Human Rights Violation Hearings — Moutse — 1996-12-03

THOMAS MANTHATA: As you have said, you have light that your son was killed by the police as they were in a meeting at the tribal kraal.

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: The light which I have is that the people who went to that meeting, they were running, all of them.  When I asked they said we are running away from the police, they are throwing us with teargas.  That is the light I have.  From there I do not have any light.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Did you say you are a Priest?

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: Yes, Sir.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Which Church?

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: As you see on my jacket.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Thank you.  You said when you went to Vasfontein there were people on the queue who were given permits of how they should bury their children.  Do you have light, how many people were there in that queue?

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: We were many who were coming to look for burial permits.

THOMAS MANTHATA: In other words, you are saying on that day there were many people who died?
MOUTSE HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
7 M MOKHONOANA

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: I do not know, those people in the queue, where they were coming from and their victims, where they were killed by what, either by disease or killed, you know.  I only saw them looking for permits, burial permits there.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Among them, did you not find anybody whom they were told how their funerals should proceed.  How many people should be there and how long, from what time up to what time.

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: What made me to be given many people is then that I learnt that many people were told that not more than 50 people should attend the funeral.  Then I said to me, I would not agree with that, I would agree with that and I would force that it will be like that otherwise I will be against the law.  That made me to request that I should look for a bigger number.

THOMAS MANTHATA: After that you were not able to know from the tribal office that, did the Chief's office have a register of how many people were killed on that day?

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: I did not ask that.  I just wanted to know about my own son.

THOMAS MANTHATA: By so saying, I say, perhaps, maybe at the tribal office they would know how many people were killed by the police on that day.

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: In regard to the question I would answer that as I am the resident nearer the Chief's office, I heard there were two who were killed on that day.  There were two who were killed or who were found dead on that day.  As I am the resident nearer the area I heard after I found him that only two of them were killed.

THOMAS MANTHATA: I thank you.  I do not have any further questions.
MOUTSE HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA
8 M MOKHONOANA

CHAIRPERSON: Priest Mokhonoana, thank you very much for joining with us.  Thank you for sharing with us.  As you say, you do not know, you could not find any indication.  It may even be possible that whoever killed him, whoever shot him may not have known that it was him, but that is part of the history, that is part of our experience.  We will see what we can find out in the wash of the activities of the Truth Commission.  We cannot really make promises, but we will come back to you.  We will respond to both your statement and your evidence and I thank you again for coming to us, sharing with us your experiences.  Go well.

MICHAEL MOKHONOANA: Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: I think we should take a break here for lunch.  Lunch will be a little shorter than we.  Just before you leave.  May I just get your attention for a moment.  I want to find out whether Mrs Mthimunye, is she here?  Martha Mthimunye, Aaron Mashiyane, Jan Mahlangu, Jan Sipho Mahlangu and Amos Khubeka.
MOUTSE HEARING TRC/MPUMALANGA