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

WITNESS:   I am self-employed.  I am selling vegetables from home.  At times I go to New Germany and I buy second-hand items and sell them.

UNKNOWN: That's how you make a living?

WITNESS:   Yes.

UNKNOWN: Since your husband died it's clear to us that you have been harassed, and you also know of the times that the UDF was after him.  How did this impact on your life?

WITNESS:   I have a problem with the dreams.  My dreams are very strange.  I don't know how to explain this.  And also I have the problem with my headache.  I get these terrible headaches.  And BP, blood pressure.  And Simu as well has been affected a lot by this.  He will cry and scream at night, and say he is seeing people, he is seeing some figures around.

UNKNOWN: What about the others?

WITNESS:   No, they are not affected.

UNKNOWN: What about at school?  How are they faring?

WITNESS:   No, at school they are okay.  They are faring well.  The older one will complain about headache, especially during examination time.  Even this last time Simu missed his one exam, he could not sit for his exam.

UNKNOWN: It looks to me Simu has been highly affected by this more than the rest.

WITNESS:   Yes.

UNKNOWN: Now, as you have already recited and related the whole story to us, the police that you reported the matter to, would you by any chance happen to know their names, or whether they were the KwaZulu policemen?

WITNESS:   If I am not mistaken it's SAP.

UNKNOWN: You didn't get to know who they were?

WITNESS:   No.

UNKNOWN: Well, we've heard your story, Jabu.  You have heard other people relating their sad stories, and we also can see that you are one of those.  Did you ever try or endeavour to see and consult doctors after this happened?

WITNESS:   We often and usually go to the clinic, and that's where we will see the doctors there at the clinic.

UNKNOWN: Did you ever think of consulting the psychiatrists or counsellors to find out the cause that leads to the child being restless at night?

WITNESS:   No, we haven't been.

UNKNOWN: Would you like to?

WITNESS:   Yes, I will be thankful.

UNKNOWN: Yes, you see when you ignore these kind of things after a long run it will be difficult for us to treat them, or for the psychologist expert to treat them.  It's much better to attack these things and attend these things at an earlier stage like this, so it's quite important that they get attention.  What would you wish the Truth Commission to do for you?  What are your expectations?

WITNESS:   I will ask the Truth Commission to assist in paying and educating my children at school.

UNKNOWN: Do you manage right now?

WITNESS:   I am trying, but their grandmother is helping because she gets pension money.

UNKNOWN: We have heard your request, but like you have already heard even from others that we as a Truth Commission don't have that authority to do things or meet your expectations, but one thing for sure that we can do for you, that is our task and objective, is to compile a report and forward it to the State President, and they will take resolutions and see that you are helped.  We will forward this to the State President, we promise.

WITNESS:   Thank you.

UNKNOWN: I will hand over to the Chairperson now.

UNKNOWN: I want to follow your request, your expectations from the Truth Commission.  At the time when your husband died did you probably get some kind of compensation from his place of work?

WITNESS:   No, when he got injured in 1981 he stayed the whole year at home not working.  His left arm was paralysed, not working at the time.  The second time around now, when he got injured and murdered, he was only two months old at his place of work.

UNKNOWN: Secondly, usually when one has lost her husband the social workers usually try to get grant for the family.  Did you ever bother yourself to go and see the social workers?

WITNESS:   No, I haven't been.

UNKNOWN: I think it will be of prime help for you to go and consult and see the social workers, and then there is something that they do for you.  Finally, Mrs Ndlovu, you are also one of the people who have been highly harassed.  These are things that are surprising us still, that we see you so much in a good condition and intact, and these are things that make us see that you are worth help from the Truth Commission.  You have already showed us that you are a brave woman, and you are strong enough.  We will do all we can to help you.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... for coming in and telling us your story.  Your story is very similar to that of Mrs Msomi, Mrs Mavis Msomi, who gave evidence earlier on today.  Her husband was a member of the IFP, and he was killed by a group of young men.  And your husband was in the same position.  He was a member of that party as well, and he too was brutally attacked and killed by a group of young men in Newtown.
We are grateful that you've come to tell us your story because it helps us to understand both sides of the conflict.  We know that many ordinary members of the IFP died, and when we write our report it is important that we reflect exactly what happened in this province, and stories like yours will assist to give us a full picture.  You lost your husband, your companion, your breadwinner, the father of your children, and we extend our deep sympathy to you.  
We have heard your requests and, as Mrs Gcabashe has said, our job is to make recommendations to the Government as to how you should be assisted, and we will be making those recommendations.  So finally we thank you again very much for coming in, and waiting all day and telling us your story.  Thank you very much.

COMMISSIONER: Mrs Sithole, we welcome you here today.   Thank you for having the patience to wait so long to give your evidence.  Can you hear me?  You've got two people on the stage with you.  Are those your daughters?

EUNICE SITHOLE: They are my daughters.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... here today.  You are living at the moment in New Germany, is that correct?

EUNICE SITHOLE: I stay in Clermont.

COMMISSIONER: You've come to tell us about an attack on your house at Inanda by members of the IFP.  Please can you stand up to take the oath before you tell us that story.

EUNICE SITHOLE: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Dr Randera will help you now.

DR RANDERA: Mrs Sithole, good afternoon to you and to your daughters.  You're going to talk to us about what happened to you in 1988, but before you do that I was wondering if you can just give us some other information.  Can you tell us about your family first?

WITNESS:   It's myself, my husband, as well as my six children.

DR RANDERA: Can you also tell us which political party do you belong to, and your family members, if they were involved as well?

WITNESS:   That is correct.  I was involved in politics.  I was a member of the ANC.

DR RANDERA: Were you just a member, or were you more intimately involved?

WITNESS:   I was a supporter of the ANC.

DR RANDERA: And your family members?

WITNESS:   My husband, as well as my sons, were members.

DR RANDERA: Can you please tell us what was happening in your area at that time in 1988 in terms of the conflicts?

WITNESS:  /It was