Human Rights Violation Hearings — Soweto — 1996-07-25

MR SONO: Yes, that was the police, Capt Dempsey.  So he took us to court with Mr Shabalala.  Unfortunately he is late, Mr Shabalal is late.
 So when we went to Court we met other people who were from Tokoza and some were from other places, who are supposed to give evidence in that trial, that what happened to them when they were taken to Winnie's house in Diepkloof.
 There was one chappie who refused to testify, to say anything to the police.  That was Michael, the boy who was driving the Kombi. He said he cannot say anything against Winnie because Winnie is like his mother.
 So these other boys from Tokoza, they also refused to testify.  So I was just alone willing to give evidence that what happened to my son and all that.
 Fortunately, because in this world there are people who were striving for truth, people who want justice to be done, only read in papers that Mr Tony Leon here, was the only man who stood up for us, and talked to the Press and went out and wanted to find out that what happened to our son. He was the only person that whenever something is mentioned, then he will go out, not being afraid and ask the Press that they can help us. All that we had was being harassed by the Press and you know, all kinds of people coming to ask, TV people.  Each time they see a story of Stompie or Lolo on the papers, they will phone us.  Sometimes we will even pull the phone out of the hook, because they will ask us to come and give them the exclusive story of what happened.  All what I said to them is that the matter is in the hands of the police and I haven't heard anything, there was no proper investigation done.
SOWETO HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
7 N SONO
 At the same time the police were harassing me from Protea, putting up spies all over for me.  Even when I took trips, you know, like going somewhere else, because by then I had a small business, a transport business that I was making a living out of. I had to close it down because my White partner was influenced by this police that I am an ANC agent, I get a lot of money from the ANC and yet, there was no penny that I got from the ANC or whoever, because I was just merely helping.  Because during those times if your son or your relative was involved in a struggle, you could not just lead him to the police or just tell the police where the people are.  
 All what I used to do is to give them much help as I can, as I was also in a struggle underground, but all that has done it has spoilt my business and it went down the drain.  Because my partner couldn't put up with me any more.   So it went on until Mr Leon was expressing to the police.  He arranged for us to go and see the Commissioner of Police in Cape Town, which I gave my story to him. He was also very sympathetic.  But during all this time, nobody came to me to tell me that we are busy investigating a case whatever, until we went to Cape Town to give Mr Fivaz part of our story, which most of it they read in papers.  Then he sent us a letter ... (PAUSE).

CHAIRPERSON: We have got a copy here of the letter, all the Commissioners have got a copy.

MR SONO: Thank you very much.  This letter here was from the Commissioner of Police, after we have gone to him and gave our story.  All this, this was in 1995, but all this doesn't help me with anything, except that - but now I did not know that my son is late or has been killed.  But
SOWETO HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
8 N SONO
according to this letter it says the police can only do something or they can only do something if they could find the place where he has been buried. But I don't know if he has been killed.  
 But I am here today mainly to appeal to the Commission, that if they could please help me find my son or if he has been killed, as this paper says, let me find his remains and I will exhume and bury him decently.  Because this does not give me rest in my life.  Whenever we think of him, moreover during his birthday. When he left he was already 21.  He should have been 29 this year.  I don't know what to do. He is my only son.  He was my hope and for him to be taken away that way or if ever they have killed him, because Siboisa followed him the following day. He also never came back.  This two young men on that street have saved a lot of people, because the whole street, those boys in that street they could all have been killed, because they have joined this Football Club and they were already given weapons or ammunition, you can call it.  All those things.  Even when the police came looking for them I protected them, because I said I have lost my son, I don't want people to lose their children too. 
 I have mentioned the point that I played hide and seek with the police, played stupid that I don't even know their nicknames, because the police came to me with the nicknames  and I just said that I don't know what the boys are doing, and you know, protecting everybody on that street, because we got more than 20 boys there.  We lost two.  They could have all been gone.  
 Now I said thanks God, that if I could tell my story, I know Winnie.  She wasn't as bad as she is at the moment. 
SOWETO HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
9 N SONO
She used to be a mother, she used to be a loving person.  You will go to Winnie with your grievances she will help you if she can.  But what has turned now, now lately, I don't know what happened to her.  I am appealing to Winnie, to Michael and the Commission as well, or any other person who was there when my son was taken away, that if they could please come forward and tell what happened to my son. I will definitely rest.
 I know that the Department of Justice is trying to do the best they can, but all what I know is that if everybody could say and look at things the other way, nobody is above the law.  If the law must be executed, let it be and let there be no favours, because somebody else, some people are untouchable.  Let's not go through that.  All what I want is to get my son. I don't care for the business. I am still young, I can still work and accumulate.  If I could get my son or get my son's remains, that will be good for me.  That's all.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much, Mr Sono.  I will ask Mrs Sono to talk about her experience around the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of your son.