Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-09-11

WITNESS:  Yes Chairman.  What happened on the 7th September in 1992 is that we went to Bisho.  When we got to Bisho we went in and a helicopter appeared.  A Ciskei [indistinct] helicopter, got to the stadium and hovered very close to the ground but didn't actually touch down and Mr Chris Hani asked us not to sing any freedom songs, and not make any noise but we should rather keep quiet because that was Brigadier Gqozo.  So that it did not appear that by singing these freedom songs, we were provoking him.  We should show him that we came to the stadium to speak to him and that we should not sing any freedom songs that might provoke him.  ... end of Tape 1, side A ...

ADV SANDI:  Could I please put one request to you at this moment, one request only.  That we should start with the part where the shooting occurred.  Where were you?

WITNESS:  When the shooting occurred I was inside and I ran and the bullets didn't strike me inside the stadium because we ran out.  As we were running.  I was working in Dimbaza at the time and I was running in the direction of Dimbaza.  Near the [indistinct] we got to the roadblock where there were plenty soldiers and when we got to them, the first soldier asked us where we came from.  No one replied.  None of us replied.  He then asked us if we were coming from the march and wanted to know what Chris Hani told us to say and none of us replied.  One of the soldiers said that oh this was a nice march because some of them are bleeding, others are walking around naked, they don't have anything to wear any more and [indistinct].  One of them came to us and assaulted us.  I was assaulted with the butt of the firearm on my head and on my arm and then I lost consciousness.  I then lost consciousness and regained consciousness that night when a lady from Pierre came to pick me up.  When she picked me up she said that she wouldn't be able to keep me because she was afraid of being arrested, that she wouldn't be able to offer me any refuge, that I should go home because I was from Zipunzana.  The driver then tried means of establishing where I live until I finally got home late that night.  My mother took me to Frere hospital.  At Frere hospital I was admitted in ward B3 for a whole week.  I was pregnant at the time.

ADV SANDI:  I'll wait until you have regained your composure Ms Kewuti because it is quite obvious at this time that you are in no condition to proceed.

WITNESS:  I was then admitted to ward B3 and at the time the doctor said that he was not going to treat me because I was three months pregnant.  So what had happened was that I was going to die and my baby would survive and come and harass the [indistinct] in my place.

ADV SANDI:  Do you remember the doctor that said this to you?

WITNESS:  No I cannot remember him but it was a white doctor.

ADV SANDI:  Could we just go back a little bit Ms Kewuti.  At the time this thing happened, were you working?  You said you were working in Dimbaza but you were living at Zipunzana in East London, is that correct?

WITNESS:  Yes I was working in Dimbaza.

ADV SANDI:  Is there any treatment that you are currently receiving?

WITNESS:  Yes I am currently receiving treatment because after that I started suffering epileptic fits which I still suffer up to this day and I cannot keep still because I always get hot because the doctor realised that I've got a fracture in my skull and this is going to affect me all my life.

ADV SANDI:  What happened to the baby you were pregnant with at the time?

WITNESS:  The baby was born and was quite a healthy child.  There is nothing wrong with the child.

ADV SANDI:  The place where you were working in Dimbaza, what happened, what became of your job?

WITNESS:  I was never paid at that factory.  The Chinese people that were running the factory said they couldn't accept me back because I was a troublemaker.

ADV SANDI:  Do you ever consult any attorneys for legal advice?

WITNESS:  Yes, upon my discharge from hospital, I went to the Black Sash and they appointed an attorney for me from the offices of Mgwane and Mgwane.  I got an attorney by the name of Mr Skwebo but nothing became of the matter because the only letter I received was one saying that I had to come to Bisho on the 27th September last year and that was the time when I had been admitted to hospital because there was a time when I had become mentally insane.  I then came here with that letter myself because I was told to come to the Supreme Court and I came by myself but there was no trial.  I just got to the Supreme Court and no one paid any attention to me so I went back home.

ADV SANDI:  I notice that this distresses you.  It really upsets you that you should have to repeat and relive this pain.  Ms Kewuti can I just read from your statement what your requests are so that you could just confirm whether it is so or not.  In your request you said that you would like the Commission should attempt, should try and organise medical treatment for you, is that so?

WITNESS:  Yes that is correct.

ADV SANDI:  So that you could be treated for the injuries which you have sustained at the time of the shootings, is that so?

WITNESS:  Yes.

ADV SANDI:  You said that you haven't been able to work since, is that so?

WITNESS:  Yes.

ADV SANDI:  Is there any other request which you would like to put to the Commission that you haven't said in your statement?

WITNESS:  The request that I would like to put to the Commission is that I do not have any parents and I am the eldest at home.  My mother passed away and left me with her children as well as my two.  So there are six children altogether and there is no source of income.  I am the only one that tries to make an income by selling nick-Nicknacks and fish at school and sometimes I get epileptic fits while doing that and people would just loot my goods and there would be no money after that.  When the weather is like this I am fine but when it is hot I get sick.  So the children are still at school and they are still young and I would like assistance as far as they are concerned.  My mother's children as well as my own because my own children are still very young.  I would like to be helped with the children because I will never be able to do anything because even at work, I was a machinist, but I can't do it any more because I get hot very quickly and I would like the Commission to try and arrange for me to receive a grant.  I had applied for one previously at Frere hospital but my application was denied and I wanted to know why because I am still receiving treatment.  I receive treatment every month.  Every month I receive treatment and the doctor also confirms that I will not be able to survive without it.  I receive treatment at the day hospital and sometimes I am admitted to Frere hospital.

ADV SANDI:  Thank you very much Ms Kewuti.  At this point I would like to hand you back to the Chairperson.

WITNESS:  I would also like to ask, to thank the Commission for being here and come and break down the walls of Jericho because through the grace of God because we were being hunted like animals and today I am extremely grateful because this is through the grace of God.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 3 - 11 SEPTEMBER 1996

CASE NO: 9

ADV SANDI: We would now like to ask Nomawethu Veronica Witbooi to come to the stand please.
NOMAWETHU VERONICA WITBOOI   Duly sworn states

ADV SANDI: I would like to greet you Nomawathu this morning.  You are going to tell us about yourself today since you were there at Bisho the day of the shooting.

WITNESS:  Yes.

ADV SANDI:  Can you please tell us, can you please tell this Commission what happened to you that day.