Human Rights Violation Hearings — Krugersdorp — 1996-11-12

YASMINE SOOKA: And who were these meetings called by?  Were they called by the ANC structure in the township or by the Civics?

BUKA PINZI: At that time I was not politically aware and I did not care much about what was happening around me.  I just regarded myself as an equal with other people and I was very much in need of a place to stay.  I did not want to get involved in the politics of the place.

YASMINE SOOKA: Were there fights between the two groups?

BUKA PINZI: No, I have never heard of any fights.  I have never seen any.  I would not know, maybe when I was not around it happened.

YASMINE SOOKA: Were you on the same side acting against Inkatha?

BUKA PINZI: What do you mean when you I was part of the group that was opposed to Inkatha?

YASMINE SOOKA: I am asking, you see, you are saying that there were two groups and the one group use to be killed The Men and the one group was called The Women, but when Inkatha attacked Swanieville, would you say that the group, The Men and The Women were on the same side against Inkatha or was one of those groups acting with Inkatha or were they both just targets?

BUKA PINZI: On that particular day I do not remember whether there was anyone who was actually fighting with the other because we were woken up by sounds of gunfire and I did not really notice whether that was ANC and Inkatha or what was
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happening.  I do not even know the people who shot at me, whether they were Inkatha members or ANC members.

YASMINE SOOKA: Yes, I think that we note that point then.  Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Pinzi, I am going to ask you just one question.  When you say you heard over the radio an announcement that you should not patrol the area, you must sleep soundly because the police were there to protect you.  Do you think that was some form of mechanism to make you sleep so that you could be attacked?

BUKA PINZI: Yes, that is how I think of it because we did not sleep the whole night and immediately when I tried to sleep we got attacked.  I think that was a plan in order for them to attack us.

CHAIRPERSON: Did the police come to patrol the area as promised?

BUKA PINZI: The police presence was that they were moving up and down and they were doing nothing.  They were there at seven up to eight, up till nine.  Then by the time I slept the Hippo was no longer there.

CHAIRPERSON: Now, this plan to make you sleep, according to your own opinion, do you think the police were working hand in hand with these people.

BUKA PINZI: That is how I see it.  I think they were working together hand in glove.

CHAIRPERSON: We thank you very much that you have appeared before this Commission.  Is there anything else that you would like to say or maybe a request that you want to put forward to this Commission.

BUKA PINZI: If there is any help that the Truth Commission could offer me.  I want to get some work so that I can be
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able to maintain my children.

CHAIRPERSON: What about your eyes?  Can you see or do you feel that they are perfectly healed?  Is there any other help that you need with regard to the treatment of your eye?

BUKA PINZI: My other injured eye was taken out, but the one that is left is partially blind especially when it is very sunny or windy.  It gives me problems.  I do need help with regard to the remaining eye.

CHAIRPERSON: We hope that we will be able to pass forward your requests and see what help you can get with regard to your requests and we shall get back to you in due course.  Thank you very much.
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