Human Rights Violation Hearings — Tzaneen — 1997-04-10

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Well, I just didn't calculate that.   I only know when I was born.

MS SEROKE: So you must have been in your 90's when you went through this.  I must say, you are a very strong man and it's amazing at that age you should have been a threat to the then government.  Okay, now you according to your statement you were arrested three times?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Truly, yes.

MS SEROKE: They came to fetch you and you were released ... (interrupted)

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Truly.

MS SEROKE: And then they came to fetch you and then the third time.

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Truly.

MS SEROKE: What was your political affiliation at that time ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: I belong to the Progressive - the one where Madiba is.  Mandela is.   I mean initially.

MS SEROKE: So, that is the ANC.   Am I correct ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Well, it was not that officially recognised as an ANC, we just knew it as a Progressive Government, I mean Party.

MS SEROKE: And the third time you were arrested, you say that Chief Ramabulani harassed you because you voted for the VIP party.  What did you have against this VIP party ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Well, I was the organiser of the VIP.

MS SEROKE: Let me correct myself.  You were a member of the VIP party.  What did you have against the Ramabrana's party ?  The national party ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Well, we have suffered a lot, because those people were mixed with Whites or boers.

MS SEROKE: And if they were mixed with White and boers, what is it that they did that you thought was wrong?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: They used to really give us problems.  No they just arrested us, assaulting us.  No, there was nothing very good.  No, there was no money.  Now it's, it's  better, because we get some few bucks.

MS SEROKE: Where you in favour of the Venda Homeland ? Government ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: No, because they used to torture us.  They were troublesome.

MS SEROKE: Did they finally evict you from your place, or are you still remaining there ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: I was never evicted.  I just said to myself, let them kill me.

MS SEROKE: No further questions.

DR RANDERA: Tate, you have said a number of times when you, in the arrest that took place and you were tortured, they were asking you about the help that you were giving to so-called terrorists.  Were you actually assisting these so-called terrorists and what were you doing if you were ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Well, regarding the so-called terrorists, no, they were not really terrorists.  They are just, they were just ordinary people who were really helping in organising inasfar as the freedom was concerned.  To attain freedom.

DR RANDERA: Okay, I understand you.  Thank you.

RUSSELL ALLY: Tata, thank you.  Thank you very much.  As my fellow colleague has already indicated you have lived through so much and you have survived so much and I think it must be, for you it must be a real personal triumph to know that you outlived all of these systems which attempted to oppress and repress you.  You outlived the apartheid system;  you outlived the homelands system and you are now able to live in this new democracy and that must be a real tribute and you must feel personally vindicated that throughout all of these years, you remain true to this belief of yours and people, the rights of people, the need for people to enjoy democracy and not to have governments forced on them which they did not agree with.
 Thanks for coming and for sharing with us and we will certainly be getting in touch with you regard to your particular case, your torture and the gross human rights violation which you personally suffered.  Thank you very much.

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Thank you very much, too.  Sorry, sorry, he was still asking something.

RUSSELL ALLY: Yes Dada ?

WILLIAM MATIDZA: What about the compensation about the fields that I lost, what about that?   Is there anything that can be done about that?  Well, the torture and all those things that I experienced ?

RUSSELL ALLY: As we have said to all the other people who have come forward, there is a Committee which is known as the Committee on Reparations and Rehabilitation and it is this Committee that is going to make recommendations to the President and to Parliament and it is through the recommendations of this Committee that a policy will be put into place to assist those who have suffered gross human rights violations.  Unfortunately however, this will come at the end of the work of the Commission, because we have to listen to all cases and have to hear from all the witnesses, all victims before we know what exactly it is that  the government needs to do in regard to, with regard to things that have happened to people.  So we will just ask you to please be a little bit patient but if there are urgent issues with regard to your health that you need urgent,  that needs urgent attention, then you can communicate that to our, to our staff, to our briefers, because there is an urgent interim relief policy for those kinds of cases but in terms of the long term reparation that will come at the end of the life of the Commission.  So thank you again.

WILLIAM MATIDZA: However, I'm not of that good health when I'm here.  I think I'm, I'm not, these people really tortured me, they assaulted me.  I think my health is not that good.

RUSSELL ALLY: For that reason I'm going to ask that our briefers who are here with us to-day they will speak to you now and I'm sure that they will be able to assist you in getting medical attention or directing you to a place where you can get  this medical attention for your health.  So as soon as you leave the stage I'm sure that our briefers, Zodwa and also Fikele will to assist you, but thank you very much.

WILLIAM MATIDZA: Thank you very much too.