Human Rights Violation Hearings — Umtata — 1996-06-19

NONTOBEKO DULI: (Duly sworn, states).

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Vhana?

MR VHANA: (Duly sworn, states).

MEMBER OF PANEL: Mrs Duli, I would like you to please start with your story, but before you can start with that, could you please tell us about your life, both your lives, when did you get married, how many children do you have, so that we can understand who you are?

NONTOBEKO DULI: My name is Nontobeko Duli.  I come from the Jali family from Khumbo.  I met my husband at the beginning of the Seventies, that's when we got married.  We have two children, Nolita and Amanda.  When I first met with my husband he used to work in the Department of Prisons, that's why he was a policeman. He started working there in 1972.  Now in 1976 when the Transkei Defence Force was started, that's the time when the Transkei got its independence. He was in the first group that was trained for the Army.  He really loved his job.  Such that he became the head of the intelligence section very early in his career.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Who were his colleagues when he was trained in the Army?

NONTOBEKO DULI: His colleagues were, I can mention the four front ones, Gen Holomisa, Derek Mkwebe, Maj Zwahiba and Titzi
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Mantanzima.  
 He used to work with very much are in his work, but he was a quiet person.  He was also a man of action.  He didn't say much, he used to be a very quiet man, but he was a man of action.   Even in the Army he portrayed that kind of character and he used to work harmoniously with his colleagues.
 Take an example of this harmony I am talking about.  In 1986 or '87, if I am not mistaken, Gen Holomisa was arrested.  He was accused of meeting Sandile from Ciskei so that they can betray the service for R250 000,00.  
 Now my husband was arrested at the time by the Selous Scouts who were working here at the time.  My husband, at the time, was the fore front one to release Holomisa. It is my husband who formed a committee which was called an Action Committee.  The very committee that was active in releasing Holomisa.  My husband was leading in that committee. I am just trying to show you here the harmony my husband used to work in.
 This harmony continued until 1980, 1988, I'm sorry.  Now the following arrived.  Titzi Mantanzima, Gen Holomisa, Derek Mkwebe, Maj Zwahiba and Capt Sobwowa.  Then later there was a coup d'etat.  At the time Stella Sigcau was the leader of the country. I am not going into details how that happened, but at the time when they did this coup, Stella was the leader of the country.
 Later we heard that there were these trucks in the streets announcing that there has been a coup and there is a new leader.  
 They started now in the government.  It was Gen Holomisa who was the leader, below him was my husband. I 
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liked this, because there was this harmony that prevailed. If Gen Holomisa would come to my house he would even come to my bedroom.  They would go on with their conversation.  I am just trying to show you that if somebody is used and he is a friend in the family, they just come into the house, they don't care where it is.  That's how the relationship used to be.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Sorry, Mamma Duli, can I please interrupt you.  There will be persons who will be laughing. Can we please not do that, but I won't be able to say don't do that, because it is unnatural, but please, try to give dignity, show dignity to the witness. Thank you.  Please, Mamma, go on.

NONTOBEKO DULI: They used to hide together in a room and talk about their own issues.  But my husband traditionally in Xhosa, that's what we usually do, he didn't involve me much in their business conversations.  But I was fortunate to get a document which was handwritten by him.   I am sure you have that document with you.  That document has details on how this coup happened.
 One of the reasons why they started this coup was the political unrest in the country, that's all in that document that you have.  The weakness of that present government at the time and the lack of public protection.  According to that document that you have, that I found in my house, written by my husband. The decisions they came to when they were talking about, was just a short period of government, which is not going to be more than six months.  Much closeness to how the government is going to be run, administrative and security issues, all political matters should be given to the public, all the black vehicles should UMTATA HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
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not be used of the government, and it was going to be difficult to leave the government. Those were the decisions that were written in these documents that I found in my house.
 This harmony I was talking about continued.  These people were in the government.  They used to take overseas trips. Now I am talking about Gen Holomisa and my husband.  Things started to change and the tensions started in 1989.   On the 25th of April 1989, I heard that my husband has resigned from the military council.  Now on the 26th of April my husband received a letter of suspension from his work.  While I was still shocked with this whole situation, something that shocked me most on the 27th of April 1989, the fact that he was arrested.  
 On the morning of his arrest he called the general. At the time I was just next to him.  He said to me he was talking about me, asking the general to take care of me. I am there next to him while he was talking about me. The general knows this.  But at the time I wasn't aware that he was talking about me, so that I can be taken care of while he will be arrested.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Did he say why he was being arrested?  In the letter of suspension are there any details of the reasons of his arrest?