Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Elizabeth — UNKNOWN

WITNESS: It is the same version as yours.  My name if Olive Nokwanda Veliswa Mpahlwa.  I received my primary eduction in Idutywa and further eduction outside my home town.  Our family house was +/- 3kms away Mbeki's.  When I say the Mbeki's I am talking about the Mbeki's.  The Mbeki's ran a general dealer store which I visited quite often.  Our families were very close especially our fathers.  Almost daily one of us, I must say on my right hand side sits my sister.  One of us had to go to the shop to fetch the Daily Dispatch for my father after Mr Mbeki had finished with it.  
In 1959 whilst still at school I fell pregnant and I gave birth to a son whom I name Monwabisi Kwanda Mpahlwa.  Most of you know what the name means.  Monwabisi means "the one who makes you happy."  My parents took care of the child until he was about 8 - 10 years old and I was sent to further my education.  After consulting with me which I considered a very great honour indeed, my father and I agreed that Monwabisi should go and live with his paternal grandmother, Mrs Mbeki as requested by the grandfather who at that time was at Robben Island serving live sentence.  At this time Mrs Mbeki was staying alone.  The husband was in jail, the sons were in exile and the only daughter was living in Cape Town.
I was nursing at that time at the Baragwanath Hospital during 1960 to 1964 and also in the other areas in the Transvaal.  In 1976 I took up a post with the Cradock Municipality.  During this period I saw Monwabisi regularly during school holidays.  He also wrote to me regularly.  He did exceptionally well at school and was always in the top section with his marks.  He was a mathematic wizard.  He qualified in welding and metal works at the Zwelethemba High School in King William's Town.  Monwabisi last saw his father when he was two years old.  Not knowing him hurt him very badly especially when his friends were visited by their fathers at boarding school.  He complained bitterly to me about this.  I even remember one incident when he used to say his best friend used not to go to the diningroom because the father was a businessman and he had enough money and he could not go to the diningroom to eat the junk in the diningroom.  So this was a very sore point with him because he did not know his father.  Although he applied for many jobs he could not get one due to racial discrimination.  Three times he was given a aptitude test at three different firms.  Each time he passed the test brilliantly only told be told that because he is black he could not be employed.
In 1980 Monwabisi spent his June school holidays with me in Cradock and that was the last time I ever saw him.  In 1981 his letters suddenly stopped.  Letters I wrote to him stopped.  I sent him a registered letter which was returned to me.  I am certain that he was involved with the ANC because he idolised his father but we never spoke about politics.  He idolised him to such an extent that one time somehow he received a watch from his father which was inscribed with his name at that back.  This was a very beautiful watch, a complicated piece of stuff that I had not seen before, but it was not working.  He gave it to me and I tried everything to get it working.  I took it to the best jewellers, I took it to the best places in Johannesburg, Katz & Loerie, the best, but they could do nothing about it.  I remember when I gave it back to him and I told him that it could not work he just could not believe.  The way he looked at me he showed that...  it seemed as if I did not know how much he was hurting inside.  It showed I was not giving enough.  I was not aware of how much he idolised this person, his father.
During his disappearance I made no enquiries.  This would surprise many people but of course if you are a Black person you will know why.  I sat very tight.  I kept very quiet.  I could not do it.  
I knew how they were harassing his grandmother because of the sons having gone into exile.  I just could not.  I just kept quiet and I left it at that, but I was hurting terribly.  I really was petrified if I can use that word.  I suspected that there may be Security Police involvement in the matter.  Why I said that is because he told me that when he was introduced to others and at the mention of the name Mbeki, which name he assumed when he went over to stay with them, there would be rising excitement which he called by saying it differently...
[Information lost due to chaning of cassettes]

WITNESS: ...In 1990, after the release of Mr Mandela that I made tentative enquiries.  I visited the home of his school friend in Idutywa and spoke to his father enquiring about the whereabouts of his son, Phumelelo.  I am not so sure about the surname now.  I think it is Rhulumente or Rhuluneli.  At that time Phumelelo was in London studying.  Phumelelo referred me to another retainee also in Idutywa, Gay Rhayile, who at first did not know who Kwando was until I said he was Phumelelo's friend.  Immediately I said this he jumped with excitement and asked if I meant Monwabisi, and you can imagine, I was stunned.  He had see Monwabisi and Phumelelo in exile in Tanzania.  He himself went into exile on or about 1985 and they were there before him.
Later in 1990 when I phoned Idutywa, that is Phumelelo's home, I was lucky to catch him at home but he became very evasive when I asked him about Monwabisi saying that he last saw him in Europe and of course they do not give the whereabouts of their colleagues if they do not wish so.  He promised that he would ask him to get in touch the next time he sees him which of course never happened.
In 1992 I spoke to Monwabisi's father telephonically and gave him the information I got from Gay and Phumelelo and he promised that he would make enquiries about that and that I should keep in touch with his father, that is Monwabisi's grandfather, as he was terribly busy.  When I spoke to the grandfather he was worried and deeply concerned to find Monwabisi.  Monwabisi had often visited him at Robben Island and they had a very good relationship.  I made enquiries through the Port Elizabeth offices of the ANC and believe that his grandfather did too.  All that I got told was that they were investigating through Shell House in Gauteng or that there were many who still had not returned from exile.  In the end that channel yielded nothing.
In 1994 Monwabisi's grandfather contacted me and said him and his younger son felt it was time to give up the search and to have three members of the family declared dead.  This included Monwabisi and I do not think his father was consulted about this decision.  I was aware that I was dealing with a faceless monster here.  
I employ you to put an end to our agony.  Remember my name is Olive.  I am not unforgiving.  I have already begun to extend an olive branch if only you should show yourself, meet me and maybe tell me the story.
To the Truth Commission, with whom do I reconcile because I do not know what happened.  I humbly ask you to investigate what happened to my son.  What happened in Tanzania.  What happened in Europe or maybe South Africa for that matter.  What stood between him and his father who intercepted him.  I know his interest in the ANC was double proned to fight for deliberation struggle and meet his father in exile.  My son would never let me worry like this if he was alive.  He was brilliant, he was loving, he was considerate, he was my joy.
In my culture a main member assumes responsibility in the home.  I had hoped that one day he would take over from me.  We would be a family.  I would see my grandchildren...
(?) Please take a minute and try to calm yourself down.