Human Rights Violation Hearings — Mooiriver — 1997-05-28

WITNESS:   There was violence which started in 1990.  In 1990 the station commander - Niehaus was the station commander at that time, and that's when my father died in 1990, during the violence.  And the violence started once more in 1991, and that's when I lost my wife.  It was on the 3rd of December.  There was some noise outside and the soldiers were moving around the streets, patrolling, and on that particular day we did not - that night we did not sleep.  At about 4.00 am we heard some gunshots from outside and we woke up and looked at White City, and we could see the Inkatha impi at White City, going around burning people's houses.  And at my in-laws' place we saw a certain house, Mr Zuma's house, being burnt down, and my wife jumped and went out.  She wanted to go and check my son, who had gone to my in-laws to visit, and I was left with the daughter.  By the time she got to the place they had already finished burning the house and they were coming towards our place, and they came across my wife.  And there's a certain person I was working with by the name China.  His other name was Sidney Zulu.  And he tried to hold my wife.  Amongst the other people who were hiding themselves they saw him grabbing my wife, and my wife pushed this man and went to knock at the door, and this group of people followed my wife.  And the other one took out an assegai and stabbed my wife from the front, and the assegai went through to the back.  And we got a report that she had been stabbed.  We tried to get some transport, but people had run away because they were scared that they would be attacked.  When I got to her I touched her.  I saw a little hole just above her breast, and when I turned her over I saw that she had been stabbed from the back and the assegai went through to the front.  That's when the police came.  They took her with.

MR LAX: Mr Majola, you mentioned your father, and your father being killed in 1990.

WITNESS:   That's correct. Tell us a little bit about that.  We don't have any information on that in the statement at this stage.  I did not submit any statement with regard to my father's death because my mother was here to testify with regard to my father's death.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... at that stage.  She's already made a statement.  Now, have you made any statement to the police about your wife's death, or has there been any follow up on that?

WITNESS:   It was not easy for me to submit a statement because I learnt my lesson at first when Mr du Toit told us that there were some cattle that had been slaughtered, and when we went to the mortuary we realised that he was referring to the people.  That's why I took my father to Mjezi.  They were referring to our loved ones as dead cows which had been slaughtered earlier on, so I did not want to report the matter to the police.

MR LAX: Did you have any dealings with the Goldstone Commission when they came?

WITNESS:   Yes, I did submit a statement when the Goldstone Commission came.

MR LAX: As far as - you say in your statement there was never any court case or inquest as far as you know.

WITNESS:  No, there was never any.

MR LAX: Thank you, chairperson.

KHOZA MGOJO: I just want to hear from you about du Toit.  What did he mean when he said there had been cattle slaughtered?

WITNESS:   He said he did not want the cattle which were full at the mortuary.  We should try and get some means to remove our cattle from the mortuary.

KHOZA MGOJO: Now, when he said cows who was he referring to?

WITNESS:   He was referring to the bodies.  Maybe he saw them as cows.  Du Toit was the one who said that.

KHOZA MGOJO: You spoke about China.  You said his name is Sidney Zulu.  Where does he stay?

WITNESS:   He was staying at the hostel then.

KHOZA MGOJO: Have you ever seen him since?

WITNESS:   Yes, I do come across him, but when I went back to work he tried to deny that he was involved.  He said that even to my sister, and he said that he knew nothing about my wife's killing.  He said a person who knows better is Kheti Hadebe, and Kheti Hadebe has since resigned and he is working at Hammarsdale.

KHOZA MGOJO: Who is staying with the children?

WITNESS:   They are staying with me, and whenever I am at work they go to school, and they usually go to my wife's place.

KHOZA MGOJO: How were they affected by this whole incident?

WITNESS:  They always ask as to where their mother is.

KHOZA MGOJO: Does that disturb them from their school work?

WITNESS:  They were truly disturbed, because my son failed twice, which had never happened before.

KHOZA MGOJO: Are they getting any counselling?

WITNESS:   No, they are not getting any counselling, because I am also working so I am not at home most of the time.

KHOZA MGOJO: You should also submit your name to the briefers so that they can follow this matter.  Maybe your children could be helped with regard to counselling.

MRS GCABASHE: I would just like to ask you one question.  We have heard quite a number of times about du Toit.  Can you identify du Toit?

WITNESS:   Yes, I can identify du Toit because I have seen him quite several times, and I have spoken to him before with regard to problems that I had before.  I have once spoken to him with regard to removing the body, the dead body, to another place where it could be buried.  And when he referred to the people as cows he said it to me in my face.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you know why they attacked your wife?

WITNESS:  They attacked her because she was staying at the location in Brandville.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you saying that the location was non-IFP, or it was ANC, and ... (incomplete)

WITNESS:   Yes, because the people from the hostel were IFP members, and whenever they get into the location it would be to attack the residents who were ANC members.

CHAIRPERSON: Was your wife known to them, or was it simply because she was a township resident that she was killed?

WITNESS:   They knew her very well, because many people knew us because we were working at the same tex firm in Mooi River.

CHAIRPERSON: Were you both working at Mooi River Textiles?

WITNESS:  Yes, both of us.

CHAIRPERSON: And were you both identified with the ANC?

WITNESS:   That is true.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Majola, you've heard me say about other witnesses that the stories we've heard here in Brandville are some of the worst that we have ever heard anywhere in this country, and your case is no exception.  It really is a very brutal and callous person who can stand there in broad daylight and stab and kill a defenceless woman.  It's difficult to imagine what drives a person to do this.  But it's very important that you have come here to tell us that story.  We know that it's difficult for you, but it's important that you told that for us to hear and for the nation to hear, and we want to thank you very much for coming and being prepared to relive those memories with us.  Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: LUNCH ADJOURNMENT

CHAIRPERSON: /ON RESUMPTION

CHAIRPERSON: ON RESUMPTION

CHAIRPERSON: We're going to start with Mrs Ntombi Sithole, if she can please come up on the stage.  Good afternoon, Mrs Sithole.  Welcome here this afternoon.  You are also from Brandville, and you have come to tell us about the death of your son, Zenze John Sithole, and that was in July 1991.  Please, you don't have to stand up, but we'd like you to take the oath before you give your evidence.  We can see that you're an old lady.

NTOMBILISA SITHOLE: (Sworn, States)

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Gcabashe will assist you now.