Human Rights Violation Hearings — George — 1996-08-12

MR STUURMAN: Okay, in 1985 I was a student at KwaMandlekosi as we all know that, that was a year of  disruption and we also had a problem in our school.  Then it happened that there were some harassment's of some kind which were done by  [indistinct] as we have heard from other witnesses.
 That time I  was the Chairperson of COSAS, and my name was in the fore to an extend that in 1985 I had to disappear, trying to run away with my life, because people were after me and I had to walk by dark.  Even the time I had to write examinations, it was difficult, but the principal Mr Hanavo helped me with the lamp to give me light in the staff room where I wrote together with my friend Peter Mbalo.
 We then wrote our examination and we succeeded and I went to state whether we got good results or  not. Because I would say perhaps it was the fear of the principal because he could see the harassment too.  
 And then we had to go to other schools, because the school we were in at the time went up as far as std 7.  We then went to Bloemfontein where we continued with our studies in std 8 we got a school.  I was still with Mbalo, and were admitted in that particular school, I have forgotten the name of the school.   [indistinct] and we met friends there in Bloemfontein, these were children from  [indistinct] family, who's father was a minister.
 So we use to  chat and they would tell us more about Bloemfontein.  Then just a week before the re-opening of the schools, I one day decided to do my washing - it was a hot day and I had a T-shirt that loved so much, and I had - I was putting it on.  And little was I aware that it was going to bring me some problems.
 So I fetched water, on my way I met - I  think it  was a policeman who questioned me in Sotho/Zoeloe and asking me what this was, then I  told him this was a T-shirt.  And he asked me who was there, then I said it was Tshaka who had been killed by the police.
 So he insulted me, then I  thought very fast and I just said something, but I  went away, then we did not agree as we were talking because he spoke Sotho and then we had to use hand signs whilst talking to  one another.   Then when he asked how is it - this shirt is, I said it was nice.  So I explained to him that the person on the T-shirt had been killed by the police.  So these children from Bloemfontein told me that they were going to fetch me and I became very nervous.  I couldn't even eat the porridge that I was eating.
 There was a tough guy by the name of Simon who came and greeted us and lifted his feet calling us comrades, there was no response.  Then they asked where was this boy with the T-shirt, then I lifted my hand up , then he came into the room and searched everything.  Unfortunately he got some writing on our briefcases and my friend was present at the time and he asked who's shirt was this - who's briefcase was this and he asked us to put the T-shirts on.  
 Then he took us with him, taking us to a police station.  Later on Simon became tricky and said to us we were playing with the organisation even he was not serious and therefore he asked us why had we written ANC on our briefcases, but I did not answer.  He asked my friend who's briefcase was this, and he did not answer.  Then a certain white man who was with him, asked us where we came from, then he said he was looking for Zenty because that was the name I was known in.
 I waited for a while and someone - and he was pretending as if he was erasing what was written on the  briefcase.  Then my friend said - he said to my friend you can see I have helped you because I have erased all these words you have written on the briefcase.  Then he even scolded us for shaking.   And then there was no truth that came out.  He kept on asking questions about what do we know  about ANC and many other questions and he asked why there was this  briefcase written ANC and ultimately he took me and someone was tired of the interrogation.  So he told us he was going to beat us up, so I went out with this white man, leaving my friend behind, screaming.  And I knew they were going to beat me even there.
 So he introduced himself as luitenant so and so, then he asked me to sit down and I sat down.  He asked me tricky questions saying I had burnt churches - schools the houses.  I accepted everything because there was no alternative  because I could they were going to beat me.  Then he said he loved me, and he said he had got a report from Beaufort West that they were looking for me, then I told him that there I had come to attend school because there were no std 8 where I  came from.
 So he said if I wanted to go on with my education I had to work together with him.  Then he brought a form with R10-00 and asked me to sign and I did though  I didn't like to.  Then he said you should not tell my friend about it, so I put it into my pocket.  Then he even beat me and I told him that I was determined to get educated.  It went on and he said he was going to confiscate my T-shirt because this T-shirt was going to help at school.  He said I should wear it underneath  my shirt whenever I went to school so that who ever had any interest in that T-shirt I should get hold of him and bring him to them.  
And then he said we would meet every Wednesday, I should hide in that house.  So I agreed to everything he was saying to me and they did the same to my friend Deniso.  
They said they should meet at the graveyard on Wednesday and he must hide.  They took measurements, photos of me by a white, short man.  He gave me R10-00 so that I should go to the cinemas and I should get to know many people.  My fear was that I would - we - we came to Bloemfontein when there were roomers that students could again as a result of the bad results they could cause some problems and then he said to me if  I'd not tell him timorously about everything that was happening here at school I should know it the end of me.  
So I felt it was useless for me to continue staying there, I should just escape somehow.  Then I went to Minister Rev Ndendaswe and I explained to him that - and asked him to take me out and hide me somewhere.  Then he refused because he said what would my parents say.  Then he said to me he did not sufficiently - not have sufficient petrol.  Then the Reverent was forced to take me somehow.  We had come back to the house, we had paid even school fees.  
There was a policeman living opposite the house where I was, my friend was busy packing the clothes and so that's how we left to another location that I don't know.  We got some help there from a certain sister by the surname of Niar who came from Beaufort West.  And who had some relationship with Simon, we explained everything to her and then she said that person was filthy and it said if I had - could go to the funeral this person would shoot me.
So she asked us to stay and he said he would introduce us to some lawyers.   They tried to get tickets and then we got lost, when I got home I could see that they were still after me.  My parent are very unhappy until  they were compelled to take me away to the Ciskei and this was in March and I again attended school there.  That was in 1981 and I passed.  
On coming back I went to Cape Town for - to do my Std 10 - 9 that was in 1987.  In 1988 on my way - when I came back when this happened - yes it was in first - on the first of January 12 midnight then the people of the church had gathered and I was amongst them.  People were singing hymns, we had gathered in a church building and I was going to my aunt's place to wish her New Year - a happy New Year as we normally do.
Just after I had crossed the street -  just when I was about to get into her yard there was a very close range shot.  I heard a gun sound - a sound and I was hit here on the hip, I turned and ran away.  This person persuade me and kept on shooting - shot twice.  I then collapsed next to another Reverent Kelem who died, then they took me to hospital.  I was still conscious then, then Dr Storm operated on me and the police came and I recognised Warrant Du Toit who called the doctor aside and they talked and the doctor came back and said to me asking that I should be tied with straps.  
And he was even trying to operate on a  [indistinct] bone and I would protesting.  So they said I was becoming mad so they should tie me and I was protesting.  Fortunately my father came and stopped them and said they should leave me the way I was.  Then they should send me to Cape Town - he was going to pay the costs.  So they let - and this gave me another impression because every time he would be working they would be talking aside now and again together with the police.
And I felt bad about their talks, we went to Cape Town.  That is where - that time I got there I could not even move my legs.  My left leg was amputated - they said they wanted to amputate my left leg and I refused.  Then a  relative was asked to convince me but she couldn't.  She just looked at me and wouldn't say anything.  And then they called my mother from Beaufort West, they pleaded with her that she should talk to me, that my other leg should be amputated.  And it became very difficult for her to agree, in fact she disagreed.
Then I recovered as time went on but they kept on asking me some questions like their were - they were saying to me there was no foolish  Constable who could shoot at me for no reason.  There was a physiotherapist who he did not care whether he could not walk.  There was some people from Black Sash.  One of them was Dina or Dian, they used to come and visit me and some other comrades like James to give me courage and he would complain to them, I just didn't know what to say.  
I'd look like a terrorist to them, they would even bring some forms whilst I was in hospital, they would ask me about certain things I liked and these were not correct forms.  I did - I just made ticks on this forms and they would say this is not a place for politics and whilst I was still not well one lady called me and asked me whether I had some lawyers.  I said I had by the name - a lawyer by the name of Moosa but he said there was nothing they could do to me.  They were going to discharge me and I was not well yet.  They said I would even come whilst  I was at home, so I went to Jooste Hospital and got treatment but I could see I was just tool that would be called even on Sundays just to come and have a look at me.  They would lay me on the table, all this was not good to me - it used to hurt me.
I was - I just decided to stop the - taking the treatment and I went home and I was at home for - in 1988 for the whole year of 1988, then in 1989 I decided to go back to school.  And even there my - I tried to study my Std 10 and I was not happy.  
I was limping, walking with pain - they used to come and fetch me almost every day after school.  My sisters Nxuculana even my books they would take all this and they could keep me for about 3 hours.  Even when my mother would come and inquire about me they wouldn't tell her where I was.  One day the principal came  with my mother to the police and the principal's name  was Jase.  
They released me very late, they were trying to - Coenie Van Wyk was trying to convince me who nearly made my - my family to get a  [indistinct] .  Coenie Van Wyk's father used to work with my father so he went to my father to say that I had bad friends.  And then my father allowed him to talk to me and he came to fetch me.  I went to his office and he said he was one short here on - on the back because he was against the Government, but now he can see that we have a good Government.
So he was asking me to change - so I explained to him that  I never burnt any school, I never burnt any church nor any house.  Then he said to me he knew that I couldn't walk well.  He offered to buy me a BMX bicycle, I said I didn't need a bicycle because I was afraid of the community to see me now working with the people who had shot me.  How would they look at me, he also once gave me R37-00 and I had had enough with the R10-00 that he had once given to me whilst in Bloemfontein.  
And he insisted that I should take it as a gift but I did not except it.  Then he said they could sent me to University, we even mentioned some friend that they sent to school.  They would say I would be like him and I  was shocked when I heard this.  
He even said that if he were in my shoes he would take this opportunity  but I should not tell my mother.  Then I asked him why, then he said you know how women are.  Then I said he should give me a chance to thing about this.  He used to use words like geheim - secret.  We quarrelled with my father because I asked him why he had done this, why should he say to Van Wyk he could use me.  My father was shocked and he said he didn't know anything about this.  
So you could see we were not in good relation with my father, he came because I also wanted to find out certain things from him.  I said yes money can help but how can you come to home, he would say this would be very easy.  Because they had - he was a boer, a white man, he said to me there are certain things that they smear on their faces and he would leave the police van next to the school and he would walk into the location and to our house and no one would be able to identify what kind of a person he was and also his nationality.
I got afraid because I couldn't understand how you could get into the location and my house, then I said to him he should give me a chance.  Then I phoned my lawyers Mr Banto, they came - I still - I had those statements that they had.  People like Coenie Van Wyk, so they stopped then but he kept on coming and he fetched me one day from school using a silly term saying I a twee gat jakkals as if we had made a agreement but yet that was not the situation.