Human Rights Violation Hearings — Upington — 1996-10-02

WITNESS:  In 1992 - I think that was the right date that it was after the assassination of Chris Hani, we were involved in a project to clean the people's yards and throw this rubbish in the roads.  This was a project to give work to people.  So we removed all the rubbish and old cars and all the rubbish we removed from the people's yards and threw that in the road.  I live in Bonisa Street, when we came from the main road into Tenth Street, on our way we joined the group and coming down Kings Road, at the first 4-way stop we split into two groups.  One went down Brand Street and the other one down Kings Road.  As soon as we came to Katshane Street we were standing there singing, waiting for the other group.  We were waiting for the other group coming from Brand Street and we then joined into one group and walked further along the road.  While the one group was coming to join us, we were near Katshane Street on the corner, there was a man called Tsepo, a reservist.  He had a Magnum revolver, a 9mm Parabelum.  The Magnum was his own and the Parabelum belonged to the police.  As we were standing there he was sitting kneeling on his knees and he was aiming at the group standing at the corner of Kings and Katshane Road and he was aiming at us and he shot me in my leg, in my thigh.  As I was running, his two sons Lester and Thabo, they were driving, they were sitting on the boot of their white Chevrolet and they also start shooting into the crowd of people.  I ran about ten metres and I fell.  They continued to shoot and I got up and I ran again and I struggled to get to the corner and I went into a house.  Those people ran away and left me behind in the house.  I was sitting there and when the people gathered there, I could see through the window.  Jannie Nkonsu called me from outside and I said, no my friend I had been shot, I wasn't coming out.  They put me on a, they took me away now and took me to another one, it was right opposite the square.  This house was right opposite the square.  When we arrived there they bought Eno's and everything that could help and they wanted to put that on my leg and I said, no it was no rubber bullet it was a real bullet, and they said they were carrying me to show me to this man to show him that he had shot me and they asked, they, he told us that if you wanted me to shoot again, you better leave immediately.  They were standing behind me with my back to him and I said please take me away, take me away.  They took me away and my father brought a bakkie from our home and he took me to the hospital.  Another man by the name of Elvis came there and he said, no he would take me to hospital and they took me to the hospital.  It was about 12 o'clock when I arrived at hospital.  Until, it was only 7 o'clock that morning when Doctor Eksteen came there and he operated on my leg, that was past 1 the morning.  What happened then, as the day progressed, four policemen Njaka, Pona, Tangaas and another one, that was a Coloured policeman, I've forgotten his name.  They came to me, he was sitting on the bed next to me and Pona and Njaka were standing by the window and the one policeman was standing at the door and the one sitting next to me said, I have given them a command to tie you to the bed and I said, rubbish you are not going to handcuff me to the bed, and he said I have received a command to tie you to the bed, to handcuff you to the bed, and he said I have to do it, and I said no I am not going to allow that.  He took my hand and I showed him can I run away, can a person run away when his leg looks like this and he said I can understand you cannot run away when your leg looks like this but they gave me the command to do this and he called, nurse, nurse, nurse and I said nurse this man was going to tie me to the bed.  Please ask my father to come and solve this problem.  They phoned my father and Peetie Williams and other people accompanied my father to the hospital, they spoke to the police and the police spoke on the telephone and the captain said no, it was in order, you could go away.  So everything was calm.  I stayed in hospital for about three to four weeks and then they said this ward now is full.  You have to go to the white ward because it is empty there, because there you have to stay according to your medical assistance.  They took me to the white ward and they gave me a bed there.  I got onto the bed and they put the crutches and a wheelchair next to my bed.  Later on, another nurse came there when they changed shifts and she asked what had happened to these people and she asked what is wrong with you and I said no, I had been shot and she opened the blanket and said where had you been shot and I said in  Paballelo, and she said oh are you from the ANC and she said no, we don't want ANC's here and she took me out on the bed, she pulled me out of the ward.  I took my crutches on the bed and she took me back to where I have just come from and left me in the passage.  Then I took my crutches and went back to the white ward, got onto my wheelchair and came back to where my bed was and I told this nurse they have chased me away from the white ward, and we tried to establish where there was a ward where there was a place for my bed and they took me there.  When they discharged me, two policemen came there and they said meneer Lizo you had been discharged, we have to take you home.  I said no I am not going with you, I am going to phone my father and they said it is not necessary to phone your father, you have to go with us.  We will take you home.  And I said no, I am not going with you, my father is coming to fetch me.  But the one became very angry but eventually I said if you hurt me you will suffer, I am not going with you.  Later on another man who came to visit me arrived there and they, he took me home.  Xhiso arrived there, he phoned Bernadt attorneys from Cape Town, ANC attorneys, they phoned, tried to contact attorneys.  He phoned from my house trying to contact all these people.  Bernadt Vukic and Potash did not take the necessary steps to follow up my case.  Now afterwards everything was fine till up to date, till this present time.

MR POTGIETER:  This second time, during this shooting incidence, was there ever a case opened?  Did they ask any remuneration or did they put in a claim?

WITNESS:  I gave them the necessary, these lawyers the necessary documents and they saw that there was a case number and they said he will try to find the docket.  If there is a case number there should be a docket because I do not know anything about a case.

MR POTGIETER:  Have you heard anything about these Bernadt Vukic and Potash lawyers, have you received any money afterwards?  How is your leg nowadays, is your leg still sore?

WITNESS:  Yes when it is cold, it is very sore.

MR POTGIETER:  Does it still give you problems when it is cold?

WITNESS:  Yes and when I walk on my leg it also hurts but I have to use it all the time.

MR POTGIETER:  You are 25 years of age, are you working at the moment?  Do you work for your parents?  Do you support them?

WITNESS:  [No answer]