Human Rights Violation Hearings — Louis Trichardt — 1997-04-09

RUSSELL ALLY: Mr Mauda, the Act that established this Commission, obliges us that when we are looking at questions of dissapearance or torture or killing we have to establish whether there was a political context or not.  So it is very important for us in this particular case to try and establish from you, and that is why we thought that we would hear this case, to see if there are any political reasons why your brother would have been picked up by the Police in the first place, why he would have been tortured and beaten and his disappearance, if there is any political reason for it.  Because, if we can not establish that, then you have to take up your issue with the Police, for the Police to investigate your brother's death and the fact that the wrong body was given to you.
 So I am going to ask you again if you can please try and think whether there were any political reasons for whatever happened to your brother.  That you brother may have been involved in a political organisation or may have held certain political views or in his work place.  Do you have any knowledge of that?

MR MAUDA: Well, about the views, political views, at his work place, I do not have any knowledge.

RUSSELL ALLY: So you cannot say with any certainty whether what happened to your brother was because of his, for political reasons?

MR MAUDA: Could you allow me to consult with my sister to shed some information about this?

RUSSELL ALLY: Sure.  Yes, do that.

MS MAUDA: Well, there came a time, around 1986, when I was at home on this specific day.  A person approached me and said, your brother had been arrested.  Because I was so frightened, I guessed that maybe it could have been other things and then I left there.  I went to town.
 When I arrived at Louis Trichardt I was told that my brother was at the Ntomboni Police station.  I went to Ntomboni.  That is where I found him.  He was called and I talked to him.  I asked him why he was arrested.  He said I am accused of having lost some money, although I had brought the money back to where it belonged.  I asked him as to when he was arrested.  He said, the day before yesterday.  I asked him if he knew, if they knew about it at home and he said no.
 I left, went home and cooked some food and brought.  When I went back the following, when I asked to see George, I was told to wait.  It was during lunch or dinner.  When George was approaching me I realised that the man had suddenly changed.  He was no longer the same person.  I then asked him, he was not able to speak to me. I could not talk to him.  He just left.  As he was not talking to him, I said okay fine, please I thought I would be able to give you money.  He just shook his head.  I left and I was called by another policeman,  I do not know his name, he said your brother was beaten the whole night.  As he is here he was here without shoes, not even keys, he does not have anything with him.  I was surprised.  I asked as to where he was beaten.  I was told he was beaten over the head.  I had to leave there.  I left my food there.  
 I went to the Police station.  As I approached the Police station I asked from another policeman as to where George Mauda was.  Another policeman pointed at another door.  These people have just told me now.  I would have brought some of the documentation.  I was just informed this morning.  They gestured to a door.  I have just forgotten, but I think there is something written in the paper.  So I went there.  As I was knocking I realised there was nobody.  I stood there at the door.

RUSSELL ALLY: I am sorry to interrupt you, but I think from what you have explained to me, it seems as if this a case that you know really does not fall within what we are supposed to be doing at the Commission.  But what I will suggest is that there are certain organisations and groups, like the Centre for Legal Studies or the Legal Resources Centre, people who can actually assist in helping you, especially the fact that you were not given the proper body.  I am going to ask at the end, during lunch, to get the details and we can, through our staff in the Commission give you the numbers of some of these organisations and people to contact.
 But as I explained it is very important that within our work that we look very clearly at the political motives and political context for things which happened to people, and the reason that we decided to have this case staged because we were uncertain when we were going through the statement and we did not just want to, on the basis of the statement, make a decision.  We thought we would hear from the family and try to establish whether there had been a political context or not.  So I think that we will have to take this up in another way.  But thanks, and I am sure that, I mean this is something very painful and difficult for the family.

MS MAUDA: Well I just wanted to add to what you were saying.  That is what I established from that.  This White man stood and asked me as to why I was there.  I explained to him that I was just there for him.  I said I am here for George.  He asked me George who?  I said George Mauda.  He called so and so, please come in and listen to some miracles.  This woman is asking me about some case.

CHAIRPERSON: Excuse me, Poppie.  Maybe what we would suggest is that at the end of the, you know, just before lunch, we have heard your statement and your brother's and Dr Russel did explain that your case does not seem to have a political context.  But we will ask our briefers to get more information and give you some addresses of other organisations you can consult in terms of this case.
 Thank you very much for coming and we hope the information that we are going to give to you and the people we are going to refer to you, will help you in the end so that you can find out what actually happened to your brother.  Thank you very much.

MR MAUDA: Thank you too.

CHAIRPERSON: We shall now break up for lunch.  We will come back, excuse me, we will come back at two o'clock and please ....

RUSSELL ALLY: Two thirty.

CHAIRPERSON: Okay, excuse me please, we shall come back at half past two and would you please leave the ear phones on your seats.  Thank you.
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