Human Rights Violation Hearings — Piet Retief — 1997-05-21

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: When I went to Swaziland I was introduced by my father-in-law to the ANC and I realised that he didn't want to stay in Swaziland but he was a member of the ANC. But there was a lot of apartheid in Piet Retief and they also wanted to know some of the goings-on that were taking place in Piet Retief even though they were in Swaziland. So I was helping him with some information and they would help me with part of the information that I needed from Swaziland.

THOMAS MANTHATA: You were taken to this hospital whilst you were still under arrest or did you later go back to the hospital as a free person?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: I went on my own person accord to the hospital, not during the time of my arrest.

THOMAS MANTHATA: So do you have the hospital records?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: It's quite a long time ago, I don't have anything at hand.

THOMAS MANTHATA: What was the attitude of your firm towards your having been detained or arrested at some time.  Were you threatened with expulsion also?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: They were happy that I was involved in politics...(sorry the speaker is not clear)

THOMAS MANTHATA: My question is, you were and employee of an engineering company, and in most cases where people have been detained, more especially for political reasons, on their release they have been expelled of fired from their employment. So I wanted to find out whether you were fired thereafter or you were still retained by the firm.

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: I went back to the same firm but the conditions were not conducive to working. The situation was not like before I was arrested.

THOMAS MANTHATA: You talk of being under house arrest.  Did you ever have a lawyer who explained to you that document that said you were under house arrest?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: No I never had any legal assistance.

THOMAS MANTHATA: But you were served with a paper that said you are under house arrest?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: No they never gave me any documentation to that effect.

THOMAS MANTHATA: In Johannesburg, do you still remember the doctor who treated you?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: He was a German Doctor who was in Benoni.

THOMAS MANTHATA: His name?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: No I don't remember his name. I went back to his surgery trying to find him once more but it had closed down.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Who had introduced you to the doctor?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: My brothers-in-law in Johannesburg.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Or not any organisation?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: No.

THOMAS MANTHATA: As you were being beaten and whatever, you say you had ear problems.  Are you saying that they never took you to the hospital for treatment of that ear until you went to the hospital on your own when you were released.

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: That is correct.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Thank you I hand over to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Manthata.

DR BORAINE: Mr Mthethwa, if I can just ask one question.  You did mention waking up one morning when you were sleeping on your right ear and finding blood.  Was there any other evidence or any other result of how you have been treated?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: A doctor gave me an injection but he never gave me any documentation or he didn't even tell me as to what was wrong with me at that time.

DR BORAINE: But before you went to the doctor what was the effect of your having been beaten? What happened to your body?

NOTHI E MTHETHWA: As I've already explained, I encountered some problems especially in winter time I always have to dress warmly and especially in winter I lose my hearing, but in summer I don't have a problem.

DR BORAINE: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Mt Mthethwa, thank you very much for coming here today.  I note that even now after almost 14 years since this incident took place how much difficulty you have talking about this and we appreciate what you have done today and by making your statement.  I also think that it was very brave of you not to give the names of your father-in-law to the police at the time.  Many people actually broke under the torture that they underwent and you stood your ground because your feeling, your perception at the time was that if you gave your father-in-law's name he may be killed. So that was a very brave thing to do.  I hope that by coming here today it has helped you.  We've heard you say that your hearing has been affected through the torture that you underwent and we've made a point of that, and hopefully we'll come back to you soon, thank you very much for coming.