Human Rights Violation Hearings — Worcester — 1996-06-25

MR LONDON: ... prominent  policeman in Ashton, when they got there you could see that they had a list, they read my name out I was in the first ward on the first bed.  They wanted my particulars I confirmed that I was the  person who's name they were reading they asked the patient who next to me, it was Ntando and  he  just looked at them.
The nurses informed us that we are to be taken to Donges, there were some other comrades who were just rushing and coming in - the others were just slightly injured and they were just given treatment and they were discharged.
We were transferred to Worcester at Donges Hospital.  I was admitted with the adults, I was next to Ntando and there was another one who was also injured.

WENDY ORR: Is this the Ntando who was in the witness stand now?

MR LONDON: Yes, it is the same Ntando I'm talking about.

WENDY ORR: Here in the hospital?

MR LONDON: There were policemen who were just coming in and out the hospital.  We were under the police guard,  you can just imagine I was handcuffed whilst I was admitted.

WENDY ORR: By the time you were shot and you were in hospital I trying to say you were handcuffed your feet were cuffed to the bed - by the bed?

MR LONDON: Yes.

WENDY ORR: You are being handcuffed.

MR LONDON: There were two doctors who came into the ward.  And they could see that I was in leg irons.  There were two of us who were handcuffed whilst admitted.  The doctors didn't comment about this strange issue and they just went out.

WENDY ORR: Were those the police?

MR LONDON: No, it was the doctors,  they called one of the police and they communicated with him.   We could see that the police was looking at our directions and then he came and removed the handcuffs from  us.  I was admitted for about three months, and the doctors were trying to look where the bullet was located I had skin graphs I was operated on and they tried to restore the condition of my arm.  They took out  a  9 mm bullet and they said they are going to do a skin graft.
They asked me, did I prefer the skin graft to be taken from the thigh or from the rectum.  I refer to come from the thigh and then they did the operation that where I received my skin graft.

WENDY ORR: How long did you stay in hospital?

MR LONDON: I came there on the 23rd of May, I was discharged on the 25th August - it was on a Friday.  When I was discharged I was informed that I would be taken to a place, but I could feel that I was not well yet.  You could see that the wounds were septic.  I made inquiries about why they could discharge me whilst I was still septic.  They stated that I would receive continuous treatment at the Out Patients Department in the clinic in my location.
So I used to go every day for treatment.  A van came and I was collected by the police,  and then I was taken to the police station here in town at  Worcester.  I could see that there were policemen around but there was one who was a Coloured.  He asked me whether I was under police guard in the hospital and I said yes.  He said I must not give this information to the Captain because I would be arrested again.
When the Captain came in I was taken to him and he asked me the same question and I said no.   He didn't say anything further and then I was taken by the police in a van from Ashton was called telephonically.  After about 30 minutes the van came to take me.  Mr Dodson was the one who was driving the van.
Mr Dodson took me.  I had a letter from the hospital.  I did not know the contents of the letter because they just informed me that I should open it when the police wanted to arrest me.  Mr Dodson took me to Ashton,  I was at the back of the van.  I was informed to wait for Mr Joubert,  I waited for him.
He was the Captain during that time.  I waited for Mr Joubert outside the police station.  By the time he entered inside and he saw that it was a black person saying kaffers  you throwing stones and swear at me badly.
After I heard that he was insulting me I gave him the letter that I was supposed to give him.  He opened this letter and read it through and then he swear at me again and then he told me to go - to go home, I am sorry to say so.
I was taken by Mr Dodson and he informed me that he is  taking me home so I took my goods and go home.   When I arrived home I sat and rest.   After a month my mother took me to Mach that is lawyers in Montagu.   We went there and my mother told me that we were making a claim.
When we arrived there he gave the statement as it - she  gave the statement as it is.  I didn't know what happened  I didn't  attend any Court.  It ended up by the time I was giving out the statement and my mother - there was nothing that was taken further.

WENDY ORR: Who was the name of the lawyer.

MR LONDON: I am sorry, I can't remember their names.

WENDY ORR: Where were they?

MR LONDON: They were in Montagu.

WENDY ORR: Was it a black lawyer or a white one?

MR LONDON: This person was a white person.

WENDY ORR: Is he still here?

MR LONDON: No, the place has been closed a long time ago.  It's no longer in Montagu.

WENDY ORR: By the time you were shot - I am sorry were you - you wanted to say something.

MR LONDON: Yes what I wanted to say is while I was at home the hospital wanted to refund me and the clinic,  by the time I was being treated there I was supposed to pay some fees out of my own pocket, the hospital also, because I was getting medicine some  pills and the bandages were being changed time and again, so I had to pay all those costs.

WENDY ORR: Are you still taking any treatment?

MR LONDON: No, not at all.

WENDY ORR: What was the treatment for?

MR LONDON: This was the treatment for my arm then while I was sick.

WENDY ORR: How is your arm now?

MR LONDON: I can't say it is 100% okay,  I would say that it's is little bit injured, because when it's cold, - cold I feel the pain not healed because when it is cold I feel the pain.  I suffer a lot of pain because of the operation, sometimes it gets worse,  I can't carry heavy stuff.

WENDY ORR: By the time you were shot you were 11 years old - that's what you informed us.  Its very surprising that the vigilantes old man as you, have told us and counted them they were chasing an eleven year old boy.  You told us that you were a relative of the mother that was a funeral of hers on that day.
You also stated that this old lady passed away because she was old enough and yet she was a political activist.
I am just trying to put things together to get an idea of how an 11-year-old being chased by an old man like the ones who were chasing you and shot you.  Maybe you can clearly identify and clarify to me are you a relative to this mother who was also in a struggle.  Why do you think these guys were chasing you?

MR LONDON: That's what I am also trying to figure out because I cannot clearly get the point.  Maybe I would say the reason is my family was also involved in the struggle.   Even in the school boycotts I was also involved but I had no idea I was still  young.
Mishak Jonas used to come to our home.  He is a friend of one of the men who is living at my place.   I have got a sister named Nombeko.  Sometimes she used to ask him why he did this.  He always defence himself saying he was not shooting at me, he was shooting to the  comrade, I was shot mistakenly.
That is the information he is giving to my sister.  I don't know I had no reason why they did this to me.

WENDY ORR: The other thing that I can't clarify in my mind is the picture of an 11-year-old boy being handcuffed in hospital under a police guard as you are telling us that you are still very young and this person you've stated here  name  Jonas, saying that he was not shooting at you he was just chasing and shooting after  the comrades.
And yet you  were under a police guard.  What do you think the reason for all this situation.