Human Rights Violation Hearings — Nelspruit — 1996-09-02

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Mathebula, are you able to hear me?

GLADYS THANDI MATHEBULO: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Could you tell us who the person who is accompanying you so that we may welcome her?

MRS HATHEBULA: This is my sister.

MR LEWIN: Thank you Mrs Matebula.  You are going to tell us the story of what happened following another funeral.  We've heard a lot today of incidents around funerals.  This was in March 1986. Could I just ask where it actually happened.  Was it in Barbeton?

MRS MATHEBULA: Yes this tool place in Barbeton.

MR LEWIN: Thanks very much.  Now in your own words if you'd like to tell us what happened and to you afterwards?  Thank you.

MRS MATHEBULA: It was in 1986, in May on the 12th.  We were going to the cemetery.  The proceeding was normal on our way to the cemetery.  There was no problem at all.  While we were at the cemetery the ceremony was already done and then we were told that the elderly people should go, and I followed.  On the way they trapped me and I was called back to the cemetery and they said only the elderly people should go and I decided to go back to the cemetery, and the ceremony was completed in a traditional way and the police were that other side, waiting there, carrying their guns.
 I wanted to be on the forefront so that we can get 
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off the cemetery very early because I was scared and as I was walking, I was now in the middle of Spayville. I was crossing the bridge, I heard a loud noise behind me and I was scared to have a look. And as I was concentrating on the sound I have heard, I heard a very heavy blow behind me. I didn't know what happened, how did I fall, but when I regained consciousness I was in the hospital patted by white people. And when I asked as to what happened, they said you are arrested.  I asked them why and the answer was, "You are being charged with public violence".  I said, "Was it a sin to go to the funeral?".  They didn't give me an answer. They said, "Bring the things that are at your back, they have to be removed". They said they were taking me to the district jail.  They left with me and when we arrived at the police station I was taken to the cell. That was the first day.
 The second day, the third day and I was transferred to prison on the third day. I stayed three weeks.  They would be coming to check me, the person was Gerald, and they would continually ask me about my health and I would tell them that I am not feeling well, I am not really feeling well and they would console me, and after the three weeks that I stayed in prison, the said the case would be heard and the bail was R50.
 Gerald and Comfort came to bail me out with the R50 and I was now released on bail.  I didn't stay long. Now this thing that they used to hit me at the back affected my whole body and I became sick. I was at home feeling sick and at home I was taken to the hospital by the family members. I don't know how I reached the hospital because I was losing consciousness all the time and they decided to carry me to
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the hospital. 
 I don't remember how many weeks did I spend in the 
 3 hospital.  I don't think it was a week, it was just a few 
days and the family members were called into the hospital because I wasn't speaking any more.   They came to check me, they took me with.  I was taken to Rockfell and I was taken to special doctors.  They wanted to check as to what happened to my body actually and they were told that the
bullets had been removed from my back and the doctor checked me, examined me once more.  They didn't know what was happening and they had to operate me on the stomach.  And they said my intestines were just mixed up. I was really injured. I stayed some time in the hospital, the case was waiting in the middle because I was charged with public violence and I was told that I should appear before the court of law. And I was in the hospital then.
 The first case was remanded.  I was now trying to sit because I couldn't sit before. After I was given a few therapeutic lessons on sitting, we went on to the second stage of standing. Steady but sure I tried my best and I was much better and the family was called in again.  Together with my brother in law we left the hospital and the sister next to me was also there. They took me to their place so that they can always take care of me.
 Time went by. The day of the court hearing arrived. I was made to stand in the court of law and was charged for hitting the police vans with stones. I said, "Where did I throw stones at the police vans?"  I said," How could I throw stones because you shot me from behind. Why couldn't you shoot me at the front?"  I couldn't get an answer to that question. They stood on their statement that I threw 
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a police van with stones. The case was remanded once more. At on stage we went to the court of law, it was the second 
and I was sent, I think it was the third time, they said I was sentenced to four years. I couldn't answer, I couldn't do anything. I just got blank because I had my husband, I had a child and why would I pick stones and throw them at a police van? I knew that I didn't do it.
 I left my family under those circumstances. I went to prison.  When I was in prison, the family came together and they said, "Can we try to organise an appeal?" Yes an appeal was organised, it was well accepted by the Court but the time was so limited and I had to go back to the cells. Then the family members were told to come and fetch me the next day.  The next day they came to fetch me and I went back home. I stayed six months at home, knowing that I didn't do anything.  I had hoped that when the results of the appeal were out, not be found guilty, I would not go back to prison, I would go back home, take care of my child. But things turned the other way round.
 It was on the 22nd of July, Hiski came to me and he said they want you inside. He gave me a letter, he said, "You should go and spend your days once more in the prison". And he said to me, "When you go in for detention, take this letter with you".  I became helpless, I didn't know what to do.  They took me with this letter and I was taken to the cells.  
 Because of all these things that happened to me, I am always sick.

CHAIRPERSON: The interpretation service will resume as soon as the witness is ready.