Human Rights Violation Hearings — Worcester — 1996-06-24

MS BAHUME: I cannot tell, because as I said before they went away with his friends.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Did you ever go and lodge a complaint or lay a charge against anyone?

MS BAHUME: No I didn't, because I didn't know what to do thereafter and the other thing is that I knew that the police were the same people, they were the culprits so how could I go to them.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Okay, the other day you said after a year after your son's death you received a letter.

MS BAHUME: Yes I received a letter.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Can you explain the contents of the letter to us?

MS BAHUME: Yes, it said I was ordered to go to court at 900

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Was - were you supposed to go to the magistrate's office?

MS BAHUME: Yes - I did go at 900 am.   I requested somebody to accompany me. When we got there  we handed the letter over to a Coloured policeman.  He ordered us to get seated and he took the letter inside one of the officers.  We waited for quite a long time.  When we saw that nothing was happening we asked end of Tape 1, Side A ... then what is happening and then they said no,  its finished everybody is gone.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: So in other words you were called to go to the Magistrate's office and nobody informed you why you were called in.  Were you just seeing people going in and out?

MS BAHUME: Yes it was - I was informed that it was going to be the court hearings about my son's death?

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: And then what happened?

MS BAHUME: I was never called in - I just stayed there.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Do you know any final decisions about the hearings?

MS BAHUME: I know nothing about it because I stayed outside until I left.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: I would like to inform you that we have something, because there was an inquest during that time.  It is reported that there were three policemen who were found guilty about the incident - by - they were charged for shooting and using the firearms for no reason.
I think we will have to get this information but there was an inquest and we have findings to that effect.  Three policemen were allegedly accused for shooting your son dead.  We are surprised now that you have never heard anything to that effect.

MS BAHUME: No I didn't hear anything.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Mamma I think I have finished but I would just like to find out what would you wish to say in connection with your son's death?

MS BAHUME: What do you mean by that?

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: What I mean is what would you like to see happening about your son's death.

MS BAHUME: Nkosane has two children - I am looking after one of them and the other one is in King Williamstown.  I am now ill and I am receiving a disability grant which is R410,00 per month.  The children were also receiving some grants which is about R120,00.  The problem is that this is insufficient.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Is this R120,00 a grant for Nation's children?

MS BAHUME: Yes.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: When did you first receive this?

MS BAHUME: In the beginning we used to receive R520,00 and then it has been reduced to R120,00.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: How long did you get this?

MS BAHUME: I think we started receiving the grant in 1990.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: What was the money for?

MS BAHUME: We used to get it from DC in 1988 and then they said the parents to the children should take their birth certificates and go to us for assistance from the Government so that they can be maintained.  I think that happened 1990 and then the children were supported.  They have been getting this grant for quite a long time.  I cannot remember whether it was in 1994 or '95 when the grant was reduced to R120,00.  The R120,00 is inadequate and I have to augment this grant.
What I can see is that it is very difficult because Jerry now who is my son has to take the responsibility for everything, has to give the children the school  requirements  and everything and Jerry  now is having his own family, he is getting it very tough to maintain two families.

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Thank you very much.

MS BAHUME: Are we finished?

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: Yes we are.

DR BORAINE: Just before we - can I ask whether there are any questions or comments from any other of the panel - Mr Potgieter?

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you Chairperson,  I will just check, can you hear me?

MS BAHUME: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you -  I want to hear whether you got any comment.  We have got  a note to the effect that the house where your son was killed had approximately 25 bullet holes in the door.  Do you know anything about that?

MS BAHUME: I never heard about it.

ADV POTGIETER: [indistinct] or one of the advice officers in connection with the death of your son?

MS BAHUME: No.

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you very much.

DR BORAINE: Ms Burton.

MARY BURTON: Yes Ms Bahume. Please I want to ask you a little more about the night that Nkosane was killed.  You said that it was near your house and you mentioned the name of  the street.  Do you know if he was shot in the street or in a house?

MS BAHUME: He was shot in the street.  May I say something.  Because what I heard is that the blood is still there, the blood spots were still on the street  so I asked his father to go and pour some sand to cover the whole thing.

MARY BURTON: You mentioned someone called Ntsomi who was there when he was shot, would we be able to talk to Ntsomi?

MS BAHUME: Yes.

MARY BURTON: And then afterwards  you yourself were taken and asked questions by the police and you said that they took some things from your house.  What things did they take?

MS BAHUME: They took cans of gas.  The other night they came there as they used to come, they open at the back house - they were - they open there, I believe that they thought that some of my children were hidden at the back and they ask about the gas cans, what are they doing about them.
Because we had no electricity we were using the generator, they ask about the wires, the gas cans.  I told them that while we were busy with the funeral - busy with Nkosane's funeral people donated about these gas cans to get light.  So I don't know whom do they belonged to and they ask about the bicycle that was there - they took all those things.  I can't remember the other stuff they took, as it was - as they were still with them now.

MARY BURTON: H'm.

MS BAHUME: No I was afraid to go there and ask for them.

MARY BURTON: [indistinct] you have two sons Jerry and Marshall, is that right?

MS BAHUME: Yes, I do them - I have two.

MARY BURTON: No other children?

DR BORAINE: Ms Bahume, we have listened very carefully to your story, we have taken many notes.  We have also especially made a note of your own circumstances and the requests you have made to the Commission.  The Commission will do everything it can to be of assistance to you.  We will  obviously investigate further.
 I want to express to you the Commission's love and care.  You have been very brave.  We know that you've felt it very deeply and to lose a young son is very hard.  We trust that God will bless you and assist you as you continue.
Thank you very much for coming and go well, thank you.