Human Rights Violation Hearings — Newcastle — 1996-09-12

COMMISSIONER: Mr Maphumulo, we welcome you here this morning.  Can you hear me?  Can you understand me?  Thank you.  You have come today with your - is that your wife with you?

MZOTHULI MAPHUMULO: Yes, that's my wife.

COMMISSIONER: From Blaauwbosch area, which is near Osizweni, and you've come to tell us about the killing of your children in 1992.

MZOTHULI MAPHUMULO: That's correct.

COMMISSIONER: Before you give your evidence can you stand to take the oath.

MZOTHULI MAPHUMULO: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Mr Dlamini will now help you with your evidence.

MR DLAMINI: Mr Maphumulo and Mrs Maphumulo, I welcome you.  Mr Maphumulo, you are here because three of your children were killed and one person who was a tenant at your house.  You are staying in a township.  Your case is one of the saddest cases we've heard, and people who are coming from townships and other settlements they know how you are feeling because some of them have experienced that.  When I am looking at this testimony I realise that organisations were used just because people wanted to.  We understand that your wife also got injured in this attack.  You cannot answer because you haven't yet taken the oath.

WITNESS:   I would also like to point out one thing, that when I am here I am not someone from here, I am someone from Germiston.  I put my statement here because I am scared to go to Gauteng.  I am from Germiston.  Here people don't know me very well.

MR DLAMINI: Don't worry about that.  The President allows anyone to be anywhere.  You can give your testimony anywhere.  You are at home.  You can give your testimony here.  How are the children, the children that you left home?

WITNESS:  My children are well, but I only have one child and the other one is disabled.  She had an operation and now she has got fits.

MR DLAMINI: How old is your child?

WITNESS:   She is 16 years old.

MR DLAMINI: Is she still at school?

WITNESS:   No, she is not at school.

MR DLAMINI: After you've finished here I would like you to see the psychologist and the social workers that we have here so that they can refer you to the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee, so that you can get appropriate medication.  You must explain to them everything after this.

WITNESS:   I'll also like to say I have three children who were left by my late children.  I have three grandchildren who were left by my late children.  One is in standard eight, the other two are in standard seven.

MR DLAMINI: Are these grandchildren?

WITNESS:   Yes, they are my grandchildren.

MR DLAMINI: We also read here that you ask the Government to help you in providing support for these children.  How old are you?  Are you well?

WITNESS:   I am well, but whatever happened keeps on coming.  I relive the event.  Maybe it's because I never cried.  I am not well.  I keep on thinking about whatever happened to me.

MR DLAMINI: When you see these people after this you must talk about it so that they can be able to help you.  Now you can please tell us what exactly happened that led to the attack and the killing of your children.

WITNESS:   This is very difficult for me to explain.  It's very difficult.  I don't know how to relate this thing, because another thing, I am old.  My neighbour, we've been neighbours for a long time.  I was sick, and my wife was the only one who was working.  I was with my children and they were working for me.  I sold my old stove to my neighbour and she bought it.  Her name is Nora.

MR DLAMINI: What's her last name?

WITNESS:   I think her last name is Nora Ndebele.  She is selling in her house, and my wife as well was selling.  People used to come to my house and pee in my yard, and I used to tell my neighbour, Nora, that, "You must please tell your customers not to pee in my yard."  After that we were not in good terms.  She came to see me and said to me she is asking me to lend a pick.  I gave her a pick.  I left for work.  When I was at work I heard a loud noise, and when I went back home in the morning I heard that Nora's son went to put off the main switch, electricity main switch at the street, and Nora accused me of bewitching her son.  And I was confused, I didn't understand.  And then she said I am just denying it because I am Inkatha member.  I was surprised how come she is saying all these things, and my wife said to me we must go to see Nora.  Things never got any better.

MR DLAMINI: This Nora, is she also a member of any organisation?