, here are their tablets. I am not going to drink them," and truly thatwas the end of it.

MR LYSTER: (Inaudible) ... about all those things, and we have got allthat information in your statement, which you've now confirmed. Thank you verymuch for sharing all these terrible things with us. This is something that'sbeen happening to you since 1979, it's over 15 years, and we understand thepain and suffering that you have experienced. Is there anything that your motherwould like to - just to confirm now? She is on the stage with you. Is there- she hasn't made a statement, and we don't normally allow people to give evidenceunless they have made a statement, but if there is something important and briefthat she would like to say ... do you want to say that? She will have to besworn in first.

UNKNOWN: Could I ask you, Mrs Marais, do you wantto add anything at all? Do you wish to add anything?

MRS MARAIS: I just wanted to indicate that the conditionyou see him in ... (intervention)

UNKNOWN: ... interrupt you, but I cannot hear youunless you have taken an oath, so would you please stand to take the oath.

MRS MARAIS: (Sworn, States)

UNKNOWN: Mrs Marais, we have heard at some lengthfrom you son, and if there is something new that you have to say please tellus now.

WITNESS: I just want to say that I was very hurt, because when my son wasreleased from the cells he wasn't himself any more. I was so hurt. Why did theytake his penis and electrocuted him? He was a man and they had to do that. Whydid they do that with him? As you see him now he is not the child I gave birthto. I cannot understand him any more. He doesn't understand whether he is livingor he is dead. And the police did this to him because they continually pickedhim up at home, and they would torture him, they would assault him. They havereally destroyed the life of my child. He can hardly do anything. He stays withthe chickens and the doves and pigeons in the house. My house is so dirty. Hedoesn't want to live with people. He prefers to live with these birds that Ihave mentioned. That is why he doesn't stay with us. I thank you. There is nothingmore that I would say to you.

UNKNOWN: Thank you for that. I just have to ask you one question. Yourson, is he receiving any medical treatment at all at the moment, either at aclinic or at a hospital or from a doctor?

WITNESS: No, he refused to go to the  doctors because he doesn't want any white person. He goes tothe hospital. The day he feels he has to go to the hospital he just goes.

UNKNOWN: I can understand that having suffered as much as he has, andhaving these dreadful experiences, that he would be very suspicious of anybody,of any person, and perhaps that's why he finds it difficult, and we may be ableto see what we can do, to talk to the local medical people to find out if wecan offer some help.

UNKNOWN: Now, I want to thank Ezekiel, and thank you as his mother,for coming. So much of what has happened has destroyed so much in our country,and it's particularly tragic when we see young people who have been so badlydamaged. We will do everything we can. We have listened very carefully to thoseexperiences, and in particular we will discuss the situation with the medicalpeople here in Bloemfontein and see what help we can do. Thank you again verymuch indeed for coming. God be with you.

WITNESS: Thank you very much, Sir.