Human Rights Violation Hearings — Winelands — 1996-10-16

MR CLOETE: Yes, as - as is common practice.

ADV POTGIETER: But apart from the fact that the people were hanging around the streets there was  no effort after that - there was no attempt to march again after that - that part of it was over?

MR CLOETE: No they postponed the - the protest.

ADV POTGIETER: And approximately two hours after the police dispersed the protesters you were shot?

MR CLOETE: Yes, that is so - approximately two hours -two or three hours thereafter.

ADV POTGIETER: Why do you think why did the police shoot - shoot at you two or three hours after the people dispersed ?

MR CLOETE: There was toi-toying going on in the streets and tire barricades set up in the street.

ADV POTGIETER: But was there still any reason for the police to - to shoot two or three hours after the crowd had dispersed?

MR CLOETE: I do not think that there was any reason for then to shoot.

ADV POTGIETER: And specifically as far as you're concerned you were standing at one the yards close by when you were shot?

MR CLOETE: Yes, I was at my friends place.

ADV POTGIETER: One last aspect, you said to Prof Meiring that you were afraid that if the police were to see you - to - and seen that you were injured that they would arrest you?

MR CLOETE: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: What was your experience at the time - if you were shot and you went to the doctor or to the Hospital then the police would come and arrest you at the Hospital and you would be charged for public violence or whatever.  You were shot in the residential area and they would wait for victims at the hospitals or at doctors and then you would be taken into custody regardless of whether or not you had done anything?

MR CLOETE: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you very much Mr Cloete.

MS GOBODO: Glenda?

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Mr Cloete I would like to put one short question to you and it's about your face.  Did you ever consult a specialist - an eye specialist who could perhaps give you specialist advice on what to do about your eye?

MR CLOETE: No, I never consulted an eye specialist.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Do you feel that if you see an eye specialist that you would possibly obtain good advice with regards to your face?

MR CLOETE: Yes, I would like to see an eye specialist.

GLENDA WILDSCHUT: Thank you very much.

MS GOBODO: Thank you very much for coming this morning.  Your story echoes the many suffering that's - the kinds of suffering that young people like yourself have gone through in this country.  It's very sad especially that in an area - small place like Saldanha which has a thriving business that is enjoyed only by a very few people in - in Saldanha.  
             That you are one of the people who have suffered so much in that area.  What is striking about the history of our country is not only the brutalisation of people in small townships - black people in small townships but it's also the consequences of this suffering that people over and above the - the - the suffering of poverty that they've gone through it is - that suffering is compounded by the dehumanization and the ill treatment - grouse human rights violations that goes on through out our townships in this country.  It's very clear from our reports by our Research Department and also our own observations when we went to Saldanha that there is still a lot of poverty in the areas where our people live.  And that although there is so much wealth in this so called holiday places that wealth is distributed evenly and people like yourself continue to  [indistinct] of suffering as a result of poverty and suffering as a result of the abuse that was inflicted upon you.
 At a very young age you lost the use of your eye - you were  [indistinct] and you were - you had no choice in it.  You were standing in a Verandah, you are one of many South Africans and we really lift our heads to you and we thank you for coming this morning to share with us your experiences.  And we trust that our Investigating Department can come to the bottom and find of what happened to you and find our who was involved in causing the injuries that you're carrying with you.  And the people responsible for the bullets that you walk around in your body.  
 We also pledge through our Reparations and Rehabilitation's Committee that your request - the request that you have stated will be attended to.  Thank you very much.

MR CLOETE: Thank you very much.