Human Rights Violation Hearings — Sebokeng — 1996-08-05

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: I only gave him the statement and I have never had any feedback since the day I submitted my statement.

COMMISSIONER: Mr Mohajane, I just want to once more go back
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to that time in hospital and the police guard that you had.  When the doctors came to visit  you or the nurses came to visit you were you allowed any privacy or confidentiality with the doctors or did that happen in front of the police guard?

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: The police guarded me three days and thereafter when they realised that I wasn't dying they left.

COMMISSIONER: I want to go back to those three days when the police guard was there, did the police excuse themselves or did the doctor ask the police to leave when they came to examine you?

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: I was unconscious, I couldn't say anything but every time when the doctor came you know my eyes were closed because they used their boots to kick me and my face was swollen.  I couldn't see anything.  The pellets were also present in my body because they shot me right on the side of the heart I think.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you Mr Mohajane.  I don't have any more questions.  Perhaps my colleagues may have some questions. Thank you.

MS JOY SEROKE: I want to ask you a question.  When you were at the hospital did they give you medical records at St Johns and Sebokeng?

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: Yes, I have every relevant document.  They are with the lawyers.  All the files are with the lawyers.  I am referring to Ayob and Company.

MS JOY SEROKE: You say you wanted to go to Optima College for the blind and then you went on to Tibulogo for the blind, that is in Wittsieshoek, and you went to Soweto Workshop. Were you referring to Sharp?
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MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: Yes.

MS JOY SEROKE: What skills were you taught in these places?

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: At Optimum I was taught to cook and to wash and to walk on my own.  I do everything for myself, I wash, I cook.  Everything I do for myself.

MS JOY SEROKE: What skills did you get from Sharp?

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: At Sharp we were doing handywork.  You know as it is far from home I used to wake up at five and in winter it wasn't okay for me to wake up that early.

MS JOY SEROKE: You say you didn't have funds to carry on. Now if it were possible what is it that you wanted to do actually?

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: I wanted to have skills as to how to use my hands. There is a division in Optima.  They teach you to manufacture spices, atja and many things.   I want to work.  I want to work for myself.  I am not used to staying, just doing nothing.  I am still young I think.

MS JOY SEROKE: I want to thank you very much.  I don't have any question any more.

COMMISSIONER: We want to thank you very much, sir.

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: I also thank you.

COMMISSIONER: The first thing we want to thank you for not giving up hope.  You are prepared to go on.  We are going to try to help you because you have an ambition.  You are still young and you are handsome.

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: Yes.  (Laughter).

COMMISSIONER: And maybe there are young ladies here and we must say to you, sir, you know people like Stevie Wonder.

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: Yes, I know them.
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COMMISSIONER: People like Ray Charles.

MR RAMORAKANE SIMON MOHAJANE: Yes, I know them.

COMMISSIONER: Those are blind people but they are very prosperous in life when it comes to the things they have tried to achieve.  We want to say to you don't lose hope.  Maybe with the help that we can request from our President to give to you you might be in a position to fulfil your dreams.  Your dreams about carrying your life upon your shoulders.  The second important point that we got from you and it touches us, it is the fact that you mentioned that even if you are in that kind of a situation you have indeed forgiven the people who did that to you.  We hope that wherever they are listening maybe to the proceedings from their radio, if they see you on television uttering those words they will be touched in their hearts and maybe they will stand up and they will say we made a mistake.  We are therefore sorry.  We want to thank you.  Thank you very much.