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

UNKNOWN: Mr J F Kayne Berman                                         Executive Director                                          South African Institute of Race Relations                   P O Box 31044                                               Brahmfontein                                                Dear Mr Kayne Berman                                        Your Mr Phindile state
With reference to my letter dated 1 December    1988, I wish to inform you that every endeavour   to trace Mr Phindile Mfeti was unsuccessful.      His whereabouts could not be established.
          Yours faithfully
          Commissioner J S M Venter                                   South African Police".

MR NTSEBEZA: Now what date is that letter?  The reply from the police?

UNKNOWN: 27 January 1989.

MR NTSEBEZA: So it was getting on for the third year telling you that your husband is being searched. Now we just want to summarise. All efforts, South African Institute of Race relations, Attorneys, yourself, all these never managed to bring Phindile back?

UNKNOWN: Yes.

MR NTSEBEZA: What do you think is actually happening here?

UNKNOWN: What I think about him, because that time he
was in detention, there was a report, and he came back with a report that one policeman who hit him, said to him, he  himself, Steve Biko and Bitja, they are trouble makers. They should take the three of them, put them at the borders, shoot them and leave them there.  And then the community will think that their own comrades have killed them. 
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MR NTSEBEZA: Can you please repeat this because this is one of the things that really troubled our country. I want you to repeat that, any person in this chamber who didn't understand that must really understand.

UNKNOWN: He came out and indicated to me that one policeman, among the policemen that assaulted him during his detention, they said himself, Steve Biko and Bunny Bitja, should be taken to border posts, because they are really troublesome, they should put them at the border post and shoot them and leave them there so the communities might think that their own comrades have killed them.

MR NTSEBEZA: Now after his disappearance, did you remember that?  Because it's one of the things he mention to you? Now did you really have a feeling that he's been killed?

UNKNOWN: Yes I thought of that because he said to me, I wasn't in a position to know his whereabouts, Steve Biko died at the police cells.  My husband was out together with people like Juliet Kettes who received a parcel bomb, and then Mr Berman.  If those people were not close to me, I couldn't know exactly what happened to my husband.

MR NTSEBEZA: Do you think he died the same way as Steve Biko?

UNKNOWN: Yes I think so.

MR NTSEBEZA: Now let us look at today. How do you feel today?  Where are your children?

UNKNOWN: The little one is at the University of Transkei.  The elder one, during the time when it was difficult, he found his way through to Nigeria to study there. He left South at a very young age after completing Standard 7.  He is back from Nigeria now, but he's never been to school because we are still encountering problems to EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
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change his results to the South African standard.

MR NTSEBEZA: Now on the 25th of April what happened.  This day, how do you remember this day together with your children?

UNKNOWN: We were crying.  We didn't know how to think properly.  But the first thing in my mind was, maybe he's just taken a walk, but after some enquiries, because in his room there was a bag that is not missing. Mpelelo my son said, I don't think he took anything.
 I started realising that something might have happened. One of the things that I was sure of was that he promised me that he will never ever leave this world. They'd rather kill him if than he would.  He was actually giving me an answer on the question that I asked him, he had a banning order.  During that banning order he had an appointment with John Kerman.  He only left, the house was left with police guarding.  I went to call John, I said to him, "John, please arrange something for him, I'm not going to stand this anymore.  I don't want him to be arrested anymore. John on his arrival, told him that I have called and that should try something, they should find a place for him. He refused, and said, "No I will never run away, I will never leave my mum without burying her, because she really struggled, giving me education".

MR NTSEBEZA: Now summarising or closing, you find yourself in trouble being a widow, having not seen the grave of your husband, is that true?  You children they find they are orphans, without a father, but they can not even take beautiful flowers to his grave.  Is that so?

UNKNOWN: Yes.

MR NTSEBEZA: Is there anything you wish to ask from the EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
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Commission, before the Commission gives you a time to give us your feelings.  Is there anything that you'd like the Commission to know?

UNKNOWN: I have interest in the fact that if the Commission can succeed and make thorough investigations, just to get where my husband is, even if it is his remains, even if he was burned to death, even if you can get his ashes, even the bones belonging to his body, because no person can just disappear without trace.  There will always be some trace to say he was found here. If I had an opportunity to bury him, I can already have reconciled.

MR NTSEBEZA: Thank you Mam.

DR BORAINE: Are there any questions?  Thank you.