Amnesty Hearings — Vereeniging — 1999-01-20

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Strydom, are you ready to proceed?

MR STRYDOM: Yes Chairperson.  The next applicant we are calling is Mqambeleni Buthelezi.  He is number 1 on the list.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Buthelezi, what language are you going to speak?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: You may be seated.  Yes Mr Strydom?

MR STRYDOM: Mr Buthelezi, you have signed a Form 1, a document that I am going to show you now.  This is on page 46 of the bundle.  Do you identify your signature on page 47?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: That is correct.

MR STRYDOM: There is also an annexure to that document, on page 48 and 49.  Has this document been explained to you yet again and do you accept the contents thereof?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Certain particulars were required and you answered them.  Do you stand by the answers given on page 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 of the index of the bundle?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, if those are the answers that I know.

MR STRYDOM: You also made an affidavit which is contained on page 59 and 60.  Do you confirm your signature on page 60?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Whilst we are with the affidavit, I am going to read certain portions and then you can confirm that evidence.
	You moved into the hostel during the course of 1992, is that correct?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Which hostel?

MR STRYDOM: At the kwaMadala hostel?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: I went to the hostel in 1990.

MR STRYDOM: The reference to 1992, is in fact wrong, it should read 1990 is that what you are saying?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, that is a mistake.

MR STRYDOM: Previously you were staying at the Sebokeng hostel, is that right?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: That is correct.

MR STRYDOM: Why did you leave the Sebokeng hostel?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: I left the hostel because of the violence that had erupted between the IFP and the ANC, so that I was forced to leave the hostel.

MR STRYDOM: Are you a member of the Inkatha Freedom Party?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: That is correct.

MR STRYDOM: When did you become a member of that party?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: I joined in 1989.

MR STRYDOM: In your statement on page 60, you make the allegation that IFP members were killed, assaulted, burnt, intimidated in the township, including Boipatong.
	Do you know who these people were that attacked and assaulted and burnt and intimidated IFP members?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: It was the ANC responsible for this.  It was the ANC.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Buthelezi, would you please speak up so that people at the back of the hall could hear what you are saying?

MR STRYDOM: You further make the allegation that the situation got to a stage that there was a political war going on between the hostel and the ANC sympathisers in the townships.  Why do you say so?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes.

MR STRYDOM: Would you say that your own life was in danger during that period?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, my life was in danger because I was under very serious threat because of the manner in which the ANC was doing things.

MR STRYDOM: Could you move freely in Boipatong and other towns in the Vaal Triangle?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: No, I was not able to.  From 1990 when the violence erupted, I think it was on the 22nd of July, I started experiencing this problem that I could not move about freely.

MR STRYDOM: Of which year?  Which year do you refer to with reference to the 22nd of July, of which year?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: In 1990.

MR STRYDOM: You make the allegation that the residents of Boipatong, marched to kwaMadala hostel at a certain stage.  When was that?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Would you please repeat the question?

MR STRYDOM: In your statement you say that the residents of Boipatong at a certain stage marched to kwaMadala hostel, they couldn't get into the hostel, they wanted to kill us because we are IFP supporters.
	Can you just place some date on that happening?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, this march was organised by the ANC, but they did not gain entry into the hostel.  We were there as residents of the hostel, and they did not manage to gain entry.

MR STRYDOM: Was that before the attack on Boipatong?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, that is exactly how it happened.  Often times the ANC had a programme that was meant for the elimination of IFP members.

MR STRYDOM: You further make the allegation that your family members were killed in Boipatong.  Can you give more particulars?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes.  What I am saying is that I have family members who were killed at Boipatong, but at least I know that there were IFP members who were killed at Boipatong.

MR STRYDOM: That reference there to family, is that direct family or also IFP supporters that you refer to?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: They were IFP members.

MR STRYDOM: Where did you come from originally, before you came to the Vaal Triangle?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: I am from the Umsinga area in kwaZulu Natal.

MR STRYDOM: In the hostel, you were an office bearer, in fact you were the leader of the Youth Brigade, is that right?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: That is correct.

MR STRYDOM: Was that an elected position?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, that is correct.

MR STRYDOM: Who were the other people on your committee?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: The structure consisted of eight members, I was the Chairman.  The vice-Chairperson was Victor Mthembu.  There was a Secretary too.

MR STRYDOM: Do you remember his name?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, I do remember his name.  The Assistant-Secretary was Matabela.

MR STRYDOM: Yes, but can we just get back to the Secretary, maybe I missed the name.  Can you give the name of the Secretary, the name that you remember?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Zwi.  I knew him as Zwi.

MR STRYDOM: Yes, and the other people on this committee, who were they?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: The Assistant-Secretary was Matabela.  Our Publicity Officer was Dingane.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Buthelezi, please raise your voice so that the people at the back can hear what you are saying.
	You are addressing everyone in this hall.

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: I will try to do so.

CHAIRPERSON: Please start with the Assistant-Secretary.

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: The Assistant-Secretary was Matabela.

MR STRYDOM: You also mentioned a person by the name of Dingane.

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: He was the Publicity Officer.  He was Dinane Nqumalo.

MR STRYDOM: Do you remember any other names?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, I do.

MR STRYDOM: Can you please provide them to the Committee?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: (Indistinct) was Dinane's assistant.

MR STRYDOM: You have given six committee members, do you remember the names of the other two?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Yes, I do remember.

MR STRYDOM: Can you give them please?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: The Treasurer was Bazuka Mthimkhulu.  His assistant was Themba Mabote.

MR STRYDOM: What were the functions of the Youth Committee in the hostel?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: The functions of the Committee, it was to inform the hostel residents of the guidelines and policy objectives of the IFP.

MR STRYDOM: What else?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Other functions included addressing meetings on what needs to be done, and what should be the proper conduct when attending rallies.  Those were the functions of that committee.

MR STRYDOM: Who were responsible to organise rallies?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: Various rallies were organised at leadership level in Johannesburg, they would inform us if there was a rally.
	As members and supporters of the organisation, we would have to attend.

MR STRYDOM: But in the hostel, if there is now a call for a rally from Johannesburg, who would organise the rally in the hostel to get the people together?

MQAMBELENI BUTHELEZI: We as a committee, in conjunction with the senior committee, would organise that the rally is attended.

MR STRYDOM: Talking about rallies, is there an annual rally held at Ulundi in kwaZulu Natal?