Amnesty Hearings — Vanderbijlpark — 1998-08-11

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: This was a meeting just like other meetings we used to hold, but at the end of that meeting Mr Mkhize conveyed a message to the effect that each and every man should be right next to his possessions or should get ready or be prepared.

CHAIRPERSON: Was this said at the first or the second meeting?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: The second meeting.

CHAIRPERSON: What did you understand him to mean when he said each person must stay near his things?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: I understood him to be saying the day is close or nearby for revenge or retaliation.

CHAIRPERSON: And what were the people required to do?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: I don't quite understand your question.

CHAIRPERSON: That each and every person had to stay near his things, what I want you to tell us is what did you understand him to mean by staying by your things?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: According to my understanding, I understood him to be saying that this means the day of revenge is around the corner or is nearby or is approaching closely, because he did not want to expand in his statement or explain in detail but that was my understanding.

MR STRYDOM: Apart from the - let me just ask you this, who spoke when he said that?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Please repeat your question.

MR STRYDOM: Who said that you must be close to your things?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: That was Mr Mkhize who was explaining that we must stay next to our things and get ready and be prepared.

MR STRYDOM: Is that all that he said in relation to a possible attack?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Yes, that was all.

MR STRYDOM: Now that was a week prior to the attack because we know that that attack took place on the 17th of June 1992.  Now during the course of that week before the attack, did you hear anything further about this attack?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: No.

MR STRYDOM: When was the next occasion that you heard anything about the attack?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: It was on Wednesday the 17th, around 8p.m. or 8 at night.

MR STRYDOM: Now just to curtail the proceedings somewhat, I just want to read to you certain portions of your affidavit on page 104, the last paragraph on that page
"Op die aand van die 17de Junie 1992 om ongeveer 20H00 het die megafoon se alarm afgegaan.  Ek het na die stadium gegaan.  Baie inwoners het na die stadium gegaan.  By die stadium was Damarra en Mkhize in beheer.  Damarra het gese: 'Vandag is die dag van afrekening, ons moet on wapens gaan haal'.  Mkhize het ook gepraat"
Can you remember what Mkhize said?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: No, I don't remember.

MR BERGER: Chairperson, I've already made the objection once.  If I understood your ruling, I've been overruled to object on this basis, am I correct?

CHAIRPERSON: This is his affidavit that he's reading.

MR BERGER: That is correct.  My learned friend is just going to read passages to the witness instead of asking him direct questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Continue Mr Strydom.

MR STRYDOM: After you went to the stadium, did you return to your room?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Did you fetch a weapon?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: What happened is when we went back to our houses to fetch the weapons we went back to the stadium, after we fetched our weapons.

MR STRYDOM: Now can you just tell the Committee what happened then.

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: I will say that at the time when Damarra stated that this is the day every man should go and fetch whatever he has in a form of weapons, so to speak.  He explained thereafter that - and the ones who were willing to have in their possession weapons like AK, they can contact him.  I therefore went to the house and I fetched my spear and brought my spear with.  After that I got some traditional herbs or I was given some traditional herbs.

MR STRYDOM: Is that called: "Ntelezi"?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: It's called Ntelezi, yes.

MR STRYDOM: Did you see AK47 rifles in the vicinity of the stadium or inside the stadium?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Yes, I did see them at the stadium.

MR STRYDOM: Did you see how they got there?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: No, I only saw them lying on the ground at the stadium.

MR STRYDOM: Do you take an Ak47 rifle?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: No.

MR STRYDOM: Who let the people out to the township, Boipatong?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Please repeat the last part of your question.

MR STRYDOM: Who let the residents of kwaMadala Hostel out of the hostel towards Boipatong?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Even though I'm not in a position to say exactly who was leading as I was right at the back, I do trust and hope that it was Mr Mkhize, although I'm not quite sure about this.

MR STRYDOM: Can you tell the Committee now in your own words exactly which route was followed and where did you enter Boipatong?

MR STRYDOM: Well perhaps Mr Khanyile, you should start by telling us what happened after you had been sprinkled with Ntelezi, do you understand that?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: If I remember very well we started chanting some songs and we left.

MR STRYDOM: Which route did you follow to Boipatong?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: We used the kwaMadala gate which no longer exists.  We went under the bridge.  After passing the bridge we left the tarred road and we took a foot path which turns to your right towards Boipatong.  We passed the main road, we crossed the main road coming from town, which comes from town.

CHAIRPERSON: Beyond the bridge you took the foot path?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Yes, after passing the bridge we took a small path, a foot path which was on our right.

CHAIRPERSON: And thereafter?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: We crossed the main road which comes from Vanderbijl going towards Sebokeng.

MR STRYDOM: Is that called: Nobel Boulevard or Frikkie Meyer Boulevard?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Yes, that's correct.

CHAIRPERSON: What is the name of the road Sir?

MR STRYDOM: It's Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, I just want to get clarity.

MR STRYDOM: After you crossed the Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, which route did you follow?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: We crossed on a small bridge, it's a small bridge used by pedestrians, we proceeded.  Even if I don't know Boipatong very well, I'm sure that we used a straight street, we entered it to a straight called Sheshwe(?).  I think it is the last street on your right-hand side.

MR LAX: Sorry, just repeat the name of the street please.

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: I said even if I'm not very much sure, I think it was Moshweshwe Street because it is the last street on your right-hand side.

MR STRYDOM: Before the group got to Moshweshwe Street, did you come to a standstill or not?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: I think we did stop under a tree.

MR STRYDOM: Do you know why you stopped there?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: It was going to be clarified that we should enter the place and look around, look for comrades.

MR STRYDOM: Did any person give instructions at that stage?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: Yes, I don't remember his name.  We were a big group but there was someone who was giving instructions.

MR STRYDOM: Do you remember what he said?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: As I said I was a bit far, I think I heard him saying that we should enter the township and try to look for the comrades.

MR STRYDOM: You made reference to a big group, what is your estimation, how big was that group?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: About 350 to 400.

MR STRYDOM: At that stage, in your own mind, what did you think, what were you going to do at Boipatong?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: There wasn't anything else except killing.

MR STRYDOM: Why did you think that?

VINCENT KUSAHUSA KHANYILE: We were already told in the stadium and we were armed which were arms which were used for killing.

MR STRYDOM: Now I want you to testify further from the way you came along Moshweshwe Street.