Amnesty Hearings — Ermelo — 1998-07-30

MR HATTINGH: Is it correct that you cannot really assist the Committee with regard to the circumstances under which your son died?

NTOMBI MALINGA: I can explain briefly.

MR HATTINGH: Please go ahead.

NTOMBI MALINGA: Bongani passed away on a Friday between 3 and 4 o'clock.  I didn't know that he went to town to buy some food.  When I was at home I heard the people telling me that he passed away, and when we went, when I went there he was already dead.  Even the groceries that he had were just scattered all over the place.  He was bleeding and it look like the bullet came the other side and went off, came through the other side and went off the other side of the head.

MR HATTINGH: Was there a criminal trial or anyone prosecuted for the killing of your son?

NTOMBI MALINGA: The explanation that I got about his death, I heard it when I was here.  I used to hear the people talking and because I was not there I never confirmed anything.  Even the person who was with him also passed away, even the person who was with him..

MR HATTINGH: Who was with your son on the day that he died?

NTOMBI MALINGA: It was Bongi Kwanasi.

MR HATTINGH: How do you feel about this incident?

NTOMBI MALINGA: I'm still hurting because the person who caused this suffering is a child that I used to know.  We were together with his parents in the community, but he made me to suffer for the rest of my life.  Whereas my house was burnt and Bongani was still busy trying to rebuild, to renovate the house because they said it's because of Bongani.  The reason for burning down the house was Bongani.

MR HATTINGH: Was your son supporting you at the time?

NTOMBI MALINGA: Yes, he had already started because we were renovating the hostel so that the families can go inside.  He was also taking part.  On that particular Friday he had just got his wages.

MR HATTINGH: Do you work?

NTOMBI MALINGA: No, I'm unemployed.  I suffered.  In 1990 some people came to attack me after burning down my house.  They wanted to kill me.  I was affected since then.  Even my eyesight is affected.

MR HATTINGH: Thank you Mr Chairman, no further questions.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR HATTINGH

CHAIRPERSON: Is there anyone who has questions?  Francis?

ADV BOSMAN: No, questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Malinga.
WITNESS EXCUSED

CHAIRPERSON: Is that it?

MR HATTINGH: Thank you Mr Chairman, no further witnesses.
NO FURTHER WITNESSES TO BE CALLED BY MR HATTINGH

MR MAPOMA: Nothing further.

MR HATTINGH: Sorry Mr Chairman, there were further documents annexed to this Annexure.  I didn't make particular reference to them but I take it they do form part of the record which will be considered, thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: It's been a long hearing, two weeks almost and I'd prefer written arguments.  These are my directions
	On behalf of the applicants, in three week's time as from Monday.
	All the others, five weeks from Monday.
	Those heads which would apply to the applicants must be also be directed to all the other interested parties here so that they can have an opportunity to read those heads and then reply by the fifth week.  Any objections to that?
	There are two matters that the Committee wishes people who wish to deal to deal with it to be dealt with.  
1)	The question of whether a revenge attack can nonetheless be described as one committed with a political motive, and while you're at it, whether it would qualify as malicious or not and the same for gangsterism.  Any questions?  None.
	I must say before we close that we thank all the people who found it necessary to attend.  
	I just also want to say that these heads must be directed to Cape Town, not to us personally.  The head office will see to it that we receive it.  
	I want to say thankyou to the Interpreters and the people responsible for all the electronics that we required in this hearing, the people who were responsible for setting up the venue and all that goes with it.  A special thanks to the media for the co-operation, especially in this hearing.  And I want to thank all the people who attended this hearing.  We appreciate that it is a sensitive matter and I must say, I hope I'm not wrong, but it seems to me that as the hearing progressed the tensions that were quite obvious at the beginning of the hearing had somewhat subsided.  I'm very happy about that.  
	You may have heard me on numerous occasions allude to the issue of an uncomplicated life in Ermelo and surrounding areas.  A lot has happened in the last couple of years, sometimes extremely painful.  For some of us it is not easy to withstand and I talk of both sides of the political spectrum or however many political parties are involved.  It is tragic that people were put through this.  
	I don't know what the future holds for us, but this hearing was an attempt to help heal the past and to put everybody on the path to a normal life.  I saw this morning a nice small child walk into this hearing.  We've got to think of kids like that instead of posturing politically because when we are gone and dead we can't allow children like that to grow up thinking that the only way we can survive and live is by fighting with each other like animals.  I particularly hope that the people in this area can see their way clear to resist political manipulation and we've learnt now about third forces, how to identify them and how to avoid them and restore our community.  It is no excuse to tell ourselves that we did it for money.  You can't buy that of the community.  
	I can only wish you luck on behalf of the Committee, that you don't have to go through that madness again and if there is an attempt to put you through that again, to resist it.  I hope my words are heeded. 
	Finally, I wish to thank the representatives for appearing and being of assistance, thank you.
COMMITTEE ADJOURNS