Human Rights Violation Hearings — Johannesburg — 1996-04-30

DR BORAINE: Chairperson before I call the next witness I would just like to identify some people who have joined us.  In no particular order, Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete, we are very thrilled to have you with us.  Representatives from the Indonesian Embassy.  And I've been asked by the SABC, who are covering these hearings, that when we identify people that if you would be kind enough to stand, so just for a moment if you wouldn't mind if the sisters would mind standing and then also the representative from the Indonesian Embassy, thank you very much, you may be seated.  I gather there's a representative from the American Consulate, if you are here perhaps you wouldn't mind standing as well.  Oh there we are, thank you very much indeed.  Also an old friend, Judge Fikile Bam, President of the Land Court, I am not sure where he is.  Oh right over here.  Also a notorious Robben Island graduate, now a judge.  The country has changed.  There are some school children up above there.  I am not sure which school you are from but we are delighted.  We believe that it's very important that the proceedings of the Commission should be made known to all institutions and we are always grateful to see young people.  Thank you for coming.
 Chairperson I call as the next witness to appear before the Commission Mrs Nombulelo Makhubu, if you would come 
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forward please.  Mrs Makhubu would you mind putting on the headphones in order so that we can talk with each other.  Can you tell me whether you can hear my voice through the earphones?

NOMBULELO ELIZABETH MAKHUBU: No.

DR BORAINE: Could you please help her.  You need to hear my voice and then the translation.  Now then are you able to hear my voice through the earphones?

NOMBULELO ELIZABETH MAKHUBU: Yes.

DR BORAINE: And the translation?  That's good.  Well then now that we can hear each other I want to welcome you very warmly to the Commission and to express the gratitude of the Commission for your willingness to come and tell your story which goes back quite a long time now, I think until certainly 1976 and then 1978 and you'll be telling us about the disappearance of your son.  Before you do that though, I have to ask you to stand in order to take the oath.

NOMBULELO ELIZABETH MAKHUBU: (sworn states)

DR BORAINE: Mrs Makhubu in order to try and make it a little easier for witnesses to tell their story ...(tape ends)... will now take over from me.  Thank you very much.

MR LEWIN: Mrs Makhubu that's me.  I'd like to add a warm note of welcome to you and just very briefly before you tell your story, just give the context, the historical background to what you are going to tell us.  It's actually very easy because I think what you will be referring to is a photograph which has become one of the most famous ever to come out of South Africa which in fact symbolised the events of June 1976.  The first major event that took place during the uprising with the students in Soweto in '76 was that photograph in fact both of your son carrying the 13 year old JOHANNESBURG HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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Hector Petersen who was the first victim of the shootings in Soweto on that June day in 1976.  We are not here to talk about how that photograph travelled around the world having been in exile myself at the time I can give evidence of how it became used in posters and T-shirts, made into films, made into banners all round the world, we are not here to talk about that, we are here to talk about the personal loss which you suffered.  And I would like to ask you now, in your own time, please to tell us that story.  Thank you.