Human Rights Violation Hearings — Sebokeng — 1996-08-07

MS SEROKE: Thank you Mr Hadebe.  What you have just shared with us is so painful.  This funeral you said it was an IFP funeral, how sure and how certain are you that that was an IFP funeral?  Were there any signs?

NOTILE HADEBE: Yes, I could recognise their flag and also that bus where the perpetrator was in was packed, it was full, choc-a-block. They were having some shoes that were made out of leather of some kind.

MS SEROKE: That day you were visiting your uncle with your family, did you know that there was going to be a funeral?

NOTILE HADEBE: I did not know actually.  I was surprised seeing this funeral procession coming.  I didn't know, I was not even made aware that there was going to be a funeral.  But when we were going on I realised and I could tell definitely that was an IFP funeral.  I said to my family don't be afraid of this funeral because there are policemen around and there's a helicopter hovering around so we are safe.  It's all peaceful, we won't be hurt.

MS SEROKE: When you saw that person pointing the gun at you did you perhaps show some kind of a sign that was proving to them that you were looking down upon IFP, or you were just....

NOTILE HADEBE: No there was no sign at all that I, there's
HRV/770 nothing/...
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nothing I did that would have proven me being against that funeral.  I was respecting the funeral and I was just walking along peacefully.

MS SEROKE: So that means you were surprised because that funeral was supposed to be held in peace but suddenly the gun was pointed to you from the bus.

NOTILE HADEBE: Not it was actually not the bus which was (...indistinct) that day, because I don't fall asleep so sound at night.  At time I try to sleep I dream of funerals.  I dream of corpses.  I can't sleep at night.  At times it will be four in the morning, I wouldn't have slept that evening.  I will just wake up and there will not be any sign of being drowsy or to sleep.

MS SEROKE: Do you have any hope that if the police approached that bus that will have caught that perpetrator?

NOTILE HADEBE: Yes easily, they were going to catch the perpetrator easily.

MS SEROKE: Did you explain also, describe the perpetrator to the police?

NOTILE HADEBE: I just said to them that bus, the second seat from the back, that's where the perpetrator is.  But they did not take that seriously. They completely ignored that, they simply said to me go and open a case.

MS SEROKE: This is so painful to just realise that some people when they go to funerals they carry guns along.  And another bad thing is the damage that occurred to your family from the children up to you and your wife.  We as the Truth Commission have already heard, we will try our best to help the children, especially the little boy by the name of Kumbelani, who has completely lost his childhood.  Who is always asking for guns.  We thank you for coming Mr Hadebe.  HRV/770 I/...
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I will pass over to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: May I just then say Mr Hadebe, in the same words as Mrs Seroke we do appreciate your coming and the pain and the anguish you feel we feel that too.  How can any parent not be moved by the story you told us.  What Mrs Seroke said that we will take up the circumstances of your family, the psychological support you need we will take that up very urgently.  And the other requests which you made for information on that you want to know who the killer was, why the police did not act, we will take that up and hopefully we will come with answers that may help you, help to relieve the pain.  Thank you, and as with the other witnesses we really pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you and your family, your children, all of them.  Thank you for coming to us.  You may step down now.