Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Elizabeth — UNKNOWN

WITNESS: Yes, I think editors would preferred not to run a story than to even contemplate going before the law.  Kosie Viviers was an exception, the Eastern Province Herald editor.  
He did actually take a stance and had to go through long and legal procedures.  He played it to the hill I think as far as he could, but at times I think he failed.  Whereas on the other hand Neville Woudtberg was a frightened White editor who would do run the police version first.  I would like to put on record here that the Langa shooting when it first took place I was in the newsroom of the Eastern Province Herald the editor, the stories of the shootings were being phoned into the newspaper and Woudtberg, I was told by the news editor, Cliff Voster, who was very agitated, bluntly refused to run the story about the police version.  When that story came through it ran under the headline I think something along the line that stones fell like raindrops and alleging that people had forced the police to shoot.  That was a constant theme of the police propaganda at the time was that some of the police had had to do what they have done whereas in fact Judge Kannemeyer did find that only one stone was found.  That was an appalling editorial decision.
(?) As a group of people, how did you find the judiciary?

WITNESS: In my case they upheld our detention.  I think the Judges found themselves totally restricted by the laws but I see there are debates about judiciary these days and I welcome more Black Judges being put on the bench to ensure that these kinds of situations does not happen again.
(?) But at that time were you of the view that they could have done more to assist journalists in exposition of gross violations of human rights than they were prepared to go?

WITNESS: Perhaps.  I am not legal expert on these things.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS: (?) Chairperson, on behalf of the Commission I would like to thank Mr Louw for presenting us with not only a narrative history but also a pictorial history of the East Cape News Agencies reports at the time.  It is not secret that during the time of the struggle the media in South Africa colluded with the State in frequently misrepresenting stories.  In fact, the international community frequently received news that reflected Black people as killing one another.  As reporting what was presented by Mr Holomisa yesterday as strikes between tribes of Black people and presenting us as ignorant, blood thirsty people.  I think it is to be commented that you and those other journalists who, I dare say like fools who, [Inaudible...] wisemen, did not and took chances to report these stories.  In fact, let me observe that White South Africans today say they either did not know what was happening in their own country or did not know the full extent of the human rights violations.  
I think it is impart because the media did not present the information wholly so that all South Africans as well as the international world ought to know what was happening.  In fact when the media began to change its direction around the late 80's and the 90's, and that the international world was beginning to see the truth about what was happening in South Africa.  There were significant changes in the reaction of the international world itself.  We know the reaction on the sanctions, diversement and other strategies.  Perhaps we need to also examine the role of editors and chief editors during the struggle when young journalists collected stories and those stories were sort of snuffed out internally and delegated as not important to the community.  I think what was said was that when White people were the victims of the violence that those stories were fully covered in the papers thus giving a very warped presentation of what was happening in South Africa.
To you, sir, and the other journalists whom you represent, I know I speak for the Commission when I say we commend you.  It is important for you to continue this work so that we get as honest, as complete and as truthful narrative and pictorial history of the South African struggle.  Thank you very much, sir.

WITNESS: IS EXCUSED

CHAIRPERSON: We call Nombulelo Carefree Mani.  Please settle down.  Could you please close the doors.  Mrs Mani is ready to give evidence.  Welcome, Mrs Mani.  It has been a long day and apart from being tired it has also been an emotional day.  We wish to ask our visiting committee member, Joyce Seroge, to lead the questions on behalf of the Commission.
Mr N C MANI D.S.S.
Ms

J SEROGE: Good afternoon Mrs Nombulelo Carefree Mani.  It has been a long time for you to wait because you are the last one today.  I hope that you understand the situation that we have to go through.  I hope that you still have the interest in telling us your story regarding your daughter.

WITNESS: Thank you.
Ms

J SEROGE: Are you Nombulelo Carefree Mani?  Do you stay at 3 Mhlanga Street, Gxaki?

WITNESS: Yes, that is correct.
Ms

J SEROGE: Are you Thozama Fibi Mani's mother?

WITNESS: Yes.
Ms

J SEROGE: Please tell us everything that happened to your daughter just before she was killed on 10 December 1987.