Amnesty Hearings — Ermelo — 1998-09-14

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, I remember.  When the Black Cats came back it became necessary as youth within the ANC that we shall have educated leaders in order to have better organisations.  The children took them back to school.  Unfortunately they couldn't be accepted by the children at school and also by teachers.  Therefore we had to have a meeting, myself, Noah and Thanda.   Since they couldn't go to Wesselton which was predominantly ANC or an ANC stronghold, we suggested that they should go to Thembisa because it's near.  I have to go to Noah's house so that if they got attacked I should be near to attack whoever attacks them.  Therefore I went to the schools.  I was with Chris and Jwi Zwane and we talked to the principal and they accepted the children.  Unfortunately the children at school never accepted them, the Black Cats.

UNKNOWN: Mr Wills, sorry to interpose.  Is your client relating to the same incident?  He seems to be relating to a different incident to the one that you were directing him to.

MR WILLS: Yes, Mr Chairperson, I think he's just giving us a bit of an extensive background, but I'll try and restrict him to this specific incident.  I'm talking, Mr Hlongwane, I want you to look at paragraph fifty four (54).  Have you got it?  It says, "Attack on UDF members at Isikhumplazi", and it was a shop at Isikhumplazi.  Paragraph fifty four (54), not page one hundred and fifety four (154).  Paragraph fifty four (54).  I'll just place on record, he was looking at the wrong page.  Thank you, Mr Chairperson.

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: I'm sorry, I was looking at fifty four (54).  I was sent by Noah.  There are different places in Ermelo and each place has its own people.  Isikhumplazi was an ANC stronghold and Noah instructed me to go and attack or shoot at the particular shop which is opposite to Estancia.  He took me in the evening to the place and I saw the shop and I went there in the evening and shot at the place.

MR WILLS: You say in your affidavit that you were with China.  You say Charles, but again you really mean China, is that correct?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, Charles is China.

MR WILLS: And do you know if anybody was injured in that incident?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Usually after attacking Noah would tell me the reports from the police from each incident as to what happened.  In this particular one he told me one person died.

MR WILLS: Do you know the names of the person?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: No, I don't.

MR WILLS: Now, the next incident you refer to at paragraph fifty five (55) is the attack on the ANC member Bhobholina's mother.  That we know is Mrs Zini Shongwe, is that correct?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: And is it also correct that you were charged in respect of this offence together with some others at a High Court trial in Ermelo, and you were convicted as a result of a guilty plea on the sixteenth (16th) of September 1997?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: Now, is it not so there at that trial you handed in a plea in terms of section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act, where you explained the circumstances surrounding you killing Mrs Zini Shongwe?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: And you were giving a sentence of twelve (12) years for this murder?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: Just for the record, members of the Committee, I have, what I think is the final draft of this plea before me.  I have requested it to be faxed through to this number.  I do undertake to hand the draft plea in or the final plea in as an exhibit.  I'm reluctant to hand in this final draft just in case it isn't the final document, but I will get the final document during the course of the day.  I've instructed persons to fax it through.  Can you - or just before we go off that trial, is it not also so that in respect of the same trial you pleaded guilty to the incident you describe in paragraph fifty nine (59), that's the attack on the ANC operative December?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: And also the attempted murder of the three persons mentioned in paragraph fifty eight (58)?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: And those three persons who you didn't know at the time, but subsequently at the trial you established were Mlupheki Alphius Ngwenya, Meli Daniel Zwane and Christopher Tofa Sibanyoni.

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: And in respect of the murder of December, you were also sentenced to a period of imprisonment of twelve (12) years?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: And you recall that you were sentenced to a period of eight (8) years for the three (3) attempted murders?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: And then at that trial as well you pleaded guilty to the possession of a 9mm pistol and twelve (12) rounds of 9mm ammunition in respect of which you were convicted and also sentenced to, and you recall a period of four (4) years' imprisonment.

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, it is correct.

MR WILLS: Can you describe to us the circumstances surrounding the murder of Bhobholina's mother, Mrs Zini Shongwe?

ISRAEL NYONI HLONGWANE: Yes, I can try to explain.  Sabata was a friend to, (Interpreter:  I missed the name).

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, could you please repeat.  The interpreter missed the name.  You said Sabata was a friend of?