Human Rights Violation Hearings — George — 1996-06-19

MR YALOLO: They are the only one who can know that, they had a reason to do that.

MARY BURTON: [indistinct] other people were also taken for interrogation out of the police cells to a different building?

MR YALOLO: Yes I do have the knowledge of people who  were taken out from the cells, but I don't know where they were taken to.

MARY BURTON: And the place that you mentioned that was far beyond Mossel Bay did you say that was called Herbetsdal?

MR YALOLO: It was a police place too, a police station of some kind.

MR YALOLO: Yes it is a police station - police place.

MARY BURTON: Thank you very much - Dr Ramashala.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Mr Yalolo you made a statement that the police gave you  a piece of paper for you to sign, was there something written on the piece of paper or was there - was it blank?

MR YALOLO: There was something written on the paper.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: What was written on that piece of paper?

MR YALOLO: This was a paper - sort of a paper like for someone who is laying a charge and you had to fill in - in the blank spaces.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: [indistinct] released on the day that you were suppose to go to court in 1986 - and then the police visited you, this was Petersen, visited you in  [indistinct] Street, what happened in between, between 1986 and 1990?

MR YALOLO: I can't get your question clear.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: [indistinct] the police left you alone or if they continued to harass you during that period?

MR YALOLO: They use to watch me, but I couldn't care what they were doing.

MARY BURTON: Thank you Dr Ramashala, I would like to ask one last question and to just say to you that our investigative unit has tried to find out more about your experience, but as in many other cases the records of the cell register of the time that you were in detention is not available to them.
 So one of the things we would like to know is if you remember the names of any of the other people who were in the cells with you, who could testify to the condition that you  were in and to your experience.

MR YALOLO: Would you like me to tell this to you now or when?

MARY BURTON: [indistinct] now you can give us the names afterwards if you remember.

MR YALOLO: I can remember some of the names.

MARY BURTON: [indistinct] from you later and we would like to thank you very much, this has been a long and very taxing experience for you to tell all of these details to us now, we thank you very much indeed for coming and for telling us of your experience.  You  can step down from the platform now.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Madam Chairperson I'd like to ask one more question.  Mr  Yalolo I personally am surprised that you are still alive.  And it is very clear that you have suffered and sustained a lot of injuries - is there anything specific either than telling you story so that it can be documented - is there anything that you would  like the Commission to do.
 I talked with you outside and you explained that you have a lot of pain in your body and I am just wondering if you would like to express some wishes to the Commission about what we can recommend to be done for you.

MR YALOLO: As I am here, I am very much in pain and as from those days  that I was assaulted I was always in pain.  There was no doctor who can help me up until today, even today there is no doctor who is able to help me.  If I am visiting a doctor, they just said I have nothing wrong with me, although I do have pains.  Just like my right arm, I went to the doctor and the doctor told that she can do nothing, because this arm has been damaged and it's been a long time that it has been like that and there is nothing he can do.
 But what I would like - just like the problem of my feet, I am always in pains, I don't even have a minute or seconds, I am always in pains right through.  My life is in pain, but I don't have someone who can assist me, I don't  have someone who can help me, I'll be very glad if there can be someone who will assist me or help me to get rid of  this pain.
 And the other thing I do have, I  feel very much heartbroken because up until today  those who assaulted me, they are still in power, they are still the office bearers, I feel very sorry  for myself, because the struggle we have fought for these people who depressed us, they are still on the lead, they are still in power, that's what I have told with the other members who are representing the Truth Commission.
 I felt very sorry and pitiful when they said that we were under protection here because some of those people who assaulted us, is the ones that I have to go with to them.  I feel very sorry that I have to go back to the one who assaulted me to take the case now and he is still the one who is in power in this offices.  That is why there will be no peace on my side.  I won't feel comfortable if I have to go to them even today.
 That is why my heart is so broken and I also need help, I need a lot of help, I've got a family that I  need to look after.  There is no-one who is  going to work for my family.  I have to work for my family and even so now while I am here, my - I can't work for my family, I don't have power and I don't have strength to  go and look for  work, I must try hard to strive for a living.  Even where I am working there  are times where I had to lift up a heavy object, it just fell down.  I just can't do otherwise, I can't help it, I am sick.
 Those are the pains that I am under and I am in fear because those people are still in power, they are still the leaders of this country, they are still - they are still in the offices, they are still the office bearers even in the Police Force.  Those were the perpetrators and they are still in lead.
 What I would like to know  if is there anything or assault that can come - from this people, what must I do, I don't want to sent me to those people who assaulted me before.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: When was the last time you consulted with a doctor?

MR YALOLO: I visited the doctor some weeks back, while I  was going there, something funny happened.  I felt some pain, my voice went off, when I consulted the doctor he just said I had nothing wrong and he tried his best to examine, but he couldn't find anything.  He made some tests, everything was just positive.  So I don't know  what to do now, because there is no doctor who can help me, that's what's breaking my heart.
 Even now it's very difficult to be in peaceful with the one who assaulted you and yet you are still having pains from the assault he did to you.  Unless you can get help that maybe can settle things down, but if there are still pains, it's very difficult to be in peace with that person.  You must be in peace with that ... end of Tape 2, side  A  ... 
 It was taken by my by the perpetrators, they are working for their families, what are they saying about my family which is suffering now, we are suffering a lot - no-one is able to help us, so that's the way we are living.  I am what I am today, I am a problem to my family.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Mr Yalolo, I know this has been very painful especially having to relive all those experiences.  We are very grateful that you were able to describe what happened to you, to give us  a full understanding so that we may have full documentation.
 Sir I applaud your bravery, and thank you very much.