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

NONTOBEKO DULI: Yes, he went to Aliwal-North and that is how we parted and then I came back to the Transkei.
 We met every now and then, but at the time I was not just relaxing. I wasn't happy about the absence of my husband.  
 I went to Botha Sigcau, to Kenneth Lengwebe.  I said to him I do not like the fact that my husband is running away from home, I would like the friction between himself and Gen Holomisa to be solved.  I asked Kenneth Lengwebe have you forgotten the fact that in the action committee he is the very one who caused the release of Gen Holomisa, why is he now in danger.  So Gen Holmisa said to me no, he was going to go with me and meet my husband.  But when he came back he didn't tell me any, give me any reports.
 I said to Holomisa no, I don't like this.  Even then he didn't give me a straight answer.  He said to me no, he doesn't have much knowledge of this.  
 In short, I would like to make this story brief.  The week of my husband's death I heard on the 22nd of November, on this particular morning I was on my way to work. I didn't know anything. I just started to check out my child who was writing his/her Std 10 exam. I went to Holy Cross. When I got there there was a car that was surrounded. I could 
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notice that there were soldiers who were patrolling around.  When I asked I was told no, it is Duli's matter. I was so shocked. I don't know how I went back home.  At the time my child was writing her exams in tears.  They kept on giving my child coffee, just to sustain my child.  
 I used to listen to the events over the radio, even the events of this day, where it was announced on the radio.  Titzi Mantanzima told the country that they were still negotiating, they said no, they are going to shoot to kill, because my husband is not prepared to come forward. 
 It is now at this time one of the Ghobozi family said Tobsy, you are the only person who can save Craig's life, stand up.  Go to Gen Holomisa, ask to speak to Craig, so that Craig can come forward to save his life.  Then we can all know what happened between himself and Holomisa.  Indeed, I stood up.  But there were there soldiers.  We didn't get a chance to speak to the general. 
 Instead of meeting the general we were sent to the camp. It was utmost chaos. Even now, even now, even too many people and too much noise still affects me psychologically. It started on that day.  
 On that day I was with my children.  To be short, I didn't get a chance to speak to the general. Instead they took Ghobozi and they beat him up. He was on his stomach.  It was only Kenneth Mkwebe who helped him.  We were put into a car and then we were taken back home.  
 On my way home one of the soldiers tried to console me. He said to me Topsy, don't cry so much, we know Craig's work, he was with this man, today we are really going to find out what is the cause of this friction between the two of them.  That consoled me.
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 Then I stayed at home. While I was still at home, there was an announcement on the radio by the general, he was on the stadium.  He said Craig has come forward, Craig has surrendered, so he is going to tell us now what he has been doing all this time.  I was so relieved, I was thanking God for the fact that he was still alive.  I was so happy because now that it was going to forwar, this whole conflict was now going to be exposed.  I was also going to know what is going on between these two men.
 While I was still listening over the radio, the general said here is the latest news: Craig, Craig Duli has passed on.  That was the last time I heard anything.
 They took me to hospital. I couldn't believe this.  Even, it is because I just heard over the radio that he has surrendered and now I was told that he has died.  
 In short, I am told that he was taken out of what is (indistinct) by Kenneth Mkwebe.  When it was announced that he has died, Kenneth Mkwebe simply fell, he fainted. I  think it was shock.  
 In short, after the death of my husband, there was a lot of chaos for three days. All three days his body would be put over there, people even say that on the third day it was getting decayed now.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Where was it put?

NONTOBEKO DULI: My husband's body was put in the camp.  It was displayed in the camp.
 Things got very difficult for me, especially the funeral.  People who came to the funeral were turned back. All the people who wanted to come to the funeral couldn't come, because they were very scared.  
 Now after my husband has been buried, soldiers arrived 
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at my place to come and fetch his uniform and some of the intelligence documents and other documents and other things, which belonged to the Army. I gave all of that to them.  
 I gave them all the things that they wanted.  Then I went to the Botha Sigcau Building. After a while, I went, because I wanted what was his rights.  Then I was told there was no package for him.
 Now the rights that I am talking about were his pension and other things that were rightful to him. But I was told that no, I was not going to get anything, but I am just going to get a contribution which was worth R21 000,00. I was told that even the costs of trips overseas were also going to be deducted from the same R21 000,00.
 Now the reason why I am here before you today.  After a while, after my husband has died, even the way that my husband died was quite suspicious.  I decided to go to Botha Sigcau offices again.  I heard that the murder and robbery squad was also involved in taking him out of Botha Sigcau. It was led by Gen Umlau. 
 I gave myself a chance, because I wanted to find out exactly what happened to my husband.  Mbulawa told me that Gen Umlau at that time had three policemen with him.  I didn't know these other two, but the other was Mr Mbulawa. It was Mr Lee Mliwana, the other one.
 Gen Molawa told me that he didn't feel free to talk to me about this, but it was painful what he saw in the camp. Apparently my husband went to the camp.  He was slightly injured, but what Mbulawa saw was that he was told to turn and look this way.  He said sit down, I am going to talk to you and tell you why I am doing this.  He said I haven't anything against the Transkeians, the only one that I am
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against is this one, and he also knows this. I don't want to be the leader of the country.  So they said turn and look that way.  That is how he was shot, while he was still pleading and that was the end of him.  That happened in the camp.
 What Mbulawa told me is exactly what the post-mortem was.  It was exactly.  His heart ruptured, his lungs were also ruptured. That is how, that is according to the post-mortem.  
 Now the reason why I am here, before this Commission, is because I feel like my husband should have been taken to the courts of law, so that he can defend himself.  Who killed him and why he killed him?  What was so secretive, because it was obvious that he was going to disclose the secret.  It was now the time for him to say what was the problem with him and his friend, Gen Holomisa. 
 I feel I didn't get all that was rightful to my husband, I didn't get all those, things like pensions and  all the other money that was rightful to him. I also feel that I do qualify to receive the widow's pension fund, which my husband used to contribute to.

MEMBER OF PANEL: And the fourth one?  The last page.

NONTOBEKO DULI: Can you also please help me so that I can have a dignified funeral for my husband and a tombstone.

MEMBER OF PANEL: You said there was no court case after the death of your husband, after he died so brutally?

NONTOBEKO DULI: No, there was no court case.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Again, the amount that you said you received was R25 000,00 only?

NONTOBEKO DULI: Yes, R21 000,00.