Human Rights Violation Hearings — Grahamstown — 1997-04-09

REV XUNDU: Mr Chairperson, I would like to swear in Ntombomzi Makafe.

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: (sworn states)

REV XUNDU: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: How old are you Ntombomzi?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: I am 20 years old.

CHAIRPERSON: I thought you were 12 years old.  We will ask Ms Tiny Maya to lead you with questions on behalf of the Commission.

MS MAYA: Thank you Mr Chairman.  Ntombomzi, I would like to greet you.  You are 20 years today in 1997.  You are going to tell us about your story that happened in 1986.  How old were you then?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Ii was 11 years old.

MS MAYA: In your statement you said you were shot while playing with your friends in the backyard at home, what happened?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: We were playing together with my friends.  While we were playing, we heard a gunshot.  I fell down and I lost consciousness,  I woke up the next morning, I was in Port Elizabeth in hospital.  I stayed for a month in hospital in Port Elizabeth.  I was then discharged.  I was transferred here in Grahamstown, I stayed for a week here in Grahamstown.

MS MAYA: How were you injured?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: I was injured in my stomach.

MS MAYA: Were you operated in hospital?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, I was operated.

MS MAYA: Were there any bullets taken out of your body?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes.

MS MAYA: You were still at school, what standard were you?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: I was in sub B.

MS MAYA: Did you manage to go back to school?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: No, I did not because my leg got injured.

MS MAYA: When did you go back to school if you did?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: I don't remember.

MS MAYA: But you continued with your studies?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, I did.

MS MAYA: How is your state of health now?  Did you fully recover?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: No, because if the weather is bad my leg, I feel pain in my leg.

MS MAYA: Do you know what was happening in the township when you got shot?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: No, I don't know.

MS MAYA: You were shot while you were playing?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes.

MS MAYA: ; Do you know the person who shot you?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, I know him.

MS MAYA: Who is he?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: It was Mpukumpuku.

MS MAYA: Is Mpukumpuku Mr Khadi?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, it was Mr Khadi.

MS MAYA: Was Mpukumpuku charged for shooting you?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, he was arrested because we used to go to court.  We went to court twice after that, we heard that he
has passed away.

MS MAYA: Do you know whether you were shot at the same day with these children that were referred to here before?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes.

MS MAYA: Were you shot at that same day?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes.

MS MAYA: What would you like the Commission to do for you?  By coming here today, what would you like us to do for you?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: I would like to be helped.

MS MAYA: How?  Do you still need to go to other Doctors for medical treatment?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, because my leg is not functioning well.

MS MAYA: In which standard were you?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: I stopped while I was doing standard 5.

MS MAYA: Do you want to go back to school?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes.

MS MAYA: We will come back to you, we will give you a chance to think.  I will now hand over to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: June Crichton?

JUNE CRICHTON: Can you hear mr Ntombomzi?  Can you hear me?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, I can hear you.

JUNE CRICHTON: You were only 11 years old, what did you know about the political situation at that time?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: I knew nothing about politics at that time.

JUNE CRICHTON: All right.  And then you mentioned that there was somebody by the name of Lindelwa, was she playing with you that day?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: No, Lindelwa is my mother.

JUNE CRICHTON: I've got one more question for you.  In your statement is says that the police claimed that the victim was shooting.  Did you have a gun?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: No, I did not have a gun.

JUNE CRICHTON: Thank you, that is all I wanted to ask you.  Thank you Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Ntombomzi, where you were playing did you see a toyi-toyi?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: No, we did not see any toyi-toyi.

CHAIRPERSON: How many children were shot that day?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: ; We were three.  One of us passed away.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you know the name of the child that passed away?

NTOMBOMZI MAKAFE: Yes, it was Nontle Koliti.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Ntombomzi, you have already heard the testimony presented by the gentleman who were here before you.
 You have already heard that we will meet with them again, we will also meet with the authorities, we will try to investigate accordingly about this matter.  We thank you for coming here to give your testimony to the Commission.
 We hope that your requests will be attended to.  We will report them to those who are in authority.  Thank you.