Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Shepstone — 1996-08-13

WITNESS:   Yes, this is true.  When I see this grave all the things that happened before comes back to me, and I could remember and thank God because I remember when I was in there one bullet passed in front of me and hit on the other side of the wall.  When I see this grave I see the children who were left behind by their parents, some of them who died on that day.  This Thandekile left a child who was doing standard one, and the Linda girl also left a child.  The one from - the girl from the Zingi family left two children behind.  And because of all this my spirit is disturbed.  Well I remember well this child from Zulu, the in-laws were coming from KwaNongoma to pay lobola and only discovered that she has died.

KHOZA MGOJO: Which simply means that so many people were the victims of the day, and also parents were also affected by this incident.  What would you like the Commission to do to help the community?  You said you will need some counselling to help you to cope with the tragedy, and also that you would like to know who the perpetrators were.    You also asked for the building of a community resource centre to be built in the community.

WITNESS:   Yes, that is true.  I always have a question in my heart that during this time of development some children are grow up in warm families, while what about those who have lost their parents?  Where are they going to get development, education?  When their grandparents die where are they going to acquire education?  When you look at them you can distinguish them that they don't look like those who are in happy families.

KHOZA MGOJO: We would like to thank you, Tokozile Dlamini.  We will try to take over your request to the President and his Government.  Our job is to recommend.  It might be possible that you might get some of the things that you would like to be done for you.  However, that will come from above.  We are also - we also pity you for all this what had happened, and believe that this will never happen again.  Thank you.

KHOZA MGOJO: I would like to say that this is not a question, but I would just like to pass a comment, because your situation is different to others who came because you witnessed the dying of many children at one incident.  All this it's behind your shoulder.  As I look at you you look like a person who is badly affected by this.  Maybe it's time for you to tell us exactly how you can be helped personally.  I would like to ask you that when you leave this place you must try to find some professional help.  Thank you.

COMMISSIONER: Mrs Dlamini, I know that there will be other friends and colleagues of yours who will be testifying about this same massacre.  Normally as the chairperson I make a few comments after each witness has given their evidence, but I will wait for the other three people who will be testifying about the same massacre before I make those comments.  So thank you very, very much for being with us today, and I know that over the next hour or so we're going to hear more about this terrible incident which you have told us about.  So thank you very much for coming in today, and we will now call the next witness who will come, and that is Mr Thulani Kheswa.

COMMISSIONER: I'd like to ask all the people who have given evidence, or certainly the last two people, not to leave before the other witnesses have given evidence.  Thank you.
Mr Linda, thank you very much for coming in today.  Can you hear me and can you understand me?

DALIMBI SIMEON LINDA: Yes, I do.

COMMISSIONER: You are also from the Nsangweni area, and you lost your daughter, Sindisiwe Linda, in this terrible massacre in September 1992.

DALIMBI SIMEON LINDA: That's very true.

COMMISSIONER: Before you tell us about what happened on that night can you please stand and take the oath.

DALIMBI SIMEON LINDA: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

MR LACKS: Good afternoon, Mr Linda.  Thank you for coming.  Before we start with you will you tell us who is sitting with you on the stage please.

WITNESS:   It's one of the parents who lost a child in this massacre.

MR LACKS: What is her name please?

WITNESS:   It's Shayiwe Zulu.

MR LACKS: We greet you as well, Mrs Zulu, and thank you for coming to be with us.  Before we proceed, Mr Linda, will you just tell us a little bit about your family.

WITNESS:   We are 11 at home.  The 12th one left us, died.

MR LACKS: (Inaudible) ... yourself, your wife, and how many boys and girls?

WITNESS:   Yes, and also a daughter-in-law.

MR LACKS: How many boys and girls do you have?

WITNESS:   I have six boys and I have two girls.  No, it's one girl.  It's one girl.

MR LACKS: Thank you.  You also have your late daughter's child staying with you, is that right?

WITNESS:   Yes.  She is among the ones I've already counted.

MR LACKS: We heard that she is presently in standard five from Mrs Dlamini.

WITNESS:   No.

MR LACKS: What standard is she in, if you could just help us there.

WITNESS:   She is in standard one.

MR LACKS: Standard one, thank you.  Now, we have heard what happened on that day, and you have told us in your statement that you were at home that night.  You must have been close, because you said you had heard the gunshots when they were going off.  Is that right?

WITNESS:   Yes.

MR LACKS: And can you tell us a little bit about your daughter, Sindisiwe.  What was she doing at that time?

WITNESS:   She was working at the time for Sweet(?) here at Marburg.  Now this trip came up about Ulundi, and she heard about that and they gathered at one place, and as I was at home relaxing I just heard the gunshots suddenly, you know, things I have never heard before, horrifying noise.  And I also went out, not knowing where I was going.  I went.  I just saw kids crying, and some were lying down.  I didn't know what's happening.

MR LACKS: You found your daughter inside that unfinished house when you got there.

WITNESS:   That's true, yes.

MR LACKS: And at that time she was still alive.

WITNESS:   Yes, she was still moving.  There was some vitality signs.

MR LACKS: And what happened after that when you ... (incomplete)

WITNESS:   She died at the hospital.  Behind the police took the other corpse.  We could not sleep that evening because we did not know that those people who killed will still come back and kill us or what.

MR LACKS: Now, you say that you are employed at the moment.    /---   No,

MR LACKS: ---   No, I am not working.  I was fired from work.

MR LACKS: Are you getting any pension or unemployment?

WITNESS:  Nothing.

MR LACKS: Okay, and your wife, is she working?

WITNESS:   Yes, she has part-time.  You know, those unclear, part-time jobs that she gets from time to time.

MR LACKS: And do any of your other children work, maybe help out at home?

WITNESS:   Only one is working.  The other one she was shot and got injured.  I cannot - she was operated at the hospital.  Now she is that kind of a person who often visits the hospital more than any other thing.

MR LACKS: This other child of yours that was shot, how was she shot?   What was that?  Was it in a different incident?

WITNESS:   No, at the very same place.  He was outside together with Kheswa's boy.

MR LACKS: What is this child's name, if you could just help us please?

WITNESS:   It's Raymond Linda.

MR LACKS: How old is Raymond?

WITNESS:   20 years old.

MR LACKS: So in fact you had two children shot that night?

WITNESS:   That's correct.  The other one died.

MR LACKS: Now, do you know that there was an inquest that took place in relation to this case?

WITNESS:   No, the last time we were just supplying the - giving them the statements, but nothing was done.

MR LACKS: So you were never informed that there was going to be an inquest held?

WITNESS:   No.

MR LACKS: (Inaudible)