Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1998-10-20

BOY VUSIMUZI GWAMANDA: Mr Aubrey.  I know him as Mr Aubrey, even during the time of the investigation they saw that the farm was written "Aubrey Farm".
"After we were relaxed and we had privileges of doing all such things.  In 1993 I was discharged, March 15.
	I told Sophie and Sophie was the one who came for me at the prison and we went to the location after Lieutenant Venter discharged me.  I went to Sophie's house.  Sophie came from Witbank but was a lodger where we went to.  
	I spent three days and from there I came back here in kwaZulu Natal.  I came with Sophie.  They know Sophie, my family, that is my aunts and my uncles have met Sophie.  Sophie explained so much about our affair and my activities in prison.  Sophie was playing a special role in my life as I was in prison.
	I got to Mtembisweni where my family was residing.  When I got there I realised and found out that my family had moved from there.  I met Themba Nyoga.  Themba Nyoga was my childhood friend, a bit older than I was or than I am.  That's when I discovered that Themba Nyoga was a leader of IFP, when I got there and he called for me.  He sent his boy to call me at my in-law's. 	
	I went to Nyoga's house.  There was a tea-room nearby my in-law's there.  That's where I found Themba Nyoga and he had in his possession a shotgun and Mdugi's son as well had a gun.  There was another boy who had a 38 in his possession and there was Dumisani and other boys who knew me quite well because I was residing there.  
	That's when Themba Nyoga explain in detail with regard to my family and told me that they moved to Ndwedwe.  He told that there in Thembisweni was a dominant area of IFP.  And told me that the ANC members had moved.  He does not even want to see them because they want to confiscate the land and they are working hand-in-hand with the Xhosa, Mandela.
	I explained to him, Nygo, that I was arrested before all these things, before the struggle.  I fought and I was an active member in the struggle around 1976.  That's when I was expelled from school as well.
	As to what was happening currently, I'm not updated.  As for all these activities about IFP and ANC, I did not have or I bore no knowledge inasfar as that was concerned.  All I knew was that all the people that were residing there were under a certain King but I appreciate your explanation in as far as all this political feud is concerned. 
	I said there was no problem, I would go and think about what you've just told me.  When I looked around the houses that I was used to and knew very well, I realised that all the houses were burnt.  I took a walk to some other place and I realised that most of the boys who were there actively were shot and they showed me that they were being shot by Themba Noyga's followers. 
	I had no money to live in Mtembisweni for Ndwedwe and he gave me some money.  That is the person who gave me R1 500-00 to go and locate my family.  That's when I left and I met a certain boy who left with my mother from Mtembisweni and who knew very well as to where my mum was.  
	I arrived at Ndwedwe.  When I got there I discovered that my sisters were there, although one of my sisters was in Johannesburg.  My family was there and the little ones were there as well.  They took me to my brother-in-law.  That's when I discovered that my other sister was in Johannesburg.  I found my wife was there at home.  My brother-in-law called Johannesburg because he had the numbers and got me connected with my sister  Gabsile and my sister told me to relax at home, she's be coming back.
	That was the time when I discovered that Ndwedwe was predominantly IFP.  I waited for my sister until she got there.  That's when my sister related so much to me and told me that I should stop all these immoral acts and collect myself.  I agreed to that and she gave me some money that I should change my lifestyle and go get or buy some new clothes and explained to me how my mum passed away. My mum was shot, shot by Ngubane.  She was attacked.  My mum was harassed and tortured until she had high blood pressure and until she also got sugar-diabetes and subsequently passed away.  I was residing there at the time, knowing very well that the IFP was dominant.  
	One day I saw my house was set alight and was burning and I identified the boys who set my house alight and I saw them running away.  I went to the police station at Ndwedwe.  It was that time when the police took my statement and told me to go back to the community.  My brother-in-law told me to go and report this matter to Mfageni Gumede, that here I'm being burnt and I don't know why.  Gumede took me to Zondi."

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, who was Gumede?

BOY VUSIMUZI GWAMANDA: He was one of the councillors Mfageni Gumede who were looking after the community and a school.
"That was the time when he took me to Zone D IFP Chairman and explained to him that I'm Gwamanda and the chairman said to me he understood perfectly well what I was saying but he had a problem as to which group I was a member and I told him that I have just got discharged from prison and I don't have any knowledge inasfar as members and political groups are concerned.
	Zonti told me and put it explicitly clear that I should be an IFP member because if I'm one I won't targeted ...[end of tape] pretty well in the community if I'm not an IFP member.  So for me to be comfortable in the area I should be an IFP member.
	Even at home my sisters fled to Newcastle.  So many of my family members fled because of the situation that prevailed at the time.  I explained to him that I met AWB members in prison and they also pleaded with me to work hand in hand with them and I was trained as well.  That was the time I met Mfayela, the one who is in Parliament here in kwaZulu Natal, and he said it is fine and he understands quite well what I'm explaining and I am an IFP member now officially.  He wanted me to be his bodyguard.  I agreed to that.  
	He told me that he would organise that I should go to Ulundi and meet General Mati and also be give a police card so that I may not be arrested by the SAP.  I was taken to Ulundi.  We arrived there at night.  I was taken to the office where I met General Mati.  There were pictures around of Buthelezi."

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, what was General Mati's position, was he in the police?

BOY VUSIMUZI GWAMANDA: He was the head of the kwaZulu Police.  He was a Commissioner in other words.
"He asked me a few questions and I answered them and he told me that I would be granted a certificate and he asked me as to whether I knew my job description and I said yes.
	We left and a picture was taken of me in my private clothing.  Mfayela took me to the car and we drove back to Ndwedwe.  That's when I arrived to Ndwedwe and I stayed there and I was told that I should go to the police station at Ndwedwe.  That is where I met GP and he had a brown envelope, Gipa Gumede."

MR MCHUNU: Who is Gipa Gumede?

BOY VUSIMUZI GWAMANDA: He was a policeman at Ndwedwe Police Station.
"That's when Gipa opened this brown envelope and gave me the appointment card and asked me if I know everything and I said yes, I have everything and I know.
	I met with Mfayela and he told me that somebody was looking for me.  He took me in his car and we drove to his house in Ndwedwe where I met somebody who was a station commander and he gave me a 9mm pistol so that I could guard Mr Mfayela.  
	I took the gun.  I would travel around with him in the Ndwedwe area.  Sometimes he would leave me behind and he would be alone."

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, that gun that you received from the Station Commander, the 9mm, was it a police gun, was it a police issue?

BOY VUSIMUZI GWAMANDA: It had a ZP registration on the back.  I would carry that gun around Ndwedwe ...[intervention]