Amnesty Hearings — Richards Bay — 1998-04-14

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: This incident of Teliwe Makwanasi, I had received instruction from Captain Langeni.   Makwanasi was alleged to be most prominent in smuggling guns and he did not only operate in the eSikhawini area, but he was also influential in the attacks on Inkatha at kwaDlangezwa.  He was helping the ANC there.
	We also discovered that Makwanasi had started the idea of two way communication, that they had walkie talkies that they used when they patrolled in the evening, and they would use this to communicate and they were working in cooperation with the hostels, the  (indistinct) and the other hostel where they had their members who had infiltrated the hostels.
	There were also MK members who used to come periodically to the hostels, that they used to communicate with.  Makwanasi was alleged to be in charge of the protection of ANC members, which involved smuggling weapons, but that was the information that we had.
	The part that I have explained on patrolling in the evenings, communicating through these radio's and we couldn't get hold of these weapons, as a Policeman we tried many times to get these weapons from the hostels, from raids, but we couldn't get the weapons.
	We would receive information that just before we entered the hostel, Makwanasi would have just left the hostel with the weapons that we are looking for.  He had a sky blue car, I think it was a Ford, a station wagon of some kind.
	This is the car that was alleged to carry weapons that were used to attack IFP members.  That way it was decided that he should be removed.  There was a term that was used, that he should take the first bus.   I remember that on that day, we first met at Mrs Mbuyasi's house, Israel was there, Romeo as well, myself and Zweli Dhlamini.
	There were three of us when we left and we were driving Mr Bebebeyela's Ford Meteor.  There were supposed to be four of us who left the house, but ultimately there were just three of us who left.
	Our purpose for leaving the house was just reconnaissance, following him, tracking him, finding out where he is, what he is doing.  Romeo was driving and I was in the passenger seat.  Zweli Dhlamini was in the back seat.
	In J1 we saw Mr Makwanasi's car and it was reversing from a particular house and we passed and turned and came back, and we followed the car.  We followed the car out of J1 and we followed it closely.  When we were approaching the eSikhawini crossing, just before we approached the crossing, I concluded that he was going to the hostel, so we decided to overtake him so that he would be following us, and we would watch him from the rear view mirror.
	This we did and we turned towards Nqobele.  It appeared like we were going to the (indistinct) supermarket.  Makwanasi did not do as we had expected, he turned into the opposite direction, following the road out of  kwaDlangezwa.
	We then made a u-turn and crossed and followed him.  As we were approaching the bridge, there were two lanes on the road, two lanes in the same direction, so that cars could travel on different lanes, but going in the same direction.
	As we approached the bridge, we decided this was an ideal opportunity, we should hit him there and then.  We agreed, all three of us.  This was the ideal opportunity to hit him.
	We followed him closely and we realised that there were two of them in the car.  We pretended to overtake the car.  When the car was just next to his on the steep, because I was in the passenger seat, I was directly opposite their car.
	I was nearest to him.  We travelled some distance, the two cars next to each other.  I then took out my gun, the G3 gun, but I tried to shoot but the gun jammed twice.  I then did what is called immediate action drill, trying to see what is wrong, what is jamming the gun.
	Whilst I was still doing this, Romeo then accelerated.  As he did this, our car would be slightly in front of this other car.  Romeo made sure that our car was in line with his at the back seat, that is Zweli Dhlamini would be in line with the driver of the other car.
	Our car was now slightly in front of the other car and Zweli Dhlamini at the back seat was the one who was now directly opposite the driver of the other car.  Zweli then took out a .765 and he shot at that driver.  He used only one shot and hit him on the head, and the car careered off the road and Romeo accelerated and we sped off.
	We eventually joined the main road to kwaDlangezwa, proceeding towards Forest Inn.  When we approached the road towards Port Dunfort, we entered this road and from Port Dunfort, we returned to eSikhawini.  I went to the Police station after delivering the guys I was with, to find out if the incident had been reported.
	The incident had been reported at the Police station, there were two people in the car, Makwanasi and one other boy.  The boy was not hurt, it was only Makwanasi who got shot.  I reported this incident to Captain Langeni in Ulundi by telephone.  He was very pleased that we had managed to kill this animal.
	Nobody was charged or convicted for this crime, there were no investigations or prosecution, nothing happened.
	I returned the car to Bebebeyela and I told him about what we had done.  He was also very pleased that we had eventually killed this person.

MR WILLS: Mr Mkhize, you have heard members of Mr Makwanasi's family in the audience, what have you got to say to them today?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: Yes, there is something I would like to say to them.  To the wife of Mr Makwanasi and his children and his entire family, it is very difficult for me to say anything because I understand clearly that even if I were to apologise and beg for their forgiveness on my knees, this will not help them in any way.
	It will not help them with their children's education, it will not help her pay her rent.  I do not wish for any other person to be in my situation now, I request the Makwanasi family to hand me over to God, because I have accepted that whatever happens to me is okay.  What I did, the people I killed, I thought I did this with clear objectives.  I request that one day they should find it in their hearts to forgive me.
	I don't even want to suggest that the death of Mr Makwanasi was because of political reasons, because the death of a person cannot be equated to politics.  The death of a person or the killing of somebody is not acceptable for whatever reason.  I understand fully what I have done to the Makwanasi family, something they will never forget.
	But I am thankful that I have been able to see the light through the Grace of God.  What I am saying today or what I am explaining here is not just because I want to be granted amnesty, it is also because when I die, I wish to have said everything.  I am grateful that I have accepted the Lord and realised that my life previously was not acceptable, it was criminal.  I apologise  entirely, with all my heart to the Makwanasi family, understanding the pain that I brought with the actions that I carried out.

MR WILLS: Mr Mkhize, just before we move off that incident, I notice that at paragraph 55 in your affidavit, page 100 of the record, you state that you received a direct instruction from Major Langeni in order to carry out this assassination of Mr Makwanasi.  Is that correct?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: Yes, that is so.

MR WILLS: IS it also correct that and referring to paragraph 54, that you had a discussion at Mrs Mbuyasi's house with Mrs Mbuyasi and Israel before this incident and that the persons involved in that discussion were fully aware of the activity that you were about to engage in?

BRIAN QUNA MKHIZE: Yes, they knew very well.

MR WILLS: And you have referred on a number of occasions in the incidents where you used Mayor Bebebeyela's car, can you tell the Committee whether or not whether he was aware of the purposes for which you were using his car?