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

MRS LEKHULENI: I only heard that the children shot by the soldiers but a policeman came to tell me that they were shot but we were never told who shot him actually.

MR LEWIN: Do you think they were the soldiers, not the police?

MRS LEKHULENI: It was a group of soldiers mixed with policemen but the person who came to report was a policeman.

MR LEWIN: Okay, and then when the post mortem was being drawn up and an investigation was being made, was there any other report about who was responsible?

MRS LEKHULENI: It was never discovered who did this, because the white policeman whom I worked for took my statement in June and on the second of July we went to Bokweni Magistrate's Court and they said. "Yes your son was wrong, because they were throwing stones at buses, they were blocking the roads with pipes. My son had many holes at the back, and I was told that he was wrong.  He didn't have any wounds on the sides.  They said, yes, when the pellets are being released from a gun they get out with a rubber and the rubber must have affected him and they said they would give me a compensation, but the children were really wrong, they were burning buses, blocking the roads.

MR LEWIN: Did you ever get compensation?

MRS LEKHULENI: I never got anything, that was just a mere
talk.

MR LEWIN: Thank you very much for helping us with that NELSPRUIT  HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
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statement, thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you have any questions?  Ms Sooka.

YASMINE SOOKA: Mama, I just want to ask you one question.  Do you know the name of the policeman who was investigating the matter?

MRS LEKHULENI: Are you referring to the policeman who was investigating the matter?

YASMINE SOOKA: Yes.

MRS LEKHULENI: I don't remember their names, they were white policemen.  The one policeman came but he was involved in an accident I think, and he passed away, I forgot his name.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much, you mentioned that a post mortem was done after your son was killed.  Do they know the name of the Doctor?

MRS LEKHULENI: As I've already said, my husband and his sister went, I didn't go, so I can't tell the names.

MR LEWIN: Can I ask you Sir, do you know the name of the doctor who did the post mortem?

MR LEKHULENI: It was Dr Waddy.

MR LEWIN: Is Dr Waddy still practising in Nelspruit, do you know?

MR LEKHULENI: Yes he is still practising.

MR LEWIN: So we can contact him and talk to him about the post mortem, I'm sure.

MR LEKHULENI: Yes you can.

MR LEWIN: Your other son, is he still living with you, Solly?

MR LEKHULENI: Yes he is at home, he is a policeman.

MR LEWIN: So he would know more about it than you or me?
NELSPRUIT  HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
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MR LEKHULENI: I think so.

MR LEWIN: Okay, thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr and Mrs Lekhuleni, I would like to thank you for coming today and for sharing with us the story of the killing of your son.  As we have said before, there are so many young people who did during that very confused, difficult period and you have suffered very deeply.  I'm so glad that you have another son who can be of comfort to you. We will make the enquiries as to what happened to the court case and why has happened and why no one was charged, and if we have any new information, we will obviously come back to you and tell you because it's important for you to know.  Thank you again very much indeed for coming. Go well, thank you.