Human Rights Violation Hearings — Beaufort West — 1996-08-12

MR METSING: Yes, I do have some doctors papers at home.

MS SEROKE: You once again, in your statement, say that Ben Vuso - who shot at you - was never present at court even though the court said that they suspected him of having done this.

MR METSING: Let me say I do not know who killed him, because I was still in hospital and I was still very confused.

MS SEROKE: You say that upon your discharge from hospital there was this case where Matxhabey and Partners represented you.  Do they still exist?

MR METSING: Yes.

MS SEROKE: So if we want any documents relating to your case, we would be able get them from them?

MR METSING: Yes.

MS SEROKE: You say that you received a amount of R6,420-00 and that was all.

MR METSING: Yes, that was all.

MS SEROKE: Were you ever promised that there was more money.

MR METSING: Yes.

MS SEROKE: Did you ever ask about it?

MR METSING: Yes, I wrote a letter to the Minister of Law and Order.  Matxharbey wrote a letter to him and he sent me another one.   They were saying that they couldn't find this person.  His wife would always respond, saying that they couldn't find the person.

MS SEROKE: Are you currently employed?

MR METSING: No, I cannot work because my back gives me problems, because of the pellets.

MS SEROKE: You say that you went to the doctor and in an attempt to apply for a disability grant and the first doctor declared you unfit.  Why did you have to go for a second opinion - to a second doctor?

MR METSING: I received a document from Oudtshoorn saying that I should take it to the doctor once more and I went to another doctor, Dr Ackermann, - not the doctor I went to the first time .  The first doctor I went to I think was Dr Van der Westhuizen ( a tall doctor), I cannot remember, I think it was Dr Van der Westhuizen.

MS SEROKE: In other words you do not receive a grant.

MR METSING: No.

MS SEROKE: How do you survive?

MR METSING: Let me say that I survive on the money that my mother earns.  We buy food with that money and that 's how we survive.

MS SEROKE: Just before I hand you over to the chairperson, I would like you to stand up and come and stand in front of the Commission so that you can show us the wound that you sustained.  Please remove your headphones.  Turn around so that we can see the wounds on your back.  Lift up your clothing.  Is that the scar of the operation that you underwent  at Tygerberg?

MR METSING: Yes.

MS SEROKE: Thank you very much.  No more questions, Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Any further questions?  Thank you.  We do not have enough words of sympathy for you.  There are so many people like you - youth who have sustained  these kind of injuries.  I do not know if it would appease you if I said that we thank you - the vast majority of youth - who sacrificed themselves so that today we have freedom in our country.  Thanks to these sacrifices made by so many people like yourself who sustained these kind of injuries.
Look at you, I mean today we are a free nation.  We have a democracy, a democratically elected Precedent.  We appreciate the contribution you have made, even though it was a painful one for you and as the Commission we will look into this matter and try and establish why you are not receiving a disability grant as yet.  Thank you very much.
May I just say thank you to the people, especially from Carnarvon, who have come all the way to attend the hearing.  We thank the people  from Carnarvon  [indistinct]