Human Rights Violation Hearings — Johannesburg — 1996-04-29

DR BORAINE: Chairperson before I call the next witness I would like to address all the witnesses where they are sitting and invite them to move from where they are to the front rows immediately in front of the Commission.  This will enable them to be much more part of the proceedings because I am afraid that our backs are to many of you.  So if all the witnesses could simply move right across.  There are plenty of seats in the first three or four rows so perhaps witnesses and their families should avoid sitting immediately behind these chairs otherwise they won't be able to see what is happening.  So keep that free and just spread out.  There's also space on that side if you don't feel comfortable where you are.  Thank you very much, I am sorry to disturb you but I think that that's a much better idea.  We are also grateful that the suggestion came from the Archbishop and myself.  (General laughter).
 If we are settled then I would like to call the next witness Mrs Rokaya Salojee, if you would please come to the witness stand.  Mrs Salojee are you going to give your evidence in English?

ROKAYA SALOJEE: Yes.

DR BORAINE: Can I say a very warm welcome to you on behalf of the Commission.  We are very grateful that you are willing to come and tell us about something which happened
JOHANNESBURG HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
2 R SALOJEE
a very long time ago now but which was very alive in your hearts and mind and will always be.  We are not sure if you have brought a friend or somebody with you, perhaps you can tell us.

ROKAYA SALOJEE: My niece.

DR BORAINE: She is very welcome as well.  I am glad that you have got some support there and support from our own staff as well.
 Your own story is a fairly familiar story in South Africa unfortunately.  Already we have heard many stories of people who were detained, some of them lived to tell the story, some of them not.  We will wait for your story, but before you do so I must ask you to please stand to take the oath.

ROKAYA SALOJEE: (sworn states)

DR BORAINE: Please sit and be very relaxed.  On my right is Ms Yasmin Sooka who is going to help you as you unfold the story of what happened in 1964 I think it was.

YASMINE SOOKA: In 1960 the first state of emergency saw the introduction of detention without trial.  In 1963 detention without trial was made a permanent feature of our law by the passing of the General Laws Amendment Act no.37.  This Act was passed after the killing of two people of the White race and the near fatal attack on three others by the PAC at the end of 1962.  Under the 90 days detention legislation a detainee could be held in custody for interrogation until he had, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police replied satisfactorily to all questions.  If the Commissioner felt that questions had not been satisfactorily answered the detention of the detainee could be extended.  The detainee was only permitted visits each week by a magistrate.  Legal
JOHANNESBURG HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
3 R SALOJEE
advisors were not permitted access to detainees.  The detainee was also not permitted visits by anybody else. Suliman Salojee, known as Bubla, was the fourth person to die in detention.
 By 1990 78,000 people had been detained of which 73 died.  In 33 instances inquest courts had certified the cause of death as suicide.  Of these five had allegedly been found to have jumped off buildings.
 Suliman Salojee a 32 year old attorney's clerk was detained on July 6 1964.  On September the 9th he allegedly fell to his death, 60 feet from the seventh floor office at the Grey's(?).  Suliman was married to Rokaya who will now tell you his and her story.  Rokaya tell your story slowly.