Human Rights Violation Hearings — Klerksdorp — 1996-09-23

DR RANDERA: Senator, I wonder if I could move you along to 1993.

MR RASMENI: Okay.  Could I just round up this one, shortly?

DR RANDERA: Sure.

MR RASMENI: But after the case was completed by the Court, they were released and it was clear that these leaders were still committed leaders of the labour movement.
 So I just wanted to also share that following these events, I spent numerous periods in detention without trial, with the leaders that I mentioned earlier on, Howard Jawa, Thaba Sitholi, Sylvia Benjamin, Henry Molema, Sithisun Mathane, George Malawaya, and in many cases under hunger strike.  
 From 1986 onwards, I was under constant surveillance by the mine security police and the South African Police, and my wife also would be - they would monitor her movements.  At some other stages these people would actually go to our house in Jouberton, No 88/6, when we would be at work, pretending that they are friends and actually to go and see how the set-up is at my place. 
 Mr Chairperson, I know that the statement that you have there does not contain many of these issues highlighted by me there.  I must confess that I have sent a certified copy of what I am going through now, through Olly in your office.  Because what you have there, I have realised that it is short of many other key issues that need to be highlighted here, like the bombings of my house, which is important to me.
 On the 4th of February 1990, that was immediately after the announcements to unban the ANC, SACP and other political parties, my house was bombed during the night.  The kitchen 
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windows, the stove, and other furniture was damaged. As I was out of town during that night, my wife reported the matter to the police.  Mr Pelser, who was Lieut Pelser then, came and inspected the damage. He promised to investigate. Up until now nothing has come up.
 I don't want to waste your time, Mr Chairperson. I want also to refer to an incidence that took place on the 15th of February 1991.  On the 15th of February 1991, that was the bombing again of my house, the same house in Jouberton.

CHAIRPERSON: Order, please!

MR RASMENI: Now the turn of events here before the bombings, my telephone line gets disrupted on the 13th. My wife investigates on the 14th.  They say there was a problem, but it could be, it was going to be corrected. In the afternoon of that day the phone is in working condition. That was the 14th, preceding the 15th, which was the day the house was bombed.
 On the same day, on the 14th, security police driving a Land Rover moved up and down the street.  On one occasion they stopped in front of the house, pretending to be directed to a certain house.  They saw me.  Fortunately I was off for the day.  I told them that I do not know the house they were looking for.  They drove off.  We slept during the night, the phone was in working condition. At 25 to 2 am the house is bombed.  The front of the house has collapsed, the doors, the ceilings, the furniture is destroyed.  Afterwards, seeing that there is no more sound of a bomb again, you know, I jumped up, tried to telephone the police. It is not in working order. The phone is not in the working order, until I went to the neighbour, to my neighbours, to ask them so that I could phone the police.  
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Then I phoned the police.  Miraculously, again before eight o'clock, the phone is in working order.  So I think it was very much fruitful for me or important for me to highlight on those important incidents and I want to say that all these things are contained in my statement and affidavits that we made when the matter was reported to Lawyers for Human Rights, through Motala, and have been attached for your perusal.
 There are two other incidents that I want to end up this submission with. On the 11th of March 1991, again, a warrant officer known as Kutumela, went to my house twice in the afternoon, knowing full well that I was at work.  He harassed my wife and children, threatening to kill me, that he was there to see to it that he killed me.  Two affidavits to this regard have been made and are also attached.  Charges were laid with the police and the Attorney-General declined to prosecute.
 The last one.  In 1993 an ANC Youth League leader in the name of Thabo Dingwe, was detained by Capt Pretorius.  After his release he came to my house and he was looking terrified.  He explained that he was severely threatened during interrogation, that he was released on condition that he should come to my house.  Later in the evening, under pretext that he is paying me a visit, that they would supply him with a gun, supply him with a gun with a silencer, that he would then ask me to accompany him up to the gate and before he leaves he must shoot me. Well, we advised the comrade that he must actually lay a charge and report the matter to the Lawyers for Human Rights.  But up to this day nothing has come up.  This is the matter that we are placing before the Commission as well.
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 Also, Mr Chairman, to round up here, I must actually say it is important to mention that front companies of the apartheid regime have been operating in this region one of which is Delta Consultancy, which sought to divide the liberation movement.  This Delta Consultancy was led by a Dr De Jager, who was linked to the military intelligence or NIS.  I want here to make a call that an intense investigation into those front organisations, front companies of the apartheid regime should be conducted by the Commission so that the truth is known, what they were there for, what they did,  so that ultimately our people in the country are of the knowledge of what happened in the past.
 Through you, Mr Chairperson, I want to end up this submission by saying a call should be made that those who were involved, like we have indicated that here, we have even made mention of certain policemen, certain captains, lieutenants and other Black officers, it is now their time to come up to the Truth Commission.  If they were coerced, if it was not their intention and that they were ordered to do all these things, they must come up and tell the truth before the Commission.  Those that fail, even those that bombed my house, traumatised my family, they should come up, but if they fail, the law must take its course and their place should be behind bars.  This is the call I wish to make.  Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: I just wanted to ask, I didn't see Mrs Rasmeni whisper to you - does she want to whisper?

MR RASMENI: I think she has, I think she has done so.

CHAIRPERSON: She has done so.

MR RASMENI: I think she has done so, Mr Chairperson.

DR RANDERA: Senator, I do not have any questions, except to KLERKSDORP HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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commend you for your very detailed statement here today.  I thank you for that.

MR RASMENI: Thank you very much, Sir.