Human Rights Violation Hearings — Cradock — 1997-02-10

UNKNOWN: Thank you Chairperson.  Honourable Presiding Commissioner, I present to you this morning a list of all the people who have applied to appear before the Human Rights Violations Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation
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 Commission in the order in which they will appear.  I wish to point out first that today our testimonies will cover four areas, or Magisterial Districts which are Cradock, Venterstad, Jansenville and Aberdeen.  We originally had 17 witnesses who would be testifying on our line-out, but two of them, we are told, are absent unfortunately.
 I will first read out the names of the witnesses who will be testifying, then those of the victims who were affected, the nature of the violation and the year during which such a violation occurred.
 We have Novintwembi Grace Ngqamfane, in the matter of Zongezile Patrick Mfazwe, who was murdered in Cradock in 1986.
 Notutu Lizzie James, in the matter of Rocky James, murdered in Cradock in 1977.  Xoliswa Ethel Mboya, in the matter of John Vuyisile Mboya, murdered in Cradock in 1992.  Thandiwe Agness Dano, in the matter of Luyanda Dano, torture and severe  ill-treatment in Cradock, 1977.
 Boniswa Elsie Khethwa, in the matter of Simphiwe Khethwa, murdered in Venterstad in 1986.  Velele Willie Ramncwana, in the matter of himself.  He was tortured in Venterstad in 1963.  
 Polina Nolese Mbalula, in the matter of Nobeki Mbalula, who was murdered in Venterstad in 1993.  Mxolisi Goboza, testifying about himself - attempted murder in Venterstad, 1993.
 Thembinkosi Tshabe, in the matter of himself, attempted murder, Venterstad, 1993.  Deborah Nomeisie Mzati, in the matter of Ayanda Mzati, disappearance, Jansenville, 1989.  
 David Velele Mngona in the matter of himself and that of his brother, Peter Rapudi.  He was subjected to severe 
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ill-treatment and his brother was murdered in Jansenville in 1985.
 Nomight Regina Booyse, in the matter of Vuyani Douze, who was murdered in Jansenville in 1986.  Ginette Nompumelelo Mejane, in the matter of Thembile Mejane, who disappeared from Jansenville in 1985.  Nettie Maradebe Grootboom, in the matter of Themba Richard Grootboom, who was murdered in Jansenville in 1986.
 Xolile Gadion Mzati, testifying about himself.  He was tortured in Aberdeen in 1985.  David Kaiser Meintjies, testifying about himself, attempted murder in Aberdeen in 1985.  And the last one is John Tembisile Vena, testifying about himself.  He was tortured in Aberdeen from 1985, right up to 1991.  Thank you Mr Chairperson.

BONGANI FINCA: We thank you Miss Maya.  Before we start with our hearing, it is our tradition that we have a moment of silence to remember the people that we will be talking about, the people who died.  I would request the people to stand up to give that respect.
 We remember Zongezile Patrick Mfazwe, Rocky James, John Vuyisile Mboya, Simphiwe Khethwa, Nobeki Mbalula, Ayanda Mzati, Peter Rapudi, Vuyani Douze, Thembile Mejane, Themba Richard Grootboom.  
 May their souls rest in peace, may the Lord give them His light.  
 As usual we will now hand over.  Just before I do that, I will introduce our panel today.  We have Commissioners and Committee members of the Eastern Cape.  From my far left, we have Mrs June Crichton, who is coming from Port Elizabeth, who used to work for the Black Sash.  She was in the forefront in the Anglican Church Congregation.  She is now 
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a member of the Committee called the Human Rights Violations.
 On my left I have Reverend Xundu.  I think the people of Cradock know him.  Most of the funerals here, he used to be there, he used to attend those funerals.  You will remember in the funeral of the Cradock four, he was participating as an Officiating Minister.  He is an Anglican Church Reverend, and one of the prominent activists that were coming from the church here in the  Eastern Cape.
 On my right I have Miss Tiny Maya, she is an attorney,  She is from Umtata where she was working as an attorney.  She was practising as an attorney, she was also a prominent member in the organisations of attorneys dealing with Human Rights.  She is also a member of the Human Rights Violations Committee.
 On my far right, I have Mr Ntsiki Sandi.  He is also an attorney.  He is from Grahamstown.  He was working on the border, he was working with the organisations of the attorneys that were actually dealing with Human Rights.  I am Bongani Finca from Alice.  We are the members of this panel today.  Dr Alex Boraine, who is the Secretary of the Commission, he actually phoned me this morning greeting us because he is an acting Chairperson of this Commission as the Bishop is still sick at the moment.
 He is also wishing us success, he is not here but he is with us in prayer.  We are going to start.

MR SANDI: Excuse me Chairman, just before you start, I would like to introduce Reverend Finca who was in the Council of Churches.  He was also involved in Ciskei during the overthrowing of the Government of Qgozo, he is also the Convenor of this Region, so I would like to introduce him to CRADOCK HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
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you, because he had a great contribution in looking at the Human Rights Violations.  He is also a Convenor, he also deserves the position that he is holding.  With those words, I wanted to introduce him to you, thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: We are going to call upon Notutu Lizzie James.  We welcome you Mrs Lizzie.  We are going to hand over to Reverend Xundu who will be administering the oath.

NOTUTU LIZZIE JAMES: (sworn states)

REV XUNDU: Thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: Tiny Maya will be leading you in questions Mrs James.

UNKNOWN: Thank you Chairperson.  I greet you Mrs James.  Firstly I want to verify your names, you are Notutu Lizzie James, is that so?  You reside at number 22 Loqolene Street, is that so?

NOTUTU LIZZIE JAMES: Yes.

UNKNOWN: You are going to tell us today about your son, Rocky James, who was killed in 1977.  What can you tell us about James, how old was he at the time?