Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-11-18

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: On the 7th of September I did not go to the march but my two sons went.   A lot of people were coming back from the march but my son.  Even my other son came back.  I asked where Ndodana is, he then said he doesn't know, the last time they saw each other was at the stadium in town.  They did not see each other again.

MS MAYA: When did you find out what happened?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: I found out the next day.  One of his friends told me that he saw him in hospital in East London.  His brothers had already looked in Grey Hospital and also Cecilia Makoena Hospital in Mdantsane.  They came back saying they did not find him.  His friend found out that he was in East London. People came to me on the second day, people from the community came to tell me.

MS MAYA: When his friend saw him in hospital was he already dead or was he still alive?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: He was dead.

MS MAYA: The people from your community had they come to tell you that your son had passed away?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: Yes.

MS MAYA: How was Mlungisi?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: He was working in Da Gama, he was a grown man.

MS MAYA: Did he have his own family, a wife and children?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: He was not married but had two illegitimate
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children.

MS MAYA: Where are the children?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: The children are with their mothers. The one is in Snart Park and the other in Mdantsane.

MS MAYA: Could you give us their details even maybe later?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: About the children?

MS MAYA: Yes about the children.

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: I am sure I could give you the details, I don't have them handy but they often come to me because the father used to support them totally.  He worked in Da Gama, was paid weekly and he would give them money weekly.

MS MAYA: According to your statement your son would help you at home to support your family, could you perhaps elaborate on that, how did he help you?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: Nongisi was paid weekly, he helped me a lot by educating his sisters.  The one went to Mxenge and the other was at the Border Tech.  He helped me support them.  When he passed away they were not through with their schooling but I did that.

MS MAYA: Are they working?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: The one who was at Mxenge is not working, she does not have a job.

MS MAYA: Do you have anymore requests or anymore information about Mlungisi that is not in the statement here that you would like to add?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: What I want you to know is that Mlungisi has these two children, that is what is troubling me the most. Mlungisi would support me as well.  But what is most painful is to see his children, won't these children please be educated and be put through school.  The one has started in Mdantsane but the youngest has not started school yet. I
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think she should be in pre-school.

MS MAYA: Did you perhaps request help from any attorneys?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: Yes I did request.

MS MAYA: Which attorneys did you go to?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: I went to Smith.

MS MAYA: Did you get help?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: Yes I did get help.

MS MAYA: Did you get any compensation?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: They gave me some money?

MS MAYA: What is your request to the Commission?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: My wish is that these children be educated.  I also ask if I would be helped with my child that is unemployed.  I only receive a pension.

MS MAYA: Do you get a pension?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: Yes I do get a pension.

MS MAYA: Is there something else?

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: No there is nothing.

MS MAYA: Thank you very much.  I will hand over to the Chairperson.

MR POTGIETER: Thank you Mrs Nzilane and to you as well Tiny.
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MR POTGIETER: Are there any questions to any one of the four witnesses?  Mr Sandi.

MR SANDI: Thank you Chairperson.  My question is addressed to all the witnesses as they are sitting there.  As you have heard that a man who was Head of State in Ciskei when people were shot is going to be here tomorrow, do you perhaps have requests to put forward to this man, Gqozo.

NONGALIPHI LENHA NZILANE: Yes Sir.  I have a wish that Gqozo speaks out.  We have given the burden to you that you help us, feed us, support us, but this all should be Gqozo's burden because he is responsible for all this.  Maybe he can tell us what caused him to kill so many people.  After that I have never been well.  I had a picture that would never go away from my imagination of my children, our children, and people's husbands, Gqozo should somehow give an answer to tell us what happened.

MR SANDI: According to Mrs Mfenqe's statement when she concludes she says that the person who gave orders that people should be killed should be prosecuted.  Mrs Mfenqe could you elaborate please?

ALICE NOMBEKO MFENQE: Thank you Sir.  It is my wish that Gqozo be prosecuted.  It is also my wish that he tells the truth as it is.  He must not leave out anything.

MR SANDI: Thank you Mrs Mfenqe.  Thank you Chairperson.

MR POTGIETER: Pumpla?

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: ...(indistinct)

MR POTGIETER: ....the point that Advocate Sandi raised in regard to a request to Brigadier Gqozo, please go ahead.

BUSHY PETROS VANTYU: I will request that Brigadier Gqozo come here and tell the truth.When he does tell the truth he must know that I forgave him a long time ago because I realised even
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way back then when we would go to Bisho with our leaders that he is not very wise.  Could he help himself please and liberate himself from all the pains that he's going through and tell the truth.  This is not his burden, it is not his fault, it is the White man that were oppressing the Black man.  These White men committed the worst of crimes, worse than him.  He is just last in a string of bad things that were committed by the White man.  That is all I have to say to the Brigadier.

MR POTGIETER: Thank you Mr Vantyu.  Pumpla?