Amnesty Hearings — Richards Bay — 1998-04-14

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: We were called from uMzumbe in January to Ulundi and we were told that we would receive further training.  When we arrived at Ulundi and discovered that the training that we were going to be having, was that of being Special Constables.
	We had an argument with our authorities because we didn't think that after our training at Caprivi, we should go back and become Kits Constables.  M.Z. Khumalo was then called and he addressed us and told us that the objective was not to become Kits Constables, but the objective was that the community of Pietermaritzburg had put a request through the IFP President, that they were experiencing difficulties.  They were being attacked by the ANC.
	Because of that, and because the ANC was being assisted by the South African Police against Inkatha, therefore the IFP was in trouble.  Therefore Dr Buthelezi had spoken to SAP authorities about this issue.	He had therefore agreed with the SAP that he would bring his own people that were loyal and trustworthy to the organisation, that will be recruited into the SAP and investigate this allegation that the SAP was cooperating with the ANC, and they would in turn use means of attacking the ANC.
	It was for that reason that we were to join this group that was responsible for controlling riots.  Special Constables were used mainly to guard certain people, and also to control riots because they would work closely with the Riot Unit.
	Therefore they would be directly responsible in cases like toyi-toyi and political activity.  Therefore they needed people who could carry out this mission properly.  Therefore our mission was to infiltrate the SAP as Special Constables, so that we could attack the ANC as Special Constables in Pietermaritzburg region.
	When M.Z. Khumalo addressed us like that, we realised that if that was the reason, we agreed to become Special Constables and were trained by the SAP.  We were then trained at Koeberg.

MR WILLS: Yes, you were trained in Koeberg and then you were deployed in the Pietermaritzburg area for a while before you essentially deserted your role as a Special Constable and returned to Ulundi.  During that period is it not so that you were paid both a salary in relation to your duties as a Special Constable and also you still received an amount of approximately R700-00 per month in relation to your training as a Caprivi trainee, so you were receiving two salaries during that period?  Is that correct?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: Yes, that is true.  When we left here, we agreed that our Caprivi membership will not end just because we were becoming Special Constables, and therefore we were going to continue being paid.
	But the SAP didn't know that we had received other training, therefore they also paid us as Special Constables.

MR WILLS: Is it also not so that you were advised by M.Z. Khumalo to ensure that you kept the fact that you had received previous training, a secret from the South African Police instructors at Koeberg?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: He emphasised that we should not reveal that we know anything about military activities.

MR WILLS: Yes, and then after you had finished your stint as a Special Constable in the Pietermaritzburg area, you received further training in Venda, is that not so and this training mainly consisted of a contra-mobilisation type training and political indoctrination?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: Yes, that is so.  When we went to Venda, we didn't do any military activities.  We concentrated mainly on contra-mobilisation activities, like advertising, mobilising and we were also taught on how to prepare public speeches, and how to conduct propaganda and things like rhetoric speeches, but we were mainly taught on how to build an organisation and strengthen it.

MR WILLS: And what - did this training have a particular organisational bias, did it favour one particular organisation?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: Can you please repeat the question?

MR WILLS: I will leave that issue.  You then returned to Ulundi and it wasn't long thereafter, that you were recruited into the KwaZulu Police, where you were trained as a normal KwaZulu Policeman and you were eventually admitted into the KwaZulu Police in December 1989, is that correct?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: No, it is not so.  I was not admitted in December 1989, it was on July, the first, 1989.

MR WILLS: Yes, sorry ...
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ON RESUMPTION

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: (still under oath)

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Wills, are you ready to proceed?

MR WILLS: (continued)  Yes, thank you Mr Chairman, we appreciate that indulgence, thank you.
	Mr Mkhize, before the break we were just about to commence the incidents in which you were involved.  Now, the first one you have listed in your affidavit is at paragraph 46, page 96 of the record.  That is the attack on ANC members at Gundani bus stop.  Can you explain the circumstances of this attack to the Committee members and the members of the public?