Human Rights Violation Hearings — Ladybrand — 1997-06-25

MR LAX: So was he dealing with your case as an illegal immigrant because your passport wasn't correct?

WITNESS:   He is the one who handled my case.  And there were two cases which there is.  That's one of the incitement for riots, because I was arrested whilst inebriated, and then the second case was the one which showed that my passport has expired.  And then he said to me I should return home.  Even if I tried to explain to him that I have children in Lesotho, but he said to me I should come back to Lesotho.  He didn't even advise me to extend the dates for the passport pending my request which I was just to make, which is my second point. So this question of the riot, were you involved in any riots, or causing a riot, or was this just arising out of the party?   ---   This particular incident happened during the day.  I was on my way home and Mr Mputlane was a member of the Security Branch, because when I passed through his house whilst I was drunk he formulated a case against me.  He was aware that I was drunk and I would not be able to defend myself.  I was alone and I have never been part of a group.

MR LAX: Now, you then went to the Ladybrand Police Station when you got to South Africa to renew your passport.  Is that right?

WITNESS:   That's true.

MR LAX: And you said that at that stage you were interrogated by the police.

WITNESS:   Yes, I went to Ladybrand.  They said to me there is a pass office or a commissioner's office here in Ladybrand.  When I arrived at the commissioner's office he didn't welcome me well.  He said I should go and meet the detectives first.  I went to the detectives.  When I arrived there they communicated with me well.  They gave me newspapers, they put me aside, then they monitored which pages I was reading on the newspapers.  I pretended as if I had interest in the sports pages.  So I sat there the whole day.  At last at dusk I was told to leave.  Then I asked them how - I did explain my situation that my passport has expired, and then again I have children in Lesotho just to leave, and I am here at Ladybrand.  Where should I go?  I don't have a house in Ladybrand, my family is in Lesotho.  There is a certain coloured man.  I want to thank that person who has provided me with accommodation in his house.  And then the following day I returned.  My feelings guided me to go back to the Security Branch to show them my innocence, and that they should give me permission.  On the following day I had problems, because I went to that office.  On my departure I was surprised.  I was kicked, I was clapped, where even my left ear burst, then all the time I go to the doctor and my ear is full of a pus.  I was kicked, then I was assaulted.  But what I remember is that the person who was assaulting me - Nompanwe was there, who was one of the police and he is staying at Bloemfontein.  He was a member of the Security Branch.  I ran to the charge office.  There is a section of the Security Branch and the uniformed police station.  The person who helped me at the charge office is a certain white person who was dressing in a grey suit.  He just said to them, "This person looks innocent," because this CID was always following me.  But this policeman said, "This person looks innocent.  It might be possible that he is telling the truth that he is legally married and he has children."  That is then that they said to me that I should go to the commissioner's office.  Then they prepared papers for me, they took me to the bridge at the border gate.  But my ear was not well ... (inaudible - end of Side B, Tape 1, beginning of Side A, Tape 3) ... period of 1971.

MR LAX: When did you finally come back to South Africa?

WITNESS:   I returned to South Africa in 1970.  I think I returned on the fifth month, which is May.  I ran from Lesotho because I could see that I will die in Lesotho because I was beaten badly, and I slept in hospital for some time.  They treated me for septic abrasions.  I was beaten for days.  We were beaten at the charge office.  We were beaten in turns.  There was a high fence.  We were guarded with guns.  But on Friday when they were drunk I remember Mr Bali, who was born in 1912.  It was heartbreaking that even though we were detainees, when we look at Mr Bali you instinctively will try to make him conscious.  So those are the things which happened.  Many people survived, but others died there, because others were squeezed with pliers on their manhood.   That's the kind of experience I went through.

MR LAX: Was that a detention centre?

WITNESS:   I was staying at Lesuku, Mogalieshoek(?).  We were detained at the charge office.  When they declared the state of emergency there they built a high fence around the police station, and people were detained there and were tortured there.  Whoever was suspected to have beliefs which ... (intervention)

MR LAX: When did you finally leave that place, and how did that happen?

WITNESS:   My passport is down there, but I think in 1970, I think it's May when I returned home.

MR LAX: Did they just release you, was there a case?

WITNESS:  Are you referring to Lesotho?  I was released in Lesotho.  In Lesotho they released us because I was septic.  They were forced to release me to go to hospital.  They said that it was not necessary to be detained, because I think whatever they wanted they have achieved.  I was just released freely without any conditions.

MR LAX: Thank you.  Thank you very much, Mr Bakamela.  I don't have any further questions at this stage.  What I would like to ask is that clearly many, many things happened to you, and when you made your original statement you didn't remember all of them.  It will be very helpful to us if you could at some stage sit down again and try and make notes of everything that happened to you so that we get the full picture, and you can supplement your original statement with that.  We would appreciate that.  I don't mean now.  We can worry about that afterwards.  I think we're finished for now.  Thank you.  (Pause)  Can we just have some quiet please!  Please respect the witness.

CHAIRPERSON: I don't think that - your testimony would not be finished without this conclusion, that to a great extent here we have heard endless accounts of police who have colluded with the system and violated their own people.  Yours is a different story.  It's a very impressive testimony of a courageous police who stood for fairness and justice against all the threats and intimidation.  You are indeed a courageous person.  You lost your job, you lost your freedom, you lost your health, all for justice of everybody in this country.  With those words I would like to say thank you very much.  I wish you all the best.  Thank you.

WITNESS:   I also thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: /CHAIRPERSON

CHAIRPERSON: I'll now call upon our next witness, which is Ms Mohatla, Celta Mohatla.  (Pause)  (Inaudible)

CELTA MOHATLA: Yes, good morning.

INTERPRETER: The speaker's mike is not on.

CELTA MOHATLA: I am fine, but I am a sickly person.  It's high blood and my leg.  I am really sick.

CHAIRPERSON: We can see that, but thank you very much that you managed to come here today.  We really appreciate being with you.

CELTA MOHATLA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Before we start you will have to take an oath, and Mr Lax is going to help you do that.

MR LAX: Thank you, Chairperson.

CELTA MOHATLA: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

CHAIRPERSON: Mama Mohatla, could you tell us about your family, your kids, your children, and your husband, if you still have your husband.

WITNESS:   I don't have a husband.  My two children are dead.  The others are still alive.  They are four in number.  The other one has the family, and we have the twins in the family, six, and I am the only person.

CHAIRPERSON: What do you mean when you say you are the only person?