Special Hearings — Children's Hearings — 1997-05-14

MR DLAMINI: "Maybe they are just waiting there." That's why I am saying   these people were working together with the police because they were using binoculars   and over radio. And they called the police, the called ZP Police, and then the   police came driving the van, police van. And they knew that anyone who was using   that route was their enemy. They used to call us criminals, com-tsotsi, meaning   criminal Comrades. Before I arrived there there's a place where there's no grass.   I can't actually put everyone in picture as to what happened, because after   that incident I lost consciousness and I was admitted. I only regained my conscious   after eight days. I don't what happened. All I remember is that they just shot   at me, and they were close. I can say they were 20 metres. It wasn't that far.   And they shot at me and then took my body. They shot me at my legs, both legs,   and my arm, and also my stomach. They took me to the police station instead   of hospital, and then after police station they took me to King Edward. They   didn't even call an ambulance, they used a police van. And in hospital they   were there ... (incomplete - end of Side A, Tape 2) ... no one can hear me now.   While I was in hospital I was being tortured. Police were there, ZP Police,   and I only discovered that they have opened a case. I was charged for public   violence. While they were watching me in hospital they were torturing me. I   couldn't walk. As from 1991 until 1997 I have been in plaster of Paris, or my   leg rather has been in plaster of Paris for seven years. They were torturing   me in hospital because they knew I couldn't walk.

MR DLAMINI: Who were these police who were torturing you in

MR DLAMINI: /hospital?

MR DLAMINI: hospital?

WITNESS: These were the ZP Police. ZP Police took me from   where they shot me and then they took me to police station and then to hospital,   and they were there. I don't know who told them to keep on treating me the way   they did. I was in hospital and laying in bed for one year seven months, and   they kept on telling me I was a prisoner. I was transferred to Wentworth Hospital.   Even there same treatment. What's very sad about this is that the people who   were torturing me were black policemen. There was no single white policeman   who tortured me or who handcuffed me, but only the African ones, African policemen,   day and night. They were working shifts. Some of them would come in the morning   and some will come in the evening. I was discharged from hospital, they took   me to custody with my leg in plaster of Paris. I think it was on Monday, and   they took me to court. I was supposed to appear before the Magistrate for something   I haven't done. I didn't even know why I was supposed to appear in court, and   in court they told me I was charged for public violence. They asked me if I   plead guilty or not. I told them I wasn't guilty, and my mother came and bailed   me out.

MR DLAMINI: When we investigated this matter, Wonder, we found that another   charge which was laid was for murder, for assault. Did they explain these to   you?

WITNESS: No. I was told about public violence, only public violence case.

MR DLAMINI: And when TRC investigators investigate we found that they charged   you for murder and assault. Also I would like you, Wonder, to clarify something.   According to the police records you were in hospital for five months, and you   were discharged in April 1992, and in your knowledge

MR DLAMINI: /it was

MR DLAMINI: it was one year seven months. Can you please clarify here?

WITNESS: Okay, I will. As I have said before I used two hospitals, King Edward and   Wentworth. I used to go home for like two weeks, and when I go back for check   up they'll admit me and stay in hospital for three months, four months. That's   why I said I spent one year seven months in hospital.

MR DLAMINI: You also said initially that this group called Mavaravara they   used to call you com-tsotsi, meaning criminal Comrades. What made them call   you like this?

WITNESS: I can't say, because I really don't know what happened to   their minds. I don't have any reason. Maybe it was because we left to KwaNdengezi.   Maybe that's why they called us com-tsotsi.

MR DLAMINI: Can't you remember an event, maybe, which might have led that   the community would call you as criminals?

WITNESS: No, there was no single event.

MR DLAMINI: Wonder, you also mentioned in your statement that you would   like to get help from specialists to help you with your leg.

WITNESS: Yes, that's   what I have asked for.

MR DLAMINI: How do you feel now? How is your leg?

WITNESS: As I am here today   I am going back to hospital on Friday. I don't know how long I am going to be   in hospital, because I am going to be admitted. On the 16th I am supposed to   go back to King Edward.

MR DLAMINI: Are the doctors telling you that there is hope for you, for   your leg?

WITNESS: I have spoken to Dr Snock. He explained to me that if I can get   help from the welfare he can help me to get hold of the specialist who can help   me, and it might be better that this situation or this condition.

MR DLAMINI: /You just

MR DLAMINI: You just said you are going there on Friday. Can you ask your   doctor to make a letter or to write a letter to advise the Commission as to   where to get hold of this specialist, what kind of specialist, and would like   to get hold of those doctors? Would you please ask him to write us a letter   and explain as to what help we can give? Thank you, Wonder. I will go back to   the Chairman.

MR DLAMINI: Wonder, I have questions meant specifically for you. I can   realise that you are still young, and you look handsome, and if you can just   explain to us, or just give us a picture of your life, your life after the injury,   and also your wishes, the ones that you had and the ones that you still have.   Like you can start by explaining to us up to what standard you finished schooling.

WITNESS: I left school in standard six because of the violence. Like as I have said   that we couldn't stay in our homes, we had to run to the mountains or hills.   I have a wish to become someone like my brothers, like my kid brother. He is   younger than me, but now he is far. He had furthered his education. I don't   know what to do, and time has run out. But I would also like to go back to school,   but because of the condition and the problems and troubles that I am facing   I am one person who is always in and out in hospital, and I also ask the doctors   to help me.

MR DLAMINI: I also have one comment that of course they've taken something   from your life, they have taken some opportunities from your life which you   will never regain, but there is something left in your where you can build something   on, and you can get support. There is still hope. Thank you.

MR DLAMINI: /

MR DLAMINI: CHAIRMAN

CHAIRPERSON: Wonder, just one aspect I wanted to try and   follow up on. What do you know about the terrible violence in 1983 that you   spoke about? Can you tell us anything about that?

WITNESS: I would like to clarify   that. It wasn't 1983 but it was 1985.

CHAIRPERSON: 1985. Can you tell us anything about that?

WITNESS: In 1985, even   though I can't remember everything because I was still young - even though I   wasn't very young - I can still make a recollection of some events in 1985.   Because in 1985 I also ran away from home, I left for Hammarsdale, because in   my township there were IFP members, and I had to go and attend school in Clermont   every day from KwaNdengezi because of the situation at that time. A lot of torture   and harassment I have met. Some of the things I can't even recall, I can't even   explain.

CHAIRPERSON: So this was more political violence between IFP people and   non-IFP people - what, would have been UDF at that time?