Human Rights Violation Hearings — Grahamstown — 1997-04-08

CHAIRPERSON: We thank the Reverend Mzalo for opening our day with a prayer.  We welcome everyone here today, especially those that are coming to testify before the Commission on this our second day in Grahamstown.  I am now going to hand over to Ms Tiny Maya who is going to announce the order of the day.

MS MAYA: Thank you Chairperson.  Honourable Chairperson, on this our second day here in Grahamstown, Tuesday 8 April 1997 I would like to present to you the list of people who have applied to come and give testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about human rights violations. I am going to read it out to you in order of he victims that are going to appear here.
 Today we are dealing with three regions, Canteen on Sea, Port Alfred and Alexandria and Grahamstown.  The people who we have on our list today are 27 but because there were three people left from yesterday we have 23 people in total.  I am going to read the names of the people on our list and start with the names of the person who will be testifying, the name of victim coming to the violation, the year in which it took place and the area in which the violation took place or where the person's from. 
 We've got Nomilile Phillis Tandewi Soya who will be testifying about Mtandamisu Alfred Soya who was murdered in Grahamstown.
 Bulwana Vaaltyn will testify about an attempted murder on himself in Grahamstown in 1980.
 Lindele Watson Kolisi will be testifying about the disappearance of Sipho Victor Kolisi in 1985 in Grahamstown.
 Nombulelo Ethel Msutu will be testifying about the murder of Mtunzi Pendly Msutu in 1986 in Grahamstown.
 Nongazi Lillian Mata will testifying about the murder of Hombakazi Matiwani in Grahamstown in 1985.
 Velisile Lopy Toyi will be testifying about an atemped murder on himself in 1985 in Grahamstown.
 Telerams Nomba Dilling(?) will be testifying about an attempted murder on himself in 1978 in Grahamstown.
  Mphiwisi David Sigcawu will be speaking about torture on himself in 1980 in Canteen On Sea.
 Tobile Cecil Godolodashe, he will be testifying about severe treatment on himself in Port Alfred in 1985.
 Dideka Grace Mishombo will be testifying about the murder of Ben Mishombo in Port Alfred in 1986.
 Ethel Nomalungelo Timba will be testifying about an attempted murder on herself in 1984 in Port Alfred.
 Nomalady Nomelumsi Tyuku will be speaking about the murder of Madodana Zolisile Tyuku in Port Alfred in 1985.
 Nontobeko Joyce Pikole will be speaking about the attempted murder on Mkuseli Pikole in 1985 in Port Alfred.
At this point is not clear whether Mkuseli Pikole is still alive or not but Nontobeko Joyce Pikole will be coming to testify about that incident.
 Temtem Kushlane(?) will be testifying about he murder of Mtunyani Nkushlane in 1986 in Port Alfred.
 Albertina Gobizembe will be testifying about her severe ill treament in 1985 in Port Alfred.
 Peggy Nontutuzelo Memani will be speaking her severe ill treatment in 1985 in Port Alfred.
 Pretty Mkalipi will be testifying about her severe ill treatment in 1985 in Port Alfred.
 Topsy Novakele Tembani will be testifying about the murders of Zonwabele "Pele" Hermans in 1986 in Alexandria and about Fetze Nomarwayi and Mzimkulu Mkele's murders in 1986 in Alexandria.
 Mbulelo Lawrence "Toyo" Peter will be testifying about his sever treatment in 1986 in Alexandria.
 The three who remain from yesterday were Chris Mbekela who will be testified about an attempted murder on himself in 1985 here in Grahamstown.
 Kholile Christewe Ntonyeno(?) will be speaking about Miseka Ntonyeno who was murdered here in Grahamstown in 1985.
 The last one was Vuyane Richard Bete who will be testifying about his sever ill treatment in 1984 in Grahamstown and also the murder of Mbuyiselo Ghadi in 1984 here in Grahamstown and about the murder of Anele Bete in 1984 in Grahamstown. Thank you Chairperson.
 With your permission I would like us to start with the three witnesses who remain from yesterday's role.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much Ms Maya.  Usually when we speak about deceased persons we observe a moment silence to pay respect towards them and there are nine deceased persons about whom testimony will be heard today and another one who disappeared and it is not known whether the person is still alive or not, and I will ask that we all rise as a mark of respect while we read out their names.
 We remember Mtantamisa Alfred Soya, Sipho Victor Kolisi, Mtunzi Pendly Msuthu, Hombakazi Matiwane, Ben Mishombo, Madodana Zolisela Tyuku, Mtenyana Koshlana, Zonowabele "Pele" Hermans, Fetze Nomarwayi, and we also remember Mzimkulu Mkele. (Short Prayer).
 We are going to begin with the three who were supposed to testify  yesterday.  We call to the fore Chris Mbekela and Koliwe Christina Tonyela.

REV XUNDU: Thank you Chairperson, I would like to swear in these witnesses

CHRIS MBKELA: (sworn states)

KOLIWE CHRISTINA TONYELA: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: We are going to hand over to Ntsikelelo Sandi who will lead the witnesses testimony.  We will begin with you Mr Mbekela.

MR SANDI: Mr Mbekela, when we spoke yesterday and also this morning you said that you would speak about two things.  You would tell us what happened to you on the day in question but before doing that you would sketch a picture of the context in which this incident took place, what the situation was here in Grahamstown and what your role was in that context.  Is that so?

MR MBEKELA: Yes that is correct.

MR SANDI: Let us begin Mr Mbekela.  When this incident took place and when the house in which you were sleeping was set alight and one of the occupants, Miseka Ntonyela died, what would you describe the situation in Grahamstown as having been at that time?

MR MBEKELA: Thank you honourable Sir and also honourable Chairperson, we could say that it was nothing new to us all being seated here today.  The situation especially in the 1980's, particularly from 1984 onwards was one which was very unpleasant, where the people of South Africa, especially the youth at that time was fed up with being oppressed.  They just had enough of the people of South Africa having been oppressed.  I would say Mr Chairperson that the people of South Africa were determined to overthrow the government of the day, they did not want the government at that time and the residential areas of black persons, looking at people who lived around border areas, the border areas were not residential areas any more, they war more war zones because the soldieres, police and military people who had been sent on crash courses and were known as Nats here in the location were trained with the objecive of killing people that lived in the locations and they were deployed to us.
 As I have said honourable Committee Members and Commissioners, people were not happy to just sit back and fold their hands. They picked up whatever they could to defend themselves with but with the objective in mind that South Africa should be free.

MR SANDI: Was there any organisation within the area which existed at the time, could you just describe it to us if there was?