Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1996-04-16

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes.  This organisation then started to become more important and then 
it was named as Cradock Residents EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 5

NOMONDE CALATA: Association, abbreviated as Cradora. There was also the youth organisation which was 
also in existence, and this organisation was trying to bring about discipline and morals to 
the youth which was beginning to disintegrate, and Fort was the president of that youth 
association.  
 Time went on and people agreed together that this will be taken up in court, this 
rent issue. R5,00 were gathered so that we can get ourselves a lawyer.  As this carried on, 
preparing to  challenge this in court, time went on, UDF started.  Our organisations 
decided that we should get into UDF because it was strong at that time, and it was the 
organisation with a vision, and we affiliated with the UDF.
Whilst still affiliating with them, things went on and I was arrested in  November 1983.  I 
was fetched from work.  I was wearing a T-shirt on which was printed, "Free Mandela". I 
was then arrested and charged just because of that T-shirt.
 While waiting for the case it was postponed and postponed, My lawyer was Mr 
Suwisa at the time, and Mr Booysen Weranni.  In December 1983, the schools were 
closed, Matthew received a telegram, informing him about his transfer to Graaf Reniet, 
but  he dearly wanted to be 
in Cradock to be with his wife.  It really didn't appeal to his lawyers that Matthew should 
be the chairman of this organisation. This was taken to the officials and the Department of 
Education and Training was involved in these negotiations. While negotiating, there was a 
new school built which is now known as Matthew Goniwe High School, but at first it was 
Lengelishle High School.
 In January when the schools reopened...(intervention)

MR SMITH: Did anything happen during the process of negotiations between the 
community and the authorities 
EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 5

NOMONDE CALATA: regarding Matthew's transfer?

NOMONDE CALATA: During that time of negotiations with  Education and Training to 
reinstate Matthew, instead of him receiving a letter telling him that his transfer will be 
cancelled, he only received a telegram saying he has been dismissed.

MR SMITH: On that particular year?

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes it was in December.  Now in January, when the students went back 
to the schools, they found out that Matthew is not available, it was true that the 
Department fired him.  The schools reopened, school boycotts started, pupils were not 
going to school, they wanted Matthew to be reinstated.  Parents were at the same time 
negotiating with the Department of Education and Training.  But you know nothing 
actually never came up from the Department of Education, whether to reinstate Matthew 
or not.  On the 31st of March, in 1984, it was 10 o'clock in the evening, we were sleeping, 
we heard lots and lots of cars outside, I said to my husband, "No let us not wake up, let's 
wait and see what happens."  We heard knocks at windows at the front of the house, all 
over.  
 Because I was always close to him I tried to be very strong.  We stood up and lit 
up the house.  I said to them. "If you are not going to knock at the door only, I'm not going 
to open". They knocked at the door, Mr Venter stepped in, he had a paper in his hands but 
he never showed it to me, what was written on it, he said to me, "Where is Mr Calata, 
we're here to detain him in terns of the Internal Security Act."  
 My husband was in the room, he already had his clothes on and he was wearing 
very warm clothes.  There policemen, EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/EASTERN

CAPE: 6

NOMONDE CALATA: I can remember, it's Mr Venter, Mr Kawia, a black man, it was Mr Strauss who was 
wearing uniform and had a small stick in his hand. They were not very patient with him, 
they were pushing him, they were really hurrying and I requested that they must please not 
push him or handcuff him because he's got a chest problem.

MR SMITH: Would you like some time Mrs Calata, are you fine to continue?  Let me 
just assist you with this whole process, I'll put...(intervention)

NOMONDE CALATA: After leaving with him, they handcuffed him behind his back.  Because 
I was also waiting for a trial for wearing a T-shirt, I didn't know where he was taken to, 
there was no word about my husband. 
 The following morning I woke up to go to work and tried to ask the police where 
they took him because I wanted to give him some tablets.  They said they would come and 
tell me and I went to work but there was absolute silence. I went for my own case on the 
11th of April in 1984, the case was discussed and I was charged for three months 
imprisonment or a fine of R800.  I paid R250 a month because I couldn't leave my 
children alone at home without their father.
 The following day I went to work after this case of mine.  When I arrived at work, 
I was working at the Provincial Hospital at Cradock, they said the matron would like to 
see me. Well I went to the Superintendent with the matron, there was a form on the table 
which they said I must sign. I asked them to read me the form but they refused.  They 
informed me that they want to make me leave the job.  I asked them if we could wait until 
the case is finished, but they never gave me the chance and just dismissed me with 
immediate effect.  They said that I shouldn't be seen 
EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 7

NOMONDE CALATA: anywhere around the premises in the hospital and I went home.

MR SMITH: After your dismissal on that day, your husband was still in detention at the 
time. Did you manage ...(indistinct) after your dismissal?

NOMONDE CALATA: The police came to tell me he was in Diepkloof Prison in Johannesburg. 
We applied for a permit to go and see him.  I went to see him in May for the first time.  
The second time when I asked for a permit to visit him, it was after supper time, the police 
said to us they don't take permits after their meals.  I went home, and just at the entrance 
police took me, and put me into their cars. I tried to shout to my dad that I am being taken 
by the police, because I could see him in the distance.  At the police station, the head of 
the police asked to see my identity document.  I gave them my document with the hope 
that  I may see my husband.  At that time I was carrying a so-called Coloured ID. They 
asked me, if I am going to vote now for the tricameral parliament.  Before I could answer 
that question, they said that they knew that I could not even vote, because they knew that 
I'm a member of the ANC.  I never gave them an answer, I just kept quiet.  
 They were now threatening me, saying, "Your children long to see their father, 
hey, they will never see him".  And I asked them what child doesn't want to see his or her 
father?  They told me that I will never ever be employed in Cradock. What will we eat 
because my husband was in prison and my children had to go to school?  I just kept quiet. 
 Eventually at about six, when it was dark in the town, and I didn't have a permit to 
see my husband, I went to see Fort and I said to him that I have bad news for him.
EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 8

MR SMITH: In May 1984 you saw your husband?

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes that was my second visit.  He stayed six months in detention and 
was released on the 3rd of October.

MR SMITH: I want to take you back to the 2nd of May 1985.  Your husband was not 
around on that day?