Human Rights Violation Hearings — Nelspruit — 1996-09-03

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: I signed a statement, it was at the hospital.  Because I was very ill, I think it was after three days when they arrived and they said I should sign and I signed.  My head was injured, I can't remember what I said to them.

YASMINE SOOKA: But they used that statement to charge you in court?

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: Yes they used the statement against me.  But what I am telling you today is true.  I don't know what they have said wrong in that statement.

YASMINE SOOKA: Did you tell the magistrate that you didn't know what you were signing and that you were sick in hospital when they made you sign that statement?

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: I told the magistrate, I did tell him but I didn't have any chance whatsoever.  And when they were asked do they know the person they shot they said it's not necessary for me to tell them because at Rob's Hospital the clothes that I was wearing were even written down, but now this grey jacket that they referred to was not present in the statement at Rob's Hospital.

YASMINE SOOKA: You say that when you were at court you were represented by a lawyer, did you ever bring a claim against the police for shooting you?

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: The case was completed and I didn't know what to do thereafter and I left everything.  But I was told that if I have money I should just carry on with my life and I didn't have money.

YASMINE SOOKA: Who was your lawyer at the time Mr Mahlangu?

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: It was Mr Black.
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YASMINE SOOKA: Do you have the name of a firm for us?

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: He is an advocate from Johannesburg.  I went to him through Majapilo(?).

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you.

MS MKHIZE: Mr Mahlangu in your statement you said doctors transferred you to an eye hospital but instead of being taken to the hospital you were taken to Nelspruit police station, tell us what actually took place because you were supposed to be taken from one hospital to the other?

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: I think I had been given a transfer letter by the hospital authorities but they called the police, because I had hoped that I was going to be released from hospital to go home but to my surprise the police were waiting for me outside.

MS MKHIZE: Can you please explain, was there cooperation between the hospital and the police?  You have just said that you were transferred.  You had a doctor's letter in your possession or did you have assistance from the nurse?

GEORGE BERNARD MAHLANGU: The hospital gave me a letter and they said the policemen should take me to the hospital, but the police took me to prison.

DR BORAINE: Mr Mahlangu we have listened to you very carefully today.  As I mentioned to the audience earlier, it seems that in so many of these cases people are shot in the face, sometimes at school, sometimes at the bus stop, sometimes near the taxi, sometimes walking down the street and you've lost the sight of one eye and you still are carrying the marks of that injury that day.  We are very pleased to hear that you are still trying to work even though it's very difficult because you have children to care for.  We understand that you lost your job as well, so you
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have suffered not only physically and spiritually and mentally but also materially, in terms of losing a job and having to start all over again, and you are one of so many people whose lives have been damaged over the last 20, 30, 40 years.   We thank you very warmly for coming.  We hope that your health will improve.  That you will be able to continue to work despite the fact that you have lost the sight of one eye.  Thank goodness you can at least see with one eye.  There are some people as you know who have lost both eyes.  So use that and use it well and we will try and find out as much as we can.  If we can trace Mr Black, the advocate, to find out exactly what happened and if we do of course we will come back to you and let you know.  Thank you very much for coming.  You may leave now.