Human Rights Violation Hearings — Pietermaritzburg — UNKNOWN

MR LYSTER: So it means you are self-employed.  Thank you.  Before we get deeper into your matter can you tell us what happened, the events that led to your case.

WITNESS:   There was a stay-away at Sarmcol, so there were differences between the workers and the violence started from there.  People were killed.  Most of us in the township were UDF members and ANC members.  IFP used to come and attack us.  We used to defend ourselves.  WE used to fight with stones to defend our homes.  When the IFP were attacking us the police used to join them and camouflage within them.

MR LYSTER: On the 26th of February 1986, it was about 6.00 pm, you were walking around at a place called Emakwakabeni.  Can you tell us what happened from there?  This Emakwakabeni section, which place is this?

WITNESS:   This is at Mpophomeni

MR LYSTER: You can continue.

WITNESS:   I used to work at a bottle store.  I was just out from work.  When I get out of the gate this friend of mine came with me.  He was from work too.  We went to visit Dumisani.  We met Dumisani and we went to another location.

MR LYSTER: What is the name of the other place?

WITNESS:   No, it's still Emakwakabeni.  It's just one place.  Dumisani said, "Let's go to see our lady friends."  After that we went to Sifiso's house so that he can entertain us.  It was Friday if I remember well.  Before we arrived at Sifiso's place there was a house nearby.  It was Khumalo's place.  Someone had died there and there was a service at that time.  Before we reached that place we saw a van pass us for some few metres, and police alighted and they started shooting.  We just stand there.  We were surprised because we didn't know what we did.  They were also hitting us with sjamboks.  I ran into the family where they were having a night vigil.  I have to run, and I went to another street and they caught Sifiso.

MR LYSTER: Who was caught?

WITNESS:   Sifiso Makhaye was caught.

MR LYSTER: You can continue.

WITNESS:   I jumped to another street.  Unfortunately there were the other policemen.  There were so many, and I found myself like in front of them.  They catch up with me and they started beating me.  I fall on the ground and someone step on top of my head with his boots.  And they were insulting me and calling me "Fucking Qabane," and they were kicking me.  They were tired of hitting me.  And I went around looking for Sifiso and the others.  I went to Sifiso's place.  He was alone, and I asked him, "Where are the others?"  He told me, "They haven't yet arrived."  He was also injured and there was blood coming out from his head, and he was looking at me.  He said, "We have to go to your place so that they can take you to hospital," so we went to my place.

MR LYSTER: At that place can you tell how far were you injured?

WITNESS:   On my body I had bruises of sjamboks which they are still visible even today, and my teeth were kicked until they were shaky.  I went home at that time, and at home they said they can't send me to hospital because it was late at night, and they just give me some pain killers and I had to go to hospital the next day.

MR LYSTER: In your statement you mentioned Dumisani Cele, Malindi Zondi, Zuzu Zondi.  Were you all together at that time?

WITNESS:   Yes, we were all together.

MR LYSTER: Are they still alive these people?

WITNESS:   Sifiso Makhaye was also with us when they came before the Commission and they said they might call him to come and give a statement.

MR LYSTER: You mean here at the Truth Commission?

WITNESS:   Yes.  Yes, he's not around at the moment, he's at work.

MR LYSTER: Did he say he will also come to give a statement?

WITNESS:   Yes.

MR LYSTER: Did they ever give us statements?

WITNESS:   Sifiso has gave a statement to the Truth Commission, but Sifiso didn't (sic).

MR LYSTER: In your statement you didn't mention Sifiso.  Sifiso Makhaye is not mentioned.

WITNESS:   We were together when we came to give a statement.

MR LYSTER: After you were injured which hospital did you visit?

WITNESS:   I went to Eden Hospital.

MR LYSTER: What did they do at the hospital?

WITNESS:   They put some drips on me and they tried to sort of tie up my teeth with some wires.  I can't remember well the other things that they did to me.

MR LYSTER: Do you have records from Edendale Hospital?

WITNESS:   I don't have any letter from them, but I am sure that from my particulars at hospital you can find them.

MR LYSTER: Did you ever report the matter to the police?

WITNESS:  Sifiso Makhaye was not badly injured.  He is the one who reported the matter.

MR LYSTER: Why didn't you report the matter yourself?

WITNESS:   I was just confused and I didn't know how I could go about reporting the matter, because I didn't even know the police who beat me up.

MR LYSTER: You people you mention in your statement, can we reach them if ever we need them?

WITNESS:   Yes, you can find Sifiso and Dumisani Cele.  The ladies who were with us, I don't know where they have run to, because they have moved out of the place and I don't know where they are.

MR LYSTER: After you were injured you have to be taken to hospital, and how do you feel today?

WITNESS:   From that time up to today I was not actually normal.  Sometimes I can't sleep at night.  Sometimes I just become afraid, not knowing what is going on, what is happening.  I had to visit a hospital about two times.

MR LYSTER: Did they ever admit you?

WITNESS:   I slept at the hospital for four days. Did they tell you exactly what was your problem?    ---   On the second time they said I had pneumonia.

MR LYSTER: Yes.  Is this all that you can tell us about your health?

WITNESS:   Yes.  One other thing that hurts me the most is that I can't sleep because my father is also sick and I have to think - and he was also harassed by the police.

MR LYSTER: Did the police shoot him?

WITNESS:   Yes, they did shoot my father.

MR LYSTER: With whom was he at that time?

WITNESS:   He was with Sipho, the man sitting down at the audience.

MR LYSTER: How did this happen?

WITNESS:   We were next to a Roman Catholic Church.  We were there trying patrolling to stop the Inkatha people from infiltrating our place, but they came in the company of police.  And they came to us and they started shooting.

MR LYSTER: And that's when they shot your father?

WITNESS:   Yes.  As we were driving people to the clinic, those who were shot, I happened to discover that my father was lying down shot.  All over his body was shot.

MR LYSTER: Your father, did he give a statement?

WITNESS:   Yes, Elias Ngcobo.  He is there, Mr Elias Ngcobo.  He did give a statement.

MR LYSTER: What is the name of the gentleman who was with your father at the time?  You said there was someone at the time he was shot.

WITNESS:   His name is Sipho.

MR LYSTER: Can you tell us about the health of your family?  How were they affected by this?

WITNESS:   At home, as I already mentioned, only my father was shot, and he had headache problems.

MR LYSTER: And the others, are they well?

WITNESS:   My grandma is not well.  If ever she hears a sound of a gunfire she normally asks us if we are all well, and she goes around.  She has to go hospital and she had been operated, and she is sugar diabetic.  I think this was caused by the psychological ordeal that she suffered after the death of her children.

MR LYSTER: We will try to help where possible, but at the present moment, as you have told us that your family is not that healthy at the moment, we might try to help you there.  There can be some places to which we can refer you in order to get some help.  I don't know, maybe you might have something to say on top of that.