Amnesty Hearings — Bloemfontein — 1988-01-19

ANNIE PHAHLANE: He blindfolded me with a tube, then he brought the tube with water and fastened me on the head.  After that I was kicked by a number of people and when I opened my eyes I could see that it was himself and Ngo but I felt there were many, there were more than two whilst they were assaulting me because I was lying on the floor and I was being kicked.  And when they removed the tube you would not be able to see because you will be drowsy then.

MR STANDER: What did Ngo do to you?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: He held me on the neck, then he slapped me, then I nearly fell on the ground, then I sat on the chair.

MR STANDER: And Motsamai?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: He was slapping me.

MR STANDER: Behalwe die drie persone wat u nou genoem het, was daar iemand anders wat u ook aangerand het?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: Mr du Plooy yes, he did take part in the assault with open hands whilst I was in his office.  We stayed the whole day there in his office and when you tried to get dressed somebody would come and pick you up and take you to his office.  When I arrived in his office he blindfolded me with a tube, he made me lie on the mattress and then he pressed me down.  Whilst you are fastened with that tube you are not able to inhale or exhale.

MR STANDER: How many consecutive days were you taken to Fountain Street?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: We were taken the following day from Glen to Fountain, then after two days again we were taken.  And then at times after three days we would be taken from Glen to Fountain.

MR STANDER: Did you sustain any injuries due to the assault on you?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: I removed some of my teeth whilst I was in the cell.

MR STANDER: Why did you loose your teeth?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: Because of the assault.

MR STANDER: What happened thereafter that cause that you were released?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: After that, they told us that we would testify in court against Oupa and Mongateni and China.  They said to us we were going to be state witnesses but we didn't give evidence in court.  We were only told that they've concluded the case, then we were released without appearing in court.

MR STANDER: Were you present or do you know of any other incidents in which Motsamai and Ngo were involved after this as far as you were concerned?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: No.  Even before when I was arrested for this particular case I was arrested before.  Mr Motsamai and Mamome used to be there when I was fetched.

MR STANDER: Were you then assaulted at that incident?

ANNIE PHAHLANE: No, they would assault me when we arrived at Fountain, not whilst I was at home.

MR STANDER: No further questions to this witness.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR STANDER

MR VISSER: Mr Chairman, Visser on record.  My position unfortunately with this witness is exactly the same I'm afraid, that I would have to reserve until tomorrow my cross-examination Mr Chairman.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR VISSER
NO QUESTIONS BY MR DU PLESSIS

BERNARD MAKGABO NGOEPE: Mr Visser, what are you - are you reserving cross-examination in regard to allegations by the witnesses against those people?  Because as far as the circumstances of the events are concerned, they have been fairly canvassed in the past and I believe you're not reserving cross-examination with regard to those issues but rather specifically with regard to ...[inaudible]

MR VISSER: You're absolutely right Mr Chairman, it's not my intention I think, as has been indicated today, to go into the incidents in detail. In fact Mr Chairman, I'm hoping that I might be able to be of assistance to you by either showing, pointing to perhaps pages on record which may be of assistance to you.
	But I can make a blanket suggestion to the witness right now - to all of them, that my clients deny it.  What we're rather hoping for is to be of a little bit more assistance to you Mr Chairman.

ADV MEMANI: No questions M'Lord.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR MEMANI

MR BRINK: No questions, thank you Mr Chairman.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR BRINK

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.
WITNESS EXCUSED

MR STANDER: Mr Chair, we have no further witnesses here.  I cannot take the matter further than that today.

CHAIRPERSON: ...[inaudible]

MR BRINK: 9 o'clock Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: We will now adjourn till 9 o'clock.  ...[totally inaudible]
[Complete end of hearing totally inaudible]
HEARING ADJOURNS