Human Rights Violation Hearings — Mooiriver — 1997-05-28

CHAIRPERSON: We're going to start immediately with the first witness for today, and it's Khubuzilo Mildred Madlala.  Mrs Madlala, we welcome you here this morning.  You, like the witnesses yesterday, have come to us from Brandville, and you have come to tell us about the death of your mother, your sister and your daughter, who were killed in December 1991.  Before you give that evidence can you please stand to take the oath?

UNKNOWN: (Sworn, States)

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Madlala, before you tell us your story can you please just give us some idea of what remains of your family, who do you live with, is your husband still alive, do you have other children?  Could you just tell us something about your background?

WITNESS:   At first we stayed with my mother, as well as my sister's child, who was 18 years old at that time.  I had two children, a girl, who was six years old at that time, and a boy who was one year six months old at that time.  But at the moment it's myself and my two children, and the third one, so we are four.

CHAIRPERSON: Is your husband still alive?

WITNESS:   No, I do not have a husband.

CHAIRPERSON: And are you working at the moment?

WITNESS:   Yes, I am.

CHAIRPERSON: Where are you working?

WITNESS:   I am working at the Mooi Plaza tollgate as a cashier.

CHAIRPERSON: And, Mrs Madlala, you have somebody else on stage here with you.  I forgot to ask who that is.

WITNESS:   It's my sister, but she wasn't staying at home at that time.  I am the one who was staying at home with my sister's daughter.  She was staying at the new location.  She only arrived after the deaths.

CHAIRPERSON: Is she just here to give you some support today, she's not going to be talking?

WITNESS:   She will testify because her daughter died.  She was staying with us at the time of her death.  Because she did submit a statement, because I was ill at the time she submitted the statement.

CHAIRPERSON: I am not sure that we have a copy of her statement. Sorry, what is her name please?

WITNESS:   It's Khumbuzile Madlala.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible) ... name is?

WITNESS:   I am Ria.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible)

WITNESS:   Madlala.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible) ... the name of Khumbuzile Mildred Madlala.  Is that your sister?

WITNESS:   Yes, it is my sister.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible) ... the rulings that we have made.

WITNESS:  At the time that this happened she was not present.  It happened during my presence.  She only submitted a statement because I was ill at that time.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible) ... necessary then for us just to place her evidence briefly on record, and she can tell us that you were present at the time, and then when she's given her short piece of evidence then you can tell us your story as an eye witness.  So we'll first hear from her.  Can you please stand up, Khumbuzile, to take the oath.

UNKNOWN: (Sworn, States)

CHAIRPERSON: Now, just from what we have briefly been told by your sister, it was you that lost your mother and your sister and your daughter in 1991 during an attack on your house, is that right?

WITNESS:   Yes, that is true.

CHAIRPERSON: But you were not present at the time?

WITNESS:   That is correct, I was not present at that time.  I was staying at my place.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible) ... your place?

WITNESS:   It's Shiyazi -  Phumlase.  It's a location.

CHAIRPERSON: (Inaudible)

WITNESS:   Yes, it's an area or a location in Brandville.

CHAIRPERSON: And the house in which your mother and your sister and your daughter were staying, whose house is that?

WITNESS:  That's my home, my mother's place.  It's my mother's house.

CHAIRPERSON: And do you - are you married?

WITNESS:   No, I am not.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you have other children aside from these that you have mentioned her?

WITNESS:   Yes, I do.

CHAIRPERSON: Where are they?  Are they with you or are they ... (incomplete)

WITNESS:   I am staying with one.  The other one died in 1993.  I think it was '95.

CHAIRPERSON: And is it correct that in that attack on your house it is your mother, Janet Madlala, your sister, Thando Madlala, and your daughter ... (intervention)

WITNESS:   Thando is my daughter.

CHAIRPERSON: The statement here reflects that there were two people called Thando.  How many family members did you in fact lose in that attack?

WITNESS:   Two people died.

CHAIRPERSON: Who were they?

WITNESS:   That is my mother as well as my daughter.

CHAIRPERSON: So the reference there to your sister is incorrect.  I think what we'll do is we'll hear from your sister now, and then we'll come back to you after that to find out what happened after the attack, and how you came to know  about it.  But let's do it in sequence, let's about what happened on that night in question, because you were present, is that correct?  Before you continue can you just give us your full name, and spell your first name for us?

WITNESS:   My name is Ria Nonhlanhla Madlala.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Can you then continue.  Just tell us - give us briefly some background as to what was happening in the township at the time, and then tell us what happened on this night, which was the 3rd of December in 1991.