Human Rights Violation Hearings — Duduza — 1997-02-04

MRS SEROKE: We hear your evidence.  I would ask you questions.  When you have come here and your parents are in
Harrismith, with whom were you staying in this area?

THABISO ESAU XABA: Alright, I was, there is my, last born within my mother's family and they came to Ratanda in 1982, 1992 after I was shot.  I was attending school at Ratanda High School.

MRS SEROKE: When you joined the SDU's, you joined by choice or somebody was forcing you?

THABISO ESAU XABA: I was taking responsibility for defending the people.  I guess the people in the hostel and the whole village.  There was a, that the local people were innocent and they did not know what was happening.

MRS SEROKE: At that time you were not yet a member of a particular organisation, you went straight to the, to be a member of the UDF.  Were you a member of the UDF or ANC?

THABISO ESAU XABA: I had responsibility within the SRC at school and I was a member of the ANC Youth League.

MRS SEROKE: When this person shot you, was your SDU not having structures or leaders who would ask the person why did he shoot you.

THABISO ESAU XABA: There were structures.

MRS SEROKE: Did you go to the structures?

THABISO ESAU XABA: Yes, I did go to the leaders.  I wanted to find out about why I was, I was shot whilst I am a member of this SDU.  I was trying to go to this person who shot me, but he was unable to talk to me.  He was always referring me to the other person and that person whom I was supposed to talk, it was his, he took his responsibility to try to solve the problem because he knew that the person who shot me was not working.  Now, last week I got work at Heidelberg.  I am working at that place at Heidelberg.

MRS SEROKE: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Ally.

RUSSELL ALLY: Mr Xaba, you mention the name of the person who shot you.  You say it was Komkane Hoko, is that correct?

THABISO ESAU XABA: Yes, that is true, that is true.

RUSSELL ALLY: Where is that person now?

THABISO ESAU XABA: He is around Ratanda.  He is leading a certain house project within Ratanda township.

RUSSELL ALLY: Could you, perhaps, give us an address later to one of our statement takers so that we can try and contact him and get his side of the, of the story?

THABISO ESAU XABA: I do not know his address, but I only know if I go there personally.

RUSSELL ALLY: Would you, because that would help us to try and establish from him his side, because it is very important if people are mentioned in statements that we give them an opportunity to give their account.  The last question I would like to ask you is was this a deliberate attempt at trying to kill you or was this an accident?  Was the gun actually aimed at you or what is your recollection of the way this actually happened?

THABISO ESAU XABA: As I explained, I would not explain how he shot me.  I was just sitting on the floor, on the ground and we were just about to leave.  My problem is the direction where I was at that time, I could not say where he was pointing the gun.  That is whether it was his intention to kill me or not and I do not know that, but I have, I am suspicious that maybe for them not to explain me what happened and to ask for forgiveness if it was an accident, but up to now they did not tell me anything.

RUSSELL ALLY: Did Mr Hoko, was he one of the people who took you to the hospital?  Did he actually also accompany you to the hospital?

THABISO ESAU XABA: I will not be able to explain because at that time I was unconscious, but I know that the combi they used to take me to the hospital was his.

RUSSELL ALLY: It was his combi that take you to the hospital.

THABISO ESAU XABA: I heard that.

RUSSELL ALLY: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Hugh.  We thank you Mr Xaba.  I believe that if you can give us the, Hoko's address and try to find out as to whether at that time the, this defence units which you were a member, who was the leader at that time and, again, your incident was taken to the higher offices, that is the responsibility of the Truth Commission to try to investigate.  We have hope that in that way we will be able to know what was the intention and what was the situation between the SDU in Ratanda and we will be able to know the, what did the leadership within the ANC, what was their aim for not bringing, you know, the words of conciliation and forgiveness in your family.  You will pass our regards at home.  Order, order.  Could we please give Mr Hugh to make one announcement.

MR LEWIN: Sorry, before the next witness, there is a message, please, would Steve Magadulela please go to the Media Room outside and meet Andrew Sitega of SABC.  Steve Magadulela to the Media Room please.