Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Elizabeth — 1996-06-27

THEODORA NOSISI TIYO: My mother-in-law informed me that by the time she
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arrived there, my daughter was already covered with a blanket and then when she asked the other people, the standby's informed my mother-in-law that they found her gasping and then they covered her.
 When I asked where was the child, my mother-in-law informed me that there are two girls who said they will be taking her to hospital.  It was said nothing could be done to her, because she was certified dead and then she was taken to the mortuary.
 I was still at my place and we were in the process of mourning.  I saw one gentleman coming, he is Monopogela.  The gentleman asked me, I would like to state that I never took this seriously, but now that I am here, I can think that Monopogela also came.  He asked me questions and then I informed him about the tragic death of my daughter.
 He took information from me and then she left.  I thought Monopogela would sent some people, or press or whoever to cover the story, but I waited for a long time and then he never returned.
 On the third day I saw a hippo which was just next to my house.  When I confronted them, they informed, they asked me if Xoliswa is mine, I said that it was my daughter who was 11 years old.  He said I must go to Mount Road so that I can identify the body.
 I indeed went there and I found her dead.  There were a lot of other children, they were packed as a load of sheep.  There were so many bodies there, I couldn't find my child, but I was taken to another room which was separate from this one.  I could see one of the children and my daughter was also next to that. 
 They asked me what am I going to do and I told them
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that I would go to the undertaker to arrange for the funeral.  Okay on the 20th of August the funeral was arranged and it took place.  I would like to mention the fact that I received a letter from Golden Mine but this information is not recorded in the statement, because I am recalling some of the incidents.
 I received this letter from Gold mines.  I went to the 5th floor in one of the buildings and was informed the contents of the letter.
 I was informed that it is the letter informing me that I was supposed to go to Grahamstown for the court hearing.  I waited for quite a long time.  Years went by and nothing happened.  Some people advised me to go the South African Council of Churches, so that I can be assisted because the Council of Churches was giving people supportive services.
 So I went to them and informed them about the whole situation.  When I got there I found one of the ladies who stayed in Walmer and Zondani who stayed at Dora.  I was taken to the lawyer at Permanent Building Society, it was Mr Hasla.  I gave him the information and the details surrounding the tragic details surrounding the death of my daughter and I explained that I've been waiting for too long and nothing is going on.
 Although I went to the legal representative, Mr Hasla, nothing happened either.  I felt that I should go to the Black Sash so that they can also assist me.  I informed them about all the steps that I had already taken which were all unsuccessful.
 I was advised to go to the Nedbank to one of the lawyer, Mr Brooks.  I went to Nedbank and Mr Brooks accepted PORT ELIZABETH HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
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my case.  He said I should go and wait.  I waited for quite a long time again.
 I reminded him again because it took a long time also for him to make any attempts to contact me.  The lawyer said he is going to  Grahamstown so that he could find out what was the problem.  Why is the hearing not taking place.  Even then, after that promise, I didn't receive any assistance. 
 I kept on reminding him, trying to find out what was going on.  The lawyer, when I went for the third time, he took out the files, put them on the table, stated that these are the files from Grahamstown.  I asked him what should we do now, he said no, there is nothing that could be done, because this has happened a long time ago.
 He gave a R5-00 note and then he said I must go home.  I took the files along.  Sipho was also politicised because he was a member of the Black Power, this is the type of organisation which was also founded at the time.
 I was always afraid that he might also get injured.  I tried to discourage him to do so or join any type of organisation, he would pretend as if he has stopped, but I could see that he was continuing.
 At the end he left my house and stayed with the friends, because he wanted to continue with the struggle.  One day I was sleeping at my place, there were people who came to knock at my door and said Mama Tiyo, open the door please.
 They came in and they informed me that Sipho has been injured.  Sipho had already told me that due to the harassment that he was receiving from the police, he and his friends were planning to leave the country.  At times they wanted to sleep at my place, but I refused because I knew 
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that Sipho was also wanted by the police.
 Then when he came the other day, when these people came in, they informed me that he was injured and he has died.  I asked the reason and then they said it was a quarrel related to the girlfriend.
 I buried Sipho and nothing happened thereafter.  After some few weeks the police came in and they asked me where my son was.  I reported that he had been buried a month before.  They informed me that Sipho is going to cross the country, they have learnt about that information.
 I was surprised because I informed them that my son was dead and he had been buried.  Seemingly they did not believe me.  I told them to go to Headbush, the undertakers, so that they can confirm that my son was dead.
 Probably they went there because they never came back again.  I'd like to mention something else again.  There was a day when the councillors evicted me from my house.  I asked what was the reason for my eviction.
 I knew that I was a bit lagging behind with the rentals of the house, so that is why I was not up to date with the payments.  I went to my family and then they assisted me with the money, so I had to pay the rent.
 I paid only for one month.  I approached one of my friends and said I have got an odd job and I am not stable mentally and I requested that he should go and pay.

UNKNOWN: Mrs Tiyo, did you say that Sipho was also killed?

THEODORA NOSISI TIYO: Yes, Sipho was also killed.  They said they picked him up when he was dead, he was about to cross the country at that time.  He had already informed me that when he disappears, I shouldn't look for him.
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UNKNOWN: How old was he then?