Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1996-04-18

JOE THETHINENE JORDAN: No, no, there was nobody who came to visit me at the time.  Zola is the person who was carrying me because EAST LONDON HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
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I was unable to walk.  Zola was in front and the others were at the back.  When he was carrying me the arm was removed.  After that I was dropped down and then the others ran away.  At this stage a doctor came in and he came to take me.  They said they are going to test my blood pressure and give me treatment.  The doctor said the condition of the person is beyond attention of this prison so I was supposed to get medical treatment.  Then we went to the magistrate's court later on. There was a blanket, I had to lie on the ground because I was paralysed.
 During the time when we were giving evidence the magistrate was unable to see me because I was on the floor.  He asked who is the fourteenth man, and then I was pointed.  He asked what was happening.  I explained what happened and then the case was postponed.  There were children who are less than 15 years old who were assaulted so he said those two boys and myself should be sent to the doctor otherwise we should be taken to the hospital otherwise we are not supposed to go back to the cells, together with the one whose arm was broken.  We were packed into the van and we were taken to the cells and not to the hospital.  The problem that I was having is that I was unable to urinate.  That was very painful.  I know I was feeling pain all over the body but that one was crucial.  
 The lawyers came and they came when I was at court and it was said I was sent to the hospital.  The lawyers came again after quarter past five the same day when I was from court and I was taken to the lawyers and I gave my statement, then they said they want me to be taken to the hospital.  I was not taken to hospital.  They agreed that they will but they never did until the following day the 
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lawyers came again on a Wednesday and ordered them.  Again they said they will take me to the hospital.  At the end they took me to hospital.
 There was also a conflict there because the doctor said I must be admitted, then it was said I should be admitted to the hospital.  When I was at casualty Major de Villiers at Fleet Street, he pulled the trolley and asked where am I going to.  He was told that no I was being admitted.  He said no this is my prisoner, and the doctor said this is my patient, so there was an argument, a strong argument, and the lawyers said this side, this is my client and everybody was claiming me.  The doctor saying my patient, the police said my prisoner and the lawyers saying my client until the lawyer arrived and he had to take the responsibility he intervened and hit De Villiers with his elbow and then he was moved back.  Immediately I was rushed through the ward and I couldn't go to the casualty because of the chaos which was taking place. One of the policemen was instructed here to, I've forgotten the others, and then they instructed them to prevent this and then I was admitted.  I was hospitalised for months.  I received care and everybody was trying to do his best to restore my health to its normal position.  But I can remember that I stayed about nine months.  I was discharged from hospital.
 Before I was discharged the doctor came and said the police at Cambridge said the doctor should phone them when I am being discharged, so I was supposed to be discharged, to go earlier before the day in which I was supposed to be discharged to protect me from the brutality.    
 Naude came also before I was discharged.  I was still in bed when I thought that I should escape from hospital.  
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When he came here he spoke Xhosa.  He took the glass and was drinking some water and said to me, he rubbed me and said, no you are not thin as we expected and he took the glass and threw me with water and everybody who was in the ward was shocked.  So when I discovered that I was still wanted by these people I decided to escape from hospital before the day which I was supposed to be discharged.  
 I realised that the youth which was arrested and also brought to hospital they were also still here and they could not be discharged before I could attend the case.  I had to go to court because some of the children who were still detained could not be released before I can give evidence so I had to go for their sake.  When I went there I was still on crutches and when I went to court I was detained again and I went to Westbank.  I stayed there.  It was difficult for me.  During all this period, about three years from '86 to 1989, March, I was in detention.  I got a visit only once, nobody was allowed to visit me.  I was always in the single cells because I was regarded as poisonous.  
 When I complained about the fact that I was not receiving enough treatment, medical treatment, Captain Hageman(?) came in.  I was from Kimberley at the time because at some stage I was referred to Kimberley, but later on I was transferred to Frere Hospital.  From there Radie and Naude took me and then they said no your mother is working here at Frere Hospital so we are taking you from here because your mother is looking after you, so let us take you to another hospital which is at the prison.  I went to Westbank and the following day, I think it was 4 a.m. I was taken again and transported at the back so the chairs were removed from this combi at the back, so there were 
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mattresses there and I was sitting on them. I was unable to walk so I had to lie on these mattresses.  We went to Kimberley and I was detained in the single cells.  I think I stayed for about seven to nine months in the single cell, then I was supposed to come.
 The other thing that affected me, which made me very bitter and resentful is.....

MR SANDI: Can I ask, is that the SAD Hospital in Kimberley?