Human Rights Violation Hearings — Cradock — 1996-02-10

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: I went to (indistinct) and I explained to them but unfortunately there was an accident and at that time I was working in Port Elizabeth.  I got sick in Port Elizabeth, I went to Livingstone Hospital.  I started at Dora Nginza and Dora Nginza transferred me to town.
 I saw an Indian Doctor, I don't know his name. (tape ends)  I had a problem with my ear and I was excreting something from my intestines.
 Because even in Port Elizabeth it was bad, but the Doctor begged me to say something, but I was afraid to tell him.  Even the Sisters used to beg me to tell what happened, because they were recommending, they were saying this Doctor is very good.
 I ran away, I came back to Cradock.

MS MAYA: Is that all that you would like to tell us?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: No.  I've been trying, though I was sick, I used to go to OPD and I used to talk to the people of the community.  My right limb is no longer working now.
 One teacher took me to Dr Bam and he removed one of the pellets in my arm.  At least now I can use my arm.  I started to have epileptic fits, but Dr Schoeman said he is not going to arrange any pension fund for me, he is not going to arrange any pension for me.

MS MAYA: You were also injured on your head.  You said there were some pellets in your head?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: Yes.

MS MAYA: Were they removed?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: No.
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MS MAYA: When did you start suffering from epileptic fits?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: It is about three years now.

MS MAYA: According to the Doctor's details, is the epileptic fits caused by the pellets in your head?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: Dr Miller said the one in my vessel, the pellets in my vessels are the cause of the epileptic fits.

MS MAYA: Can you please go on with your story and you tell us about your request that you would like to forward to the Commission.

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: I wish that the Commission should help me educate my children.

MS MAYA: How old are they?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: It is Nathemba and Posethu.  The other one is seven years old, the other one is one year and six months old.  I used to work, but I cannot work any more and I cannot see clearly with my eyes and I am always sick.

MS MAYA: Thank you Ma'am.  I will hand over back to the Chairperson, maybe my colleagues will have some questions,

BONGANI FINCA: Ntsiki Sandi?

MR SANDI: Thank you Chairperson.  Mrs Plaatjies, before this day that you are talking about, did you see Dr Schoeman before?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: Yes.

MR SANDI: Did you see him after this particular day?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: While I was sick I went to him at the hospital.

MR SANDI: When was that?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: It was before he left Cradock.

MR SANDI: Do you still remember the year when you were visiting him before he left Cradock?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: He left Cradock in 1995.
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MR SANDI: Where is he?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: He is in Gauteng.

MR SANDI: Can you tell us if Dr Schoeman was working with the police?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: Yes.

MR SANDI: Was that a well-known thing about Dr Schoeman?

NONZWAKAZI PLAATJIES: Yes, everybody in Cradock knows that.

MR SANDI: Thank you Ms Plaatjies.  Thank you Mr Chairperson.

BONGANI FINCA: Thank you Nonzwakazi for your story.  Perhaps you might be interested in knowing if the Commission would have a hearing, a special hearing which will focus on matters of the Doctors.
 I think the Commission itself will be very interested in the picture that you are giving us about Dr Schoeman because this is a very interesting story that being a Doctor he is a policeman at the same time.
 He is a Doctor, he is a policeman at the same time of which those are two conflicting things.  We thank you for telling us this story.  We've taken note of your request.  
 As I've said we are just the mouth of the State President, we are just an eye of the State President, we are going to forward these requests to his table so that he can take a closer look at them.  
 Thank you Ms Nonzwakazi.