Amnesty Hearings — Thohoyandou — 1999-06-28

MR MEYER: There were also other people present during your interrogation, is that correct?

RAMANO SELWYN CHIKORORO: That's correct.

MR MEYER: So, besides - let's leave out general Ramushwana for the moment, the second, third and fourth applicants, besides them there were also other people who were involved, is that correct?

RAMANO SELWYN CHIKORORO: Yes.

MR MEYER: Thank you, Mr Chairman, I have nothing further.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MEYER

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Mr Meyer.  Mr Van Rensburg, do you have any questions you'd like to put to the witness?

MR VAN RENSBURG: No questions, thank you, Mr Chairman.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR VAN RENSBURG

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, before you commence, Mr Van Rensburg, Judge Khampepe has indicated she'd just like to clear something up with Mr Meyer.

SISI KHAMPEPE: Mr Meyer, what are your instructions with regard to the evidence accused by Mr Chikororo to the effect that Mr Ramaligela is the one who put the bag over his head?

MR MEYER: Oh, thank you Judge Khampepe, I omitted to ask him about that or to give - yes.  Mr Ramaligela says that he can't remember but it is possible he was involved in that.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, Mr Van Rensburg?

MR VAN RENSBURG: No questions, thank you, Mr Chairman.
NO QUESTIONS BY MR VAN RENSBURG

CHAIRPERSON: Ms Mtanga, do you have any re-examination?

MS MTANGA: No re-examination, Chairperson, thank you.
NO RE-EXAMINATION BY MS MTANGA

CHAIRPERSON: Judge Khampepe, do you have any questions you'd like to ask Mr Chikororo?

SISI KHAMPEPE: I have no questions for Mr Chikororo, Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Adv Bosman?

ADV BOSMAN: I have no questions, thank you, Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Mr Chikororo, that concludes your testimony, you may stand down.

RAMANO SELWYN CHIKORORO: Thank you.
WITNESS EXCUSED

CHAIRPERSON: Ms Mtanga?

MS MTANGA: Chairperson, I will call my last witness, Mr Mahumela.

CHAIRPERSON: What are you full names please, Mr Mahumela?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much, Ms Mtanga.

MS MTANGA: Mr Mahumela, you have heard the evidence of the applicants that the only assaults that were carried out on you was that you were slapped with bare hands and nothing serious happened to you, you suffered no serious injuries.  Can you tell the Committee how were you assaulted by the applicants and what were the consequences of that assault?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Shortly after being taken in on 12 November 1981, I was taken into a room where there was a large number of Security Policemen.  I should point out to the Committee that a considerable number of those people were well-known to me because of past contacts.  Some of them attended the same school as me, some of them interacted with me in my line of duty at the time.

CHAIRPERSON: Is it correct that at that time you were a public prosecutor?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Not in fact I would sometimes fill in as a public prosecutor but I was actually a clerk to the civil court in the local magistrate.

CHAIRPERSON: Employed by the local Department of Justice?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Correct, your Honour.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Yes, proceed.

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: The first person to approach me after being taken to that room was Mr Netshivale to whom I was well-known because the police over that period were running a soccer team.  I was also a soccer player and my team and his would now and then clash, clash in terms of playing soccer.  And we were very used to each other.
	And without saying anything, he slapped me so hard that I started bleeding profusely from the nose.  This necessitated some form of first aid in that water was poured at the back of my head.  And the process of the torture stopped for a while, for about maybe 15 minutes.  From there I was forced to perform rigorous physical exercises, push-ups, the so-called 'scooter' which implies half a squat.  I also experienced the so-called 'helicopter' which meant getting your hands tied together with your feet and being hung on whatever object there is they could hang you on.

CHAIRPERSON: I think from - is that where your hands and ankles are tied together and then a stick or a bar of some sort is put between your arms and legs and then suspended from two tables or two chairs or whatever to allow the victim to hand with his back towards the ground, from the bar.

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Correct, your Honour, correct.  I was also made to sit upright and stretch my legs.  And some of them would trample on my legs to and fro and continuously.
	I want to point out to the Committee that the number of people participating in my torture on that day was no less than 22 although it was to varying degrees and also that their participation was not simultaneous.
	It all came through to me as a systematic sort of method that was aimed at a particular objective and I deduced that it was maybe meant to sort of drain me out and weaken whatever resistance they were perceiving on me.
	I also want to make it known to the honourable Committee that my arrest on 12 November was not an initial one.  I had been taken in for about two hours a day after the explosion.  Whereafter a brief questioning, Mr Ramaligela promised that they will be coming back for me very soon.
	On that day, the issue of the bombing of the  police, I mean on the 12th, from around 09h00 when the torture started, it only featured very late, after maybe 15h00 in the afternoon.  Perhaps I should not belabour the process by going into what was underway but, generally, the questions revolved around my history and whatever other activities I could have engaged in earlier in my life.
	I was also made to stand on my head.  I was also instructed to try and push a wall down which was very difficult because the floor was wet.

MS MTANGA: Mr Mahumela, were electrical shocks applied on you?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: No, at no stage were electrical shocks applied to me.  That it nearly happened but I can't remember exactly what happened but it would seem somebody was taken into a room next door and this, instead of continuing with the electric shocks, a large group of them left and went next door.

MS MTANGA: What event of significance happened during your torture that makes you question the evidence of the applicants today that the assaults on you have been very minor?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Your Honour, from 09h00 the torture went on and one, various people participating from one time to another and, around 16h00 if my estimation is correct, I was busy doing push ups, my knuckles were bleeding because I was instructed all the time to do it with my fists rather than with my palms.  My knees were also bleeding and I just couldn't stand it any more.  I just had no strength left in me.
	And it was perceived that I was being cheeky and a number of Security Policemen, including one Mambeli Chibasi, Ntambeli Rambuda, a Mr Morengeni and Mr Makgato started trampling on me, all over my body.  And in the process, a lady called Tinaboyo Rambuwane delivered a kick behind my ear.  And that's the last I saw of that day.

CHAIRPERSON: You mean you lost consciousness?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Yes, your Honour.

MS MTANGA: You lost consciousness on the 12th that is?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Yes.

MS MTANGA: And then when did you recover from that, Mr Mahumela?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: When I came to, I learnt that it's Sunday.

CHAIRPERSON: So what was the 12th?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: The 12th was Thursday, your Honour.

CHAIRPERSON: So, you're saying that at sometime after 16h00 on Thursday, when you got this kick behind the ear, you were unconscious for the whole of Friday, the whole of Saturday and a portion of Sunday?

CHIPIWA ANTHONY MAHUMELA: Your Honour, I have to be very careful with the exact state in which I was.  All I know is that I don't know what happened.