Human Rights Violation Hearings — Durban — 1996-08-30

WITNESS:   Definitely not.

KHOZA MGOJO: Especially at this time, when the President of our country is really trying by all means to create what we call a rainbow nation, where people can feel together, South Africans.  Unfortunately, because of the past, which is apartheid, it's very unfortunate that these things had to be planted in the ears of people, so people see other people by colour, not see them as people created in the image of God.  I think your request is well received.  It will be passed - an investigation shall be made.

WITNESS:   Certainly. Because this is your request, and an easy one too, because it really lies within the field of investigation.  And we appreciate again - I want to say again, I want to appreciate this that you, as a white person, has come forward to tell your story, so that it does not just appear, this thing, that it is the Truth Commission of a certain group in South Africa.  I mean many people have suffered in different ways, and I think those who have suffered must have courage to come forward.  Thank you.   ---   Thank you.

COMMISSIONER: Aline, thank you again.  As Dr Mgojo has said, thank you very, very much for having the courage to come forward.  It must have been a terrible shock for you as a young 15-year-old girl on the way to the beach with a friend to have been - for not apparent reason to have been attacked by people with knives.  And I think, as Dr Mgojo has said, what happened to you and your friend, to Ryan, is one of the legacies that apartheid has left this country.  It caused deep divisions amongst people - hatred, mistrust and suspicion, and it caused people to do the sorts of things that you've heard about this morning, and it caused people to do what they did to you and the other people on that day in 1990 when you became a victim.  And we hope that we are moving to a situation where we see each other as common human beings and not as black people or white people.

COMMISSIONER: We don't know how this has affected you emotionally, or how in the long run it will affect you, but we see today that you are here as a positive young person, and we hope that you are able to put this trauma behind you in time.  Thank you very much indeed.

WITNESS:   Thanks.

COMMISSIONER: Good morning, Nelly, we greet you.  Thank you for coming in to see us, to talk to us.  You have come from KwaMashu, and you will tell us about the death of your sister, Makhosi Kalisiwe Nyoka, who died in a massacre with other young people in Piet Retief in 1988.  Before you tell us that story can you stand and take the oath please.

NELLY NYOKA: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Thank you,  Mrs Gcabashe will help you now.

UNKNOWN: Morning, Nelly.  We appreciate your presence that you have come before this Commission to relate your story.

UNKNOWN: It is obvious that you are deeply hurt and deeply grieved for having lost your sister.  Even before you start talking about your sister I would like you to relate to us - give us a brief description of your family.

WITNESS:   We are six at home, three boys as well as three girls, but one died.  We grew up staying with my father.  We were not staying with my mother.  Even now we still are not staying with my mother.  I am the fifth one at home.

UNKNOWN: You are staying with your father.  Where is your mother?

WITNESS:   My mother is still alive, and they had a separation so we grew up staying with my father.

UNKNOWN: What are you doing presently?

WITNESS:   I am doing public administration at Technikon SA.

UNKNOWN: Can you please tell us as to what happened, the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of your sister.

WITNESS:   She was attending school at Nzuvela, and she was a member of khozas.  They used to attend certain meetings together with their friends, Lindani Zama as well as Thule Bona.  Then after some time our relatives from Pietermaritzburg came to see us, the Makhubane family.  It was Nomkonzo Makhubane, as well as Nomvu Makhubane.  Then on Thursday morning I saw my sister having a paper bag and taking it with.  I asked her as to where she was going to.  She said she was accompanying Nomkonzo.

UNKNOWN: What time was it?  When was it?   Was it - which year was it?

WITNESS:   It was in 1982.  It was at about nine in the morning.  I don't remember the month quite well.  When I asked her as to where she was going to she said she was accompanying Nomkonzo and she was going to come back that afternoon, but she never came back up until today.  And whenever we tried looking for her we even went to 'Maritzburg, but we were told that they never came, she never turned up.  A long time elapsed without us hearing as to what had happened to her, and we heard rumours that she had skipped the country.

UNKNOWN: You said in 1982 she joined Umkhonto we Sizwe.

WITNESS:  That is correct.

UNKNOWN: Did she tell you that she joined Umkhonto we Sizwe?

WITNESS:   No, we were told by other relatives with whom she went on that particular day, and we were told by those relatives that they went together and they skipped the country.

UNKNOWN: In your statement you said she sent you photos, as well as money.  Do you know where she got the money from?  Where was she working if she was?

WITNESS:   She never even explained anything, but she would write us letters asking us as to what we needed, and she sent us one photo.  She was at a party in Swaziland. What about the letters?  Did it indicate whether - where the letters came from?   ---   The letters came from Swaziland.  On a particular Thursday morning we received a telephone call, and my elder sister went to answer the phone.  It was a certain Mr Gwenza Mlaba who had phoned, and he is an attorney.  He said we should come to his office.  My elder sister went to his office and she was told that Makhosi and eight other people had died.   Amongst them was Lennie Naidu, as well as Malindi Mthembu.  It was Makhosi Nyoka, as well as Lindiwe Mthembu, Glenrose Xothoza, Jabulani Sibisi, Sifiso Nxumalo, Boxer Mthembu, Lennie Naidu, as well as Sifiso Thenjwayo.

UNKNOWN: How did they die?  Do you have any idea?