Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1999-08-16

GRATINA NINELA: The hands were blown so that the fingerprints could not be available.  He couldn't be identified and the face and the ID. and some of his clothing were not there but because God is great there is nothing hidden that will never be exposed by God in His own private ways.  Today we know that he was killed and we know the killers, though we don't know all of them, because there are some facts that are hidden here.

CHAIRPERSON: Is that all, Ms Gabriel?

MS GABRIEL: Mrs Ninela, do you have anything else?

CHAIRPERSON: Have you finished?

GRATINA NINELA: I'm trying to think.

CHAIRPERSON: Take your time.

GRATINA NINELA: What I think is, if the law could take the lawful steps, the law must take its steps lawfully to the killers and if there was a way, I wish they could tell more truth, not the lies they have been telling.

CHAIRPERSON: They have told you the truth that they've killed your son.  That's the ultimate truth, isn't it?

GRATINA NINELA: Is it true for them to say that when they got him he had a limpet mine?

CHAIRPERSON: Well, we've dealt with that part of the evidence.

GRATINA NINELA: But is it true?

CHAIRPERSON: There has been some evidence that there was no limpet mine on him.

GRATINA NINELA: But is it true?

CHAIRPERSON: That is, the Committee will decide that when it's heard all the evidence.

MS GABRIEL: Some say that there was and some say that there wasn't, they will decide that.

GRATINA NINELA: Is it true that his hands were put at the back of his head?  Is that true?  Most unfortunately they did all what they did and thought to hide the body away but because God is there they didn't know that we will finally come across the remains of his body.  If the hands were at his back of the head, they would be there, we would find some fingers of the hands, still there.  The hands were blown off.  They were in front with the face.

CHAIRPERSON: Now we must try and concentrate on the essentials.  Try and avoid repeating what has been said.  I understand you agony and your pain, but we have to try and hear this application in accordance with the law as we understand it.  Now, I don't want to stop you, but I would like to appeal to you not to repeat the same points in a different way.

GRATINA NINELA: If you could be me you'd be bursting in tears now.  I'm trying to hold them back.

CHAIRPERSON: I understand.

GRATINA NINELA: Nothing is coming to my mind.

MS GABRIEL: Mr Chairman, that is the end of Mrs Ninela's evidence.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS GABRIEL

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Ms Gabriel, the Committee is of the view that questioning of the mother of the deceased by the applicants, if there is going to be any, will take place tomorrow morning.  Will she be available?

MS GABRIEL: Mrs Ninela, will you be here tomorrow?
Yes, she will be available.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Visser I think because of the hour of the day, it might be appropriate not to start at this stage for various reasons.

MR VISSER: Just so, Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you likely to call other evidence Ms Gabriel?

MS GABRIEL: Mr Chair the adjournment will give me an opportunity to reassess our situation.  We had initially planned to call a fairly large number of witnesses.  This is something I would need to take instructions from the family.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, very well and we will adjourn now and resume at half past nine tomorrow morning.  Will you convey that to those that you wish to call, that we will commence at half past nine tomorrow morning?  The Committee will adjourn.

MS GABRIEL: Thank you Mr Chair.
COMMITTEE ADJOURNS