Human Rights Violation Hearings — Uitenhage — 1996-08-26

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: That was six months after the release. I got a stroke and Dr. Pillay said it was as a result of my heart condition.

MS MAYA: Let's go back a little bit. Unless there is something else that you may have omitted and you feel you want to add on?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: You mean besides that of the stomach trouble I had?

MS MAYA: Yes, we are through now, are we through now with everything you would like to say?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: I would like to say I had some problems. Nopesi said some nasty things to me, even when I wanted to relieve myself, he used abusive language asking "What do you want to do" and I just can't say it. He said in abusive language, trying to say, "You want to go and relieve yourself, and then I said "Yes".
 I am shocked because it is my first experience to be arrested and now my stomach is running from the shock and all these things that have been happening to me, they have affected me and they have made me to have a running tummy.

MS MAYA: Mama, by your appearance here, I think you have some wishes or perhaps some requests. What are those you may be having?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Because they affected my health and I am all by myself.

MS MAYA: I am therefore asking is there any help you get from the government?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Yes, there is. I am getting some grant disability, disability grant.

MS MAYA: Do you see any doctor?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Yes, I do see Dr. Pillay.

MS MAYA: Do you have any dependants?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Yes, I have.

MS MAYA: How many children are dependant on you?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: There are three.

MS MAYA: And how old are they?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: One is 18, one is 15 and the other one is 7 years old.

MS MAYA: Are they your own, own children?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Yes, they are.

MS MAYA: We thank you. We shall now hand you over to the other Commissioners who would perhaps have some questions to ask you.

CHAIRPERSON: We hand over to Ms Pumla Madikizela-Gobodo.

MS GOBODO: Thank you Mr Chairperson. Mama, we thank you for your report. There is only one thing I would ask you to clarify.
 Several times, females are mishandled only because they happen to be that sex, so don't get hurt if you don't want to mention the abusive language as you stated earlier, but I would like you to give us an idea as to whether these people were referring to your sex or is it because of their abusive language which is connected with you being a female?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: I did excuse myself about having to mention this abusive language, but they were actually referring to the fact that I was a female, they were based on that, they were swearing at me because I am a female.

MS GOBODO: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Over to Mr Ntsikelelo Sandi.

MR SANDI: Mrs Vena, in your words, which you mentioned earlier on, you made mention of the name Gerber? By the way, you said Gerber was the head of the Crime Stop here in Uitenhage?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: I don't think at that time he was the head of the Crime Stop.

MR SANDI: Now, you don't mean he is the head of the Crime Stop now?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Yes, he is the head now.

MR SANDI: Do you see that as a promotion to him?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Yes, I do see it as a promotion.

MR SANDI: Does that make you happy?

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: It does make me happy.

MR SANDI: I am not sure whether you understand my question, Mrs Vena.
 - Break in questioning -

VICTORIA NONDZUZO MAKINANA VENA: Excuse me, I have a request. I am not against Crime Stop, but the head is the one I am against because I don't want him to be there, the Crime Stop is OK because it takes care of people but the head of the Crime Stop, Gerber, should be put aside.

MR SANDI: We thank you Mrs Vena. I have got no further questions.

CHAIRPERSON: I thank you Mrs Vena, since this morning we have been listening to testimonies from various people about what happened to the youth of Uitenhage to an extent that we also wanted to get some views about what was happening to the elderly people, so we are happy therefore to see you as a representative of the elderly people who also participated in the liberation.
 Old people like yourself who were detained for 180 days which is an indication that people here in Uitenhage were also involved, this was not just for the youth, even the elderly people were fully involved. 
 We honour you, we honour the women mainly who at that time fought for the freedom of South Africa. Fought for sacrifice that there should be no oppression. The whole of South Africa honours you, all that you have said here which you need that we should look into, especially your health.
 We therefore want to make a proposal that those people who fought should be taken care of by South Africa to make some gratitude of some kind and to show that they have made everything to bring about this liberation to South Africa.