Human Rights Violation Hearings — Lusikisiki — 1997-03-26

ADV SANDI: The accusation that you were a member of Inkatha, was it a popular accusation in the area?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: No.

ADV SANDI: Were you the first one to be accused of being a member of Inkatha?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: Yes.

ADV SANDI: According to you, how did you see this?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: I think it was just an insult that we were Iynkatha members in our village.

ADV SANDI: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Ndleleni, this incident happened in 1990 and now it is 1997, why is it that there is no peace because this happened a long time ago?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: Mr Chairperson, it is the business - because Mrs Tabalaza saw that our business was progressing.  When the ANC was launched, she used the youth in order for them to be against me.

CHAIRPERSON: That happened in 1990 when the houses were burnt down.  My question is that why is it that after such a long time, there is no peace?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: Can you please repeat sir?

CHAIRPERSON: This thing happened a long time ago, why is it that you cannot forgive each other in your village?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: I don't know sir, why there is no peace.  But I forgot all about the incident, I did not know that they were still thinking about these things, luckily the Truth Commission came to our village and we made statements so that we can come in front of the Commission to say all the things that happened and if there is a way, there would be peace.

CHAIRPERSON: If you look back now, are there things you feel that you did wrongly?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: I don't see anything wrong about the things I have done.

CHAIRPERSON: All these things are just accusations?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: Yes, they are just accusations.

CHAIRPERSON: Even the Magistrate that sentenced you?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: Yes, because I don't know why the Magistrate sentenced me because I was the one whose shop was burnt down.

CHAIRPERSON: What about others?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: Their houses were burnt down, but the first house to be burnt down, was the Headmen's house and Nkobozana's house and my house and then other houses followed.
 I was in my house trying to defend myself.  I was defending my house.

CHAIRPERSON: It is not a usual thing that if something happened to you, you have to revenge it?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: It is a usual thing, sir.

CHAIRPERSON: But you are saying that these houses were not
burnt by you?

BARNABAS MBULELO KEKENI NDLELENI: I did not burn them, because I was in my yard.  I was trying to stop fire in my home.  When the police came, there were people all over the village.

CHAIRPERSON: As the Commission, we handle serious situations Mr Ndleleni, it is not a nice thing to us that we handle situations where people are hiding the truth, because we want the truth out, because if people are having businesses, they tend to favour one another.  I don't think you are telling us the whole truth, you are denying any knowledge of the burning down of these houses.
 This is a usual thing and it happens in our areas, there won't be peace, unless we speak out the truth.  If you admit that yes, I have done such and such a thing, under such situations and you ask for forgiveness, so that people  in our areas can be forgiving each other so that there can be peace, we are handling serious situations here where people have been killed by the police and by the Boers.  If only people can talk to each other in our villages, there will be peace.
 We are wasting the Commission's time because you can talk amongst each other in the villages and forgive each other, but this case is with us now and we have to investigate it.  I don't think that you were supposed to come here, you were just supposed to sit down and ask forgiveness, thank you, you may step down Mr Ndleleni.
 We will now adjourn for lunch, and we will start at half past one.