Human Rights Violation Hearings — Uitenhage — 1996-08-26

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: It becomes very difficult to me because at the time I was very sick. I was always in the offices of the UDF. I only made an appearance once and I would be there at the offices of the UDF, but the information that I get was that Sgt. Tungata was sentenced to 11 years. Standford man was sentenced to 21 years, but a week thereafter I saw them walking in the streets.

MS MAYA: Did you get rumours perhaps as to why they were discharged?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: They said they appealed and Tungata was later sentenced to 7 years and the other one 11 years, but they were still not locked in. What I heard is that they were suspended, that was all.

MS MAYA: Let's go back to your wishes and to your request to this Commission.

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: My wish is that I want to be able to claim because I was made not to claim. I was tricked.
 Secondly, my request is that if this Commission could help, there could be some commentation of this shooting that happened within the school premises.

MS MAYA: We thank you Xolisile. We are now going to hand you over to any of the other Commissioners who may be interested to ask questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Ms Pumla Madikizela-Gobodo.

MS GOBODO: Thank you Mr Chairperson.
 Xolisile, you made mention that when you went back to school you felt uncomfortable and you would have those pictures of that day of the shooting. What pictures did you have?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: What brought these pictures was that I would have an echo of those sounds of the shooting. They were still in my mind as if it was that actual day. During lessons I would go outside.

MS GOBODO: Trying to run away from these sounds?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: Yes.

MS GOBODO: In other words it was as if it would be that very day. How often would this happen to you, or did it happen when it was the history period?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: It would happen all the time but mainly during the history period because the history teacher had a loud voice.

MS GOBODO: So, it was the loud sound that would bring back these memories?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: Yes.

MS GOBODO: Thank you Xolisile.

CHAIRPERSON: Over to you Mr Denzil Potgieter.

MR POTGIETER: Thank you Mr Chairperson.
 You said that you were shackled to the bed you say?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: Yes.

MR POTGIETER: Why, and who shackled you?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: I think the doctors and the nurses.

MR POTGIETER: Was it because of your condition?

XOLISILE THIKANE MTHIMKULU: Yes.

MR POTGIETER: OK, I understand.
 I would just like to explain why I asked these questions. Most times people don't have a clear picture of how the young children are affected. There is something that is  called post-traumatic post-disorder and these are signs for that. When you are sitting then you have memories of past events. This is a disorder and this is a condition that was not observed, only because you looked as if you were surviving, but this needs some attention.
 You find that a lot of the youth that could not go back to school suffered from such disorders and they failed to concentrate in class and it is therefore hurting to hear you talking like that, because it is very difficult that you should be employed and it is important that you should look into this matter.
 The Chairperson has asked me to thank you, so on behalf of the Chairperson and this Commission I want to thank you and say, what happened to you and the other youth members was very painful, especially in Uitenhage here in the Eastern Cape.
 We know that the powers of the policemen grew at the time when soldiers started patrolling in black locations and this spread all over the country and how people were shot, we are aware and it is very painful.  
 The example you have given to us that the policemen were very desperate to an extent that they had to jump over fences so as to kill the youth, only because they could see that the youth was in the forefront of the struggle.
 We therefore thank you gentlemen for coming here, it is painful to hear that your life came to a standstill as a result of this incident and we are definitely going to look into your request. We thank you.