Human Rights Violation Hearings — Heiderveld — 1996-04-24

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: I was forced to run, I went through KTC right in the middle of it, when I was facing now that shop called KTC Bazaar I went in there.  When I got there I found that some of the police were inside, then I was also forced again to go - to leave KTC and try to go into another house in the same vicinity.  When I got in that house there was a hard knock, I hid under the door - under the bed so that they won't be able to see me.  I told those people in that house that I am running away from the police, they are chasing me.
And now these people opened for these police, they asked where is the student who came in - into this house, one of those men who was with a grandma and another sister in that house and their parents.  They said to the man of the house, he denied - he denied knowing anything about me.  And the grandmother said yes there is a student in here, so the police came to fetch me out of - under the bed.  
When I was out, I told those people the owners of the house, that now relax these police are not going to do anything to me.  But we had a - we had a short argument with the police but I was just trying to explain something now to the owners of the house that - just to tell them to relax and I told the police to let me go, because I didn't do anything.  It's them who are just chasing me from the school up to here, I didn't do anything.
Now eventually I was taken out of the house by the police.  After they took me out of the house, they kicked me and they beat me up.  They had a baton, immediately after I got out of the house, they beat me up with the baton all over my body.  I tried to run, while I was still running, they tripped me and I fell, they were kicking me, I tried to cover my face because I didn't want my face at least to be injured but they were too many for me, they overpowered me.
The soldiers also joined in now I was beaten up by the police and the soldiers with blue uniform and brown uniform.  I still have those photo's I don't know where I got that, but I got the photo's.  The whole agony lasted for 30 minutes.  As a result of that I discovered that I couldn't write - I couldn't work well, and I as also affected mentally, my behaviour totally changed after that.
After that torture, they told me to get up and run, poking me with the batons. Poking me with the guns as well.  I ran to KTC there was another man who helped me who I cannot  now mention.  He organised a car for me so that I can be taken to the hospital.  During that whole confusion I found myself in the Guguletu police station, they were taking my statement, there was another man who helped me a man that I met when I was at Guguletu police station, his name was Mr Van Eck.
He asked me what is my intention seeing that I have been beaten up like this, I said I want to open a case because point no 1 I was beaten up being innocent because I didn't do anything I was just from school I didn't do anything to anyone.  So he said yes he will try and give me an address to - addresses of the lawyers that he know here in Cape Town.
And from there I went to Sacla Clinic that clinic was in the Crossroads.  On that day on the 2nd of October that's where I was treated.  I was torn up, my lips were torn up and I had wounds all over from head to toe.  From that clinic I went home I tried to explain everything at home to tell them what happened.  And I had to rest.  And I was told that further treatment I will get it from KTC.  They took all the stitches out and from there I went to Groote Schuur just for a check up to check if there are any after effects.
Now I tried to read a book, just to see if I can be able to do this, but even now I still have a problem now, mentally.  Even at school I encounter enormous problems, my memory is too short, that really affects me now at school.  I got lawyers from Market Street in Cape Town.
My first lawyer was Bapro but we didn't last long with him because he had to go to a certain course, the second one was Steven.  He is the one who took me through, we went to Court with him, we were together until 1987.  During the Court proceedings, there was somebody also representing the police who was Mr Odendal.
He said that students were throwing rocks to the police and the hippos and petrol bombs and that was not true.  Even that case just ended up in a hazy manner there was nothing concrete about it.  And at the end of the day I was forced now to pay for all the Court - for all the Court expenses, even though I didn't do anything.  But more of these will be told by my father here because he knows about this, he will add - my father will add more on these.
The case was ended up being dismissed and I had to pay for the expenses.  I was told that I have defamed the police.  And I tried to protest and I asked the lawyers how can they allow this, but I was never given any gist of a reply.  So seeing that I didn't get any satisfactory answer then I decided let me come to this Truth Commission.

MARY BURTON: Thank you - thank you very much for telling us all of those details.  How old were you when all of this happened?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: I was 19 years old.

MARY BURTON: Were you able to finish school?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: No that whole year we didn't go to school we ended up not going to school at all, so therefore I didn't go back.

MARY BURTON: And have you found it difficult to find work?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: Yes I worked before, I have been only working on casual jobs.

MARY BURTON: Do you remember or did you ever know the names of any of the policemen who beat you?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: No I can't remember their names, what I know is they - they took me out of that house, there were four of them, two white policeman and two coloureds.  They were wearing blue shirts and navy pants and they had normally navy hats.  There were also two brown soldiers who were coloureds.  But I would be able to point at them, I wouldn't be able to identify them it's been a long time now.  Even then in 1985 I wouldn't have been able to point at them.

MARY BURTON: What have you hoped that the Truth Commission can do for you?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: Firstly I would appreciate it if the Truth Commission since I was beaten up by these whites, if they can investigate for me all the things that happened on that day.  To please investigate for me who were those police, all those police who beat me up, all those police who said that I lied and yet they did.
Secondly, when I reported this case through to the Court I claimed for - for some assistance, and I would appreciate it if the Commission can give me assistance to - to treat me properly so that I can be able to be well again like I was before, that is my problem and now that is my wish that the Truth Commission can help me with.

MARY BURTON: Thank you very much, I don't know if the other Commissioners want to ask any questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Are there any other questions, Pumla Gobodo.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Thank you, thank you for the explanation that you gave me - you gave us, I am trying to have a picture of what happened to you on the 2nd of October, you were leaving school that day.  Are you all right.

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: Okay yes we can continue.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Which school did you attend?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: It was X-3 then which is now called Stembilo Matiso.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Where is the school today?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: It is at 78 Koornhof Road at New Crossroads.  It is opposite 3A, NY78.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: When I estimate this distance from terminus to 78 how long is that distance?

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: From where.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: From the point where you started running to KTC.

MLANDELI WALTER MQIKELA: From school to this point to where I started running, it was - it's approximately a kilometre.