Human Rights Violation Hearings — Mooiriver — 1997-05-28

MRS GCABASHE: It's cold, and we would like to thank you for coming even though it's cold today, and given the fact that you are at this age.  We are also sorry that you're here because of the saddest thing that happened to your life, something that you'll never forget for the rest of your life.  And this is the reflection of the life which we've led before, and we hope that we will never live that way ever again.  Before you start relating to us a story about your son we would like you to give us a picture of your family background.  We need to know if you still have children.

WITNESS:   My husband died a long time ago.

MRS GCABASHE: How did he die?

WITNESS:   He was ill.  I had four children including Zenze.  Now I am only left with three and they are still alive.

MRS GCABASHE: Can you please give us their names?

WITNESS:   Joseph.  He is now married and he's got his own house.

MRS GCABASHE: Is he working?

WITNESS:   No, he is not working since after the violence.  And I also have another son.  His name is Samuel.  He is not married and he is also not well.

MRS GCABASHE: Is he working?

WITNESS:   No.  And I also have a daughter.  Her name is Jabu and she is also alive.  She is working temporarily.

MRS GCABASHE: Are you receiving any pension?

WITNESS:   Yes, I do.

MRS GCABASHE: Now you can start relating whatever you can recall about the situation in Brandville at the time which led to the incident where you lost your son.

WITNESS:   The situation was terribly bad.  People were fighting.  After the violence - or during the violence we reported the situation here in town, that the situation was bad in town.  We were all scared to come to town.  My son died here in town, because children wouldn't listen that we were not supposed to go to down any more because it was no longer safe.  So my son did like everyone, every youth, so he was also a member of the ANC.

MRS GCABASHE: Was he at home on that day?

WITNESS:   He was at home in the morning, and then during the day he went to town.  That's when he got injured or he was killed.  He was killed here in town.

MRS GCABASHE: What happened after he left home for town?

WITNESS:   I didn't know, except that I got the message that they saw his body being removed by a van, a certain van.  A certain girl came to my house and told me.  The girl was my neighbour.  Her name is Zanele.

MRS GCABASHE: What's the name of the girl?

WITNESS:   Her name is Zanele.

MRS GCABASHE: Her surname?

WITNESS:   Her surname is Nqondo.  She is the one who came to tell us what happened, but she said she didn't see the whole thing, except that she saw his body being taken.  She didn't relate the whole story as to what happened because she said she didn't see.  All she saw was his body being taken.  Yes, we were suspecting Inkatha because he was stabbed by a spear, so Inkatha members were the ones who were carrying spears in town during the day.  They were the ones who were carrying spears all the time.

MRS GCABASHE: And did you report this matter to the police?

WITNESS:  The police knew about this.  We didn't go to them to report this.  We only went there to identify his body.  I didn't  know a thing.  I was confused at that time.  I only gained my memory - I think I was mentally disturbed, so I only gained my memory after the funeral.

MRS GCABASHE: Do you remember if you have a death certificate or not?

WITNESS:   No, I didn't receive any death certificate, because it wasn't easy for us to go to town.  It wasn't easy for us because it was real terrible.

MRS GCABASHE: During the funeral or while you were preparing for the funeral what happened?

WITNESS:   It was bad.  The situation was very bad, but the funeral went on because police were there.

MRS GCABASHE: How old was Zenze when he was killed?

WITNESS:   He was a teenager, but I think he was above 20.

MRS GCABASHE: This incident, how did it affect you or your family?

WITNESS:   We were all affected, as I have already told you.  When I heard this I got disturbed mentally and I also suffered from sugar diabetes, and after that I was never well.

MRS GCABASHE: Did Zenze have children?

WITNESS:   No, he didn't have any children at all.

MRS GCABASHE: Are you seeing doctors now that you're ill?

WITNESS:   Yes, I am seeing doctors.  I am taking tablets from the clinic.  I am seeing the doctors, the Government doctors, so I am not paying for this high blood pressure medication.

MRS GCABASHE: What about your other children?  How are they?

WITNESS:  They had been affected, and another thing which affects them more is them seeing me being so affected.  Zenzo was my youngest son.  They are very much concerned about my health.  If I don't wake up early in the morning they get so concerned they come to my bedroom and they look at my health situation.

MRS GCABASHE: Okay, you can take your time.  (Pause)  Can we continue?

WITNESS:   Yes, we can.

MRS GCABASHE: I was still asking you, this incident which happened in 1991, did you ever hear what really happened?

WITNESS:   No, we couldn't hear anything because people were scared to tell, and they were scared to tell the truth because they didn't want to be witnesses because they were going to be in a bad position, or to jeopardise their health and those of their families.

MRS GCABASHE: The police who contacted you, do you still remember?

WITNESS:   No, there was no police who contacted us, except that when I was preparing for the funeral soldiers came to my next-door neighbour and they started throwing tear gas canisters.  And no one was injured there.

MRS GCABASHE: How was your funeral service?

WITNESS:   It went fine because police were there.

MRS GCABASHE: I understand, Mrs Sithole, and I can also tell that you're still in terrible pains for the loss of your child.  And, as you have indicated to us that you are still going to clinic, trying to get assistance, but maybe also if you can see counsellors who can try and help you emotionally so that you cope emotionally, and so that you can accept and move on.  The lady next to you, she'll be able to help you and she'll be able to give you the whole information as to how to get assistance from counsellors.  And also maybe if you can invite your family so that they also get counselling assistance.  And thank you very much, and I also like to pass my sympathy for what happened to you.  I'll hand it over to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Sithole, thank you for ... (inaudible) ... it's very sad that at your age, when you should be being cared for by your children, you have to be here telling us about the circumstances of your son's death.  And we've heard many stories from mothers like yourself who have talked about their children, many of them young children.  Your son wasn't young when he died, but it is nevertheless equally painful for a mother to have to come and tell that story.  But it is important that you have told us because it helps us when we are writing our report that we have as complete a picture as possible of this area, and we are able to report fully to the Government on what happened here.  So your story, like everyone else's, is very important, and we thank you for coming in and for telling us that story.  Thank you very much.
/CHAIRMAN

CHAIRPERSON: The next witness is Emily Majola.  Mrs Majola, good afternoon.  We welcome you here today.  You have come to us to tell us the story about the death of your son, Derek Majola, who was a very well known person in Brandville.  Now, you have somebody with you here on the stage.  Can you tell us who that is?

MRS MAJOLA: Derek's son.

CHAIRPERSON: Is he going to talk, or is he just here to support you?

MRS MAJOLA: He is here to remind me of some of the incidents because I forget some of the things.