Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Elizabeth — 1996-06-26

MRS MTIMKHULU: Commission I'd like to say, honourable Commission, if you have a partner and then you had a relationship and then that lady gets married, it would be said the gentleman's hand is very comfortable and proper because it was regarded as luck to get married.
 I am worried because those children are now struggling.  The son is staying with the grandparents in Cape Town, he is working as a domestic worker, he is still staying with the mother.  He is still working as a domestic parent, the grandmother is the sole breadwinner and is looking after this child.
 I am also unemployed, we would just like to thank God for our survival.  The second one is doing standard 10, Alotha.  She is staying with her mother and the mother is now married, but she is still looking after her child.  
 Skomboza is maintained by the grandmother and also his mother.  We do not know what is going to happen to them because they might be exposed to insults because they have attended their father's hearing.  I am very glad to see these people.  We don't have much to do now, we will die tomorrow, that is why we request that some assistance should be given to those children.
PORT ELIZABETH HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
31 JN MTIMKHULU
 I am sure if Siphiwo was alive, he could have done his bit.  (tape starts) ... I am certain that he used to like education.  I know he was involved in the struggle, he even died for it, he never turned his back.  Although there are some people who are liers, he was never a liar.
 I am apologising to my church.  The people of today 
would take oaths and promise to do things, but they never fulfil the promises.  I might be regarded as one of those people, but I still say I would like the children to be assisted.
 I am unable to state any amount of money that I can say I would like to have about Siphiwo's disappearance or death, no price can pay for his death.
 But I would request that because the Commission, it is said to be the Truth Commission, I'd like it to assist us.  Dumisa, we know that you have experience with the struggle.  I've heard a lot about you.  As it has been said that this is the Truth Commission, I wouldn't say anything to the Commission to say that I would like them to do this for me, probably they may not meet my demands.
 Because there were people who were able to send interdicts to prevent us from giving evidence.  As we are here today I would like to say to you, you are the people who would use your discretion to look after all those who have been orphaned, those who have been widowed and those who have lost their children.
 I would like to say to you there is no price that we can say that it would pay for the loss of our loved ones.  The last thing I would like to say is Dirk Coetzee and Mamasela who are both perpetrators and evils, if they can just show us the bones of my child I would be grateful.
PORT ELIZABETH HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
32 JN MTIMKHULU
 Where did  they leave the bones of my child?  Where did they take him from Port Elizabeth, who handed him over to them?  Where did they take him to?  What did they do to him?  How?  I hope you are writing what I am saying, because I want it to be scribbled as I am saying it.  Is it being written?

MR NTSEBEZA: Yes, it is.

MRS MTIMKHULU: Is it what you are writing now?

MR NTSEBEZA: Yes, it is what I am writing now.

MRS MTIMKHULU: All right.  I'd like to speak directly to you then.  I'd like what I have said to be stated as I have mentioned.  Who handed him over to them, what did they do to him, and where did they leave him?
 Because I could realise that they were so cruel and mean and scrupulous that they shot him, they were not satisfied they poisoned him, they were not satisfied again, they didn't get satisfied Archbishop, about the poisoning. 
 Although they have already killed him, physically and mentally, they have done a lot to my child.  They were so mean, but I would like them Mamasela or Dirk or whoever, Nieuwoudt and all his team, I don't know because now he is a prisoner, I'd like them to bring Siphiwo's remains, or they can just go and direct me to where they have buried his bones.
 I nearly buried his hair, I thought I would make a burial of my son through the hair.  I tried to do something as a ceremony, but this didn't succeed very well because I didn't know what I was doing.
 I just wanted to make a memorial to show that I was mourning for my child.  There are reverends like Daduxia and the others who graced the occasion.  I was just about to 
PORT ELIZABETH HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
33 JN MTIMKHULU
bury my sons' hair, but by God's will I didn't, as if I knew that I would be here today.
 I think I have said enough.

MR NTSEBEZA: Thank you very much, Mama.  We would like to find out - are you still ready for the questions or do you think that we should try?  Any way we are looking into the matter.  Mama, we would like to get the evidence and the testimony of the others so that we can handle the questions on everybody as said, what you would like to hear.
 We will call Mbuyiselo Madaka to the stand.  Mr Madaka, we are going to ask questions from you now.  Fortunately you were here, you heard what Mrs Mtimkhulu said.  We would like you to tell us about yourself, who you are and what you know about this issue, how you can help us to get an idea of what happened to him.  I leave it to  you.