Human Rights Violation Hearings — Durban — 1996-08-29

MRS GCABASHE: I hear, Mrs Mabele.  How many children do you have that are still attending school?

WITNESS:   I have three, and grandchildren, five of them.  And the grandchildren are at school?   ---   Yes.  In all they are eight in number.

MRS GCABASHE: Who is the eldest in those who are attending school, who are still schooling?  What standard is he?

WITNESS:   Standard eight.  The youngest - those who come after him, or I say those who are younger, two of them are in standard five, some others are in standard seven, and one other is in standard three, and two are in standard two.

MRS GCABASHE: Thank you, Mrs Mabele, I heard everything you said.  Won't you like the Truth Commission to also give some help to look for the child who disappeared, and to get his whereabouts?

WITNESS:   If that can happen I will be grateful.  You see I can't live with this.  It's much better - I can live with the other.  When you've seen your child dying and you bury him that is something one can comprehend, but the other I cannot live with that.

MRS GCABASHE: Mrs Mabele, the Truth Commission will do its best to help you, and we will compile a report and forward it to the State President, and I will hand over now to the Chairperson.

MRS GCABASHE: (Inaudible) ... because we are running out of time I would like to ask - you've told us now about a serious story that has to be investigated about Zakile.  Would you remember when Zakile died?

WITNESS:   Zakile died this year.  This happened recently.  We parted when he was - it was April this very year.  He was buried on the 4th of May 1996.

MRS GCABASHE: Oh yes, I just wanted you to clarify that for me.  According to your statement - I wonder if it's a mistake -you say you wish for the Truth Commission to investigate and find out about your son.  Who are you talking about?  Are you talking about your niece, Mkazimulo?

WITNESS:   Yes, I am talking about Mkazimulo.

MRS GCABASHE: No, I just wanted to rectify that.

WITNESS:   It's Mkazimulo.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... your story today.  We have heard many stories in this Commission about violence against children, and this has been one of the most terrible aspects of our country's history.  It is tragic for a child to die, and for those children who were not killed, but just exposed to violence, it also has a lasting effect on them.  It changes their attitude towards the communities, and very frequently leads to a perpetuation of the cycle of violence, and those young people very often themselves become perpetrators.
We understand what you say that it is better for a parent to know and to have seen where their child is buried than never to know, and we understand some of the suffering that you are going through, and we will try to find out what happened to your son.
So again thank you very much for coming and speaking to us today.  Thank you.

COMMISSIONER: Good afternoon, Mrs Khawunda.  Can you hear me and understand me through the earphones?  Thank you very much for waiting so patiently all day to give your evidence.  You are from KwaMashu township, is that right?

MRS KHAWUNDA: That is correct.

COMMISSIONER: You have come to tell us about the death, the shooting, killing of your son-in-law, Jerome Khuzwayo, by members of the IFP.

MRS KHAWUNDA: Yes, it's my son-in-law, my daughter's husband.

COMMISSIONER: Husband, thank you.  Before you tell us your story can you please take the oath?  Can you stand and take the oath?

MRS KHAWUNDA: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Mrs Khawunda, Dr Magwaza will assist you now.

DR MAGWAZA: Good afternoon, Mrs Khawunda.  We welcome you before this Commission, and we do appreciate your presence.  Even before we start talking to you, and talking about your son-in-law who was shot dead, my first question is where is Bhuwile?

WITNESS:   I have come to speak about my son-in-law.

DR MAGWAZA: Now I want to know as to where your daughter is?

WITNESS:   I told her yesterday that i would be coming here, but I think she was just not concentrating.  She said she was going to look for work.  When I looked for her in the morning she was not around.

DR MAGWAZA: We usually ask about the whole family before we even proceed, because Bhuwile lost her husband, who was - I thought probably you would bring her with so that she could come and testify.

WITNESS:   She is at home, but she said she was going to look for work.

DR MAGWAZA: I'll just ask a few questions.  These questions were supposed to be answered by Bhuwile.  Does Bhuwile have children?

WITNESS:   Yes, she does.  She has four children.

DR MAGWAZA: These were children she got within the marriage?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

DR MAGWAZA: I would like you to start relating the story and telling us as to how this incident took place, how Bhuwile's husband got injured.