Human Rights Violation Hearings — Cape Town — 1997-06-09

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: I am not very clear whether he was under Yamile or not, but as I said, I didn't want to get involved myself in those quarrels, because it was then, it was the first time that I had an insight, when they were explained to me afterwards.  Otherwise, before then, I didn't know how close they were to each other.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: But according to what you observed, why do you think Jerry got the accusation that he was an informer?

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: From what I hear, he was a leader and then there was some moneys that were paid to him and that's where the trouble started.  Then he went away, packed his things and went away. I don't know for what reason, but he removed himself, he dismantled himself after this conflict.  And my sister says that she couldn't stay there because her shack was also dismantled.  So she decided to go to the township.  So she is was asked who are you going with.  And then she said she was going with Jerry, and this, the people that were being chased, and when the two ran away, they took her.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: They took her because they didn't get Jerry and this other man?

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: Yes.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Let me just ask you.  You said you don't remember whether it was money.  There were two groups there.  There were two things there.  It was misuse of funds and the other reason was that there were people who sent out a message, notices that they should go to Khayelitsha, and most residents didn't like that.  I would like to know whether could it be this second reason, which made him to be suspected as an informer? In your memory, are there any papers that Jerry signed that his group was prepared to go to Khayelitsha?  Is there anything you remember about that?

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: No, I don't have any knowledge of this but I do know that we were fighting about going to Khayelitsha and not going to Khayelitsha.  So those who agreed fought with those who didn't agree.  But where he belonged, I don't know. Whether he was of the group that wanted to go or the others that didn't want to.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: But in your knowledge, the people who agreed to go to Khayelitsha used to be accused of being the informers?

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: Yes.  Anyone who was prepared to go there was said to be an informer.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: I am going to hand over to our chairman.  Thank you.

DR BORAINE: Thank you very much.  Could I ask, your sister who was very brutally murdered, was there ever any court case or any investigation or any inquest by the courts or by the police about her death?  Can you remember?

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: A white policeman came to take a statement at Guguletu and asked me about my sister, if I knew her and seeing that I had signed.   I told him that was my sister.  Then he asked me questions.  He asked me if she was  pregnant. I said yes.  He asked me for how long. I said I didn't know how many months and then it ended there.  I never met any person from the law-enforcement.

DR BORAINE: Thank you very much.  I would like to ask whether my colleagues would like to put any other questions to you.  Prof Meiring?

PROF MEIRING: Felicia, I have one question to ask you.  After this horrible thing that happened to you, did you yourself receive any treatment, did anybody help you to cope with your emotions to work through everything that happened to your family?

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: I can't remember his name, because I couldn't sleep at night and I would be crying the whole night.

PROF MEIRING: What sort of help did he give you, did he talk with you through everything that happened, did they give you medicine to help you sleep at night?

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: He gave me some medicines and tablets and injected me also.

DR BORAINE: On behalf of our panel we would like to express our appreciation to you for coming.  We realise that to think back over those 10 years or more, is very painful and we hope that telling your story and just remind all of us and the community what a very high price was paid for the democracy and the greater peace that we have now, will be of some assistance to you and that some healing will come to you as well.  Thank you very much for coming and go well.

FELICIA NGWEVUSHA: Thank  you.