Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1996-04-16

NOMONDE CALATA: that place.  Mrs Mkhonto was there with us, Mrs Goniwe was also there, people were very 
full in the house, and I heard the news that the bodies of Sparrow Mkhonto, and Mhlawuli 
have been discovered.  I was wondering what happened to Matthew and Fort.  I went to 
my in-laws to stay with them.  Saturday and Sunday passed.  It was now Monday.  
 On Tuesday afternoon we were about to meet Mr Louis Bosolek who was the 
attorney of the Seso Centre.  Well we met him at Matthew's place.  While he was talking 
to us taking statements, coming to me with Mrs Goniwe he indicated that he wanted 
statements about our late husbands.  We didn't accept the fact of our late husbands, we 
didn't accept the word, late, because we said that that moment we did not know what 
happened to them.
 When I got home, the reverend from my church visited me.  He had come to 
explain that the bodies of Fort and Matthew were found.  
 At that time I had my second child, this child was very close to the father.  After 
hearing this news the child was sick, I was pregnant at the time, I left the child that was 
inside of me, I don't know what happened to me on that day.   An appointment was made 
with the doctor the next day, the thing I did not know was why this appointment was made 
so secretively, but when I arrived there, the security police were already there, just where I 
stepped in.  I did not know if they were going to look at my condition, but she said to me, 
"Sister, you have to clean your face, wipe away the tears and be brave".  And I listened.  
When they saw me they saw a very strong person.  I went to see the doctor and I went 
home thereafter.
 The community and the family members went out to 
EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 12

NOMONDE CALATA: identify the bodies.  Mr Koluwe, the man we as families 
asked to go and identify the bodies, has passed away.  He said that he had seen the bodies 
but he discovered that the hair was pulled out, his tongue was very long.  His fingers were 
cut off.  He had many wounds in his body. When he looked at his trousers he realised that 
the dogs had bitten him very severely.  He couldn't believe it that the dogs already had 
their share.
 Well the funeral went on, I'm sure the Chairman of this Committee knows the 
function, if I remember well, the Chairman was supposed to have attended the funeral.  
After their burial, they were buried on the 20th ...(intervention)

MR SMITH: Allow me please.  There is an incident that happened after the funeral, 
when the police actually came to your house, I want you to tell the Commission what 
happened.

NOMONDE CALATA: They were buried on the 20th of July, that time there was a declaration 
of a state of emergency.  On the 8th of August I went to deliver my baby Tulani, I was 
used to giving birth in the normal way but Tulani was a caesarian. Well I gave birth to the 
child and went home the following day.  A few days after the birth of this son, the security 
police arrived at home, the leader was Mr Labuschagne, and they said to me, "Don't you 
want us to be the father of this child?"  
 I kept quiet, I didn't give them an answer.  They waited a few minutes and then 
left.  After a few minutes they came back.  They said,"We want to evict you from this 
house.  You do not have money to pay for the rent and we know you do not have money, 
you took out all your money   
in your bank.  Even in Fort's account there is not a cent 
EAST LONDON  HEARING TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 13

NOMONDE CALATA: left, so we are here to take you out of the house."    
 I didn't give them an answer or indicate whether I will move out or not. They 
repeated that they are here to evict me and I said to them that I am not going to get out of 
the house.  They could take a gun and shoot me, but I'm not getting out of the house.  Well 
they stood up and they went off.  I asked my next-door neighbour to come and take care of 
my children, I went to see my baby sitter and my dad to ask him if he can do anything 
about the rent issue.  Well they organised me some money and I stayed in the house.  
 You know that people were so after me that in January 1986, I just decided to 
leave Cradock and be far away from there. I went to stay with my friend in Johannesburg 
for six months.  Well I came back when I realised that the situation was a bit quiet.

MR SMITH: During 1989 there was an inquest into the circumstances surrounding your 
husband's death.  Can you recall what the findings of that inquest were?

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes we had this inquest in 1989 at New Brighton.  The finding was 
that, yes the court agrees they were killed but there's not enough evidence as to who killed 
them. Now the inquest will never be taken further.  That was the end of it. We stayed at 
home with no knowledge until 1994, if I am right.  There was a signal in the New Nation 
newspaper.  Then the inquest was reopened.

MR SMITH: Is that the note where instructions were given for your husband to be 
removed from society, your husband and the other three?

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes the signal, as I have mentioned, wads written by Mr du Plessis, 
through Mr van Rensburg's 
instructions, he was also instructed by Brigadier van der EAST LONDON

HEARING: TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 13

NOMONDE CALATA: Westhuizen.  This signal, the three names were there, Fort Calata, Bulela Goniwe and 
Matthew Goniwe removed from society as a matter of urgency. I can't remember the date 
very well.

MR SMITH: Is it correct that the finding of that inquest was eventually to the effect that 
the security forces were responsible for the death of your husband and others?  But it 
could not apportion blame either to the army or to the
police.  Is that correct?

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes that's right.

MR SMITH: ...(indistinct) your attorneys at the Legal Resources Centre in Grahamstown 
to issue summons for damages for loss of support, arising out of the death of your 
husband? Is that correct? ...(indistinct) attorneys that that matter is in the process of being 
settled by the Government?

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes that's right.  Last year, if I remember well, it was in February, 
Dorothy was just about to start at school, I didn't even have a cent, but there was hope that 
this settlement will be finished because we have sent in the claims.  Clive called and said 
this will be settled.  This was February last year.  Well we were hopeful that the child will 
be able to go to school, Clive came in May, telling me that other documents were needed, 
which we gave them and he said that there would surely be a full settlement in June.  We 
waited and waited.  You know I kept on phoning.  I called Clive in October last year, he 
said that they were being delayed by the army department who haven't given them a full 
report, but very soon they would complete the settlement. To this day nothing has been 
done.

MR SMITH: Are you referring to Mr Clive Plasket now from EAST LONDON  
HEARING TRC/

EASTERN CAPE: 14

NOMONDE CALATA: the Legal Resources Centre.

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes.

MR SMITH: Did he tell you that the Government has given an undertaking that the cases 
are going to be settled.

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes.

MR SMITH: But he's waiting now for the final settlement, and that is since February last 
year?

NOMONDE CALATA: Yes.

MR SMITH: Do you want to ask this Commission to attempt to facilitate an expeditious 
settlement in this matter?

NOMONDE CALATA: I'll be very happy.

MR SMITH: The inquest has made a very general finding about your husband and those 
who were responsible for his death.  Would you want to know the identity of the person or 
persons who were responsible for your husband's death, and if so, why would you like to 
know who exactly killed your husband?