Human Rights Violation Hearings — Soweto — 1996-07-26

MRS NGWENYA: In fact, we appealed to quite a number of people, we appealed to Mr Sisulu, immediately he was released. We appealed to Archbishop Tutu and we appealed to Rev Chikane.  Rev Chikane is the one who finally, at least, influenced them to release him as he was released later.  Because he phoned us to say your son is now out.

CHAIRPERSON: Did Dr Ralph Nijijima ever give you any report back?

MRS NGWENYA: He didn't give it to us, but he gave the report to my daughter who was there, to the wife and my son's mother-in-law.

CHAIRPERSON: The Sindiso Mfenyana that you mention as having informed you that your son died, was he the same Sindiso that was his jailer or is there a difference?

MR NGWENYA: No, it is very difficult to distinguish from the voice who it is, because it was a telephone message.

MRS NGWENYA: The first time.

CHAIRPERSON: What I find very strange is that you say that you at great expense flew the body back to Swaziland, where you buried him with no assistance.  But you also say later that the military wing supported you, and clearly from the message that you ...

MRS NGWENYA: They supported me morally.

CHAIRPERSON: The military wing.
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MRS NGWENYA: They supported us morally.

CHAIRPERSON: Morally, okay.  But what I find incongruous is the fact that you have this wonderful message, but not any assistance for his funeral.  What I want to know is, was he buried very quietly by yourself or was the ANC assisting you in terms of support, was there a visible ANC presence? Could you give me a little more details about that.

MR NGWENYA: When we learnt that he had died in Lusaka, we sent my daughter over at our expense.  His wife flew over at her expense. His mother-in-law flew over at her expense. Getting there, they had to pay undertakers to embalm his body and they had to buy their own material, coffins, steel coffins to transport him by air to Swaziland.  Because we were arranging now for the funeral in Swaziland. I had to plead with the Swaziland authorities to accept him. He was not a Swazi citizen. So I had to plead with the Swazi authorities go to Swaziland, they went that way.  Everybody was keeping this distance.  Mr Nzo even cancelled the memorial service that was to be held by the military command for him at a hole in Lusaka.  When everybody was already assembled there, why he did?  It must have been malicious.  It brings me to the conclusion that it was an orchestrated campaign to eliminate him.

CHAIRPERSON: There have been a number of commissions which have investigated the atrocities in ANC camps.  You yourself have referred to the Stewart Commission.  There has also been the Motsuyane Commission.  Were you ever called to give evidence to that Commission?

MRS NGWENYA: No, as I stated in my presentation.  We were not called to any of this. I remember in the case of Motsuyane's Commission, I even phoned them, asked them if we SOWETO HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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could not come. They said they will come back to me, they never came back to me.

CHAIRPERSON: In recent times, have you ever received any report from the ANC on this matter?

MRS NGWENYA: No.

MR NGWENYA: I wrote to the ANC in 1992 and took my letter to Shell House. It was acknowledged, because I insisted that it must be acknowledged in writing. It was acknowledged, saying that I have written to them, to the secretary of the ANC, enquiring about the circumstances surrounding my son's death.  In 1992 or 1991. I have got their acknowledgement. Nothing has been done, no reaction, no response.

MRS NGWENYA: In fact, we would not even have come to this Commission, we wanted a meeting with them. We wrote and we sent a letter to Shell House to say they should arrange a meeting. So we just kept on phoning them to find out whether the meeting was coming up, whereas we knew that the Commission was going round.  They kept on saying that the vice-President is not available. So that is how we felt that we rather now come to this Commission, because we are not sure whether they would eventually see us.

CHAIRPERSON: The story that you have told is, I think, very heartbreaking and very sad. I think, particularly in this week, we have heard many, many stories of young men who never came home.  I think that the price that South Africa is paying is very, very high, because in a sense almost a generation of people have been wiped out by the forces on both sides.  We have taken note of the submission that you have made.  We hope that you will assist us by giving us all the information that you have in your possession. We will, of course we handing the matter over to our investigation
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unit and we trust that we will at the end of the day be able to assist you. I think for many of us we are very lucky to be alive, because in a sense the flower of our youth have been wiped out and those of them who came back, have scars and clearly centres will need to be set up to deal with the trauma that they suffer, but also the pain of those who have been left behind.  Thank you for coming.
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