Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1997-08-13

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: I just want to put this request forward that these attackers, they say they want amnesty or they have applied for amnesty - I'm asking as to why they want to be forgiven because according to my own opinion they did this with full intention.  They moved from a certain place to where they attacked us.  Now, this was a distance.    It indicates fairly well that this was planned.  To me this looks like a cold blooded murder, they were killing animals.  They never new that they were not only killing us but they were killing our families as well.
	If they had intended to kill politically, why didn't they go to the place where the attack took place or the initial attack took place?  They attacked us.  We were innocent victims coming back from work now we are in such a predicament and suffering.   Our children are suffering as a result of the attack.  The education that we wanted to give our children can no longer be fulfilled because of them.  They wanted to do us down.
	According to them, they decided to do this because we were Black.  I do not see any logic whatsoever for me to forgive a person who has rendered me to be what I am today.  My future is now bleak as well as my children's future.  When you are not working, having a family, a wife as well as children ...[end of tape 1 side A]  ... because of people who attacked innocent people.
	As I'm talking, I'm in so much pain.  The pain doesn't end, physically as well as mentally.  Each time I pass where the attack took place, I get panic attacks.  I don't know how I can phrase this in any clearer way than what I've already said.  Now I'm wondering as to whether this forgiveness they are asking for - is it from deep down inside their hearts or is it on the surface.  Or maybe they have just come because they know there's a Commission, now they just want to be part of the boiling pot.  
	I do not really believe that they have any remorse whatsoever.  Their children are quite comfortable, their wives are comfortable.  My children as well as my wife are suffering.  It is very painful that as the head of the family, there's absolutely nothing you can do for your family.  You cannot even do the house chores, there's absolutely nothing you can do.  Now, here comes a person asking for forgiveness.  Even children get punished for whatever wrongs that they do, now why should they be forgiven when our children are now suffering.
	They should be forgiven and their children should continue with their education.  I am totally dissatisfied and I refuse to do that because when the case was still on in Durban, we were a laughing stock.  They kept on looking at us and they kept on laughing at us.  That actually showed that whatever they did, they did to animals.  Now how do you forgive a person who regards you as an animal?   They did not even hide it that they regarded us as animals.

MR PURSHOTAM: Have any of the applicants approached you and asked for forgiveness?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: There's not even a single one who came to me.

MR PURSHOTAM: Have they written to you asking for your forgiveness?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: There's absolutely nothing of that sort that happened.

MR PURSHOTAM: Thank you very much.  That is all Mr Chairman - from this witness.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR PURSHOTAM

CHAIRPERSON: Are there any questions you wish to put to this witness?

MS VAN DER WALT: Mr Zulu, ...[intervention]

INTERPRETER: The interpreter could unfortunately not hear the question, could it be repeated please?

MS VAN DER WALT: Mr Zulu, were you present yesterday when the applicants testified?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: I was sick.

MS VAN DER WALT: So you didn't hear when Mr Botha testified and said, they went with the intention to look for a target to shoot at?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: We got injured.  He's an old person, he's not a child.  When he moved he had gone to work for his children.

MS VAN DER WALT: Mr Zulu, did you instruct Mr Purshotam to oppose the amnesty application of the applicant?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: That is correct.

MS VAN DER WALT: Mr Zulu, why did Mr Purshotam write a letter to the applicants in which he said that if they paid the amount of compensation claimed, there would be no further opposition to the amnesty application?

MR PURSHOTAM: Mr Chairman, may I answer that question?

CHAIRPERSON: Just let him answer and see what he has to say.

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: I think he should say that because he did realise that there is absolutely no need why we should forgive people whilst we haven't been compensated.  As I've already explained that even children do get punished when they have wronged.  Now how do we forgive when we haven't been compensated?  I do agree with him when he says, it would have been better had we been compensated for the injuries.

MS VAN DER WALT: So, it is correct Mr Zulu that as far as you're concerned, you are concerned about the compensation, the payment of the civil claim?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: My main concern is my children as well as my family because whatever I had at the time, my resources are now being finished.  I have absolutely nothing left.  Now I am rightfully concerned that I have nothing.  I should be compensated.

MS VAN DER WALT: Mr Zulu, is that correct, that your interest lies with the payment of compensation only?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: Yes, we should be compensated but that is not my main concern

MS VAN DER WALT: But you cannot contribute anything relating to the evidence of the applicants where they testified why they committed the acts and the fact that they were relying on the fact that it was an act committed with a political motive.

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: If that was the case, they should have gone to the beach where the Whites has been attacked.  They were not supposed to have come to us to attack us as innocent people.

MS VAN DER WALT: No further question.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS VAN DER WALT

CHAIRPERSON: Have you any questions Mr Prinsloo?

MR PRINSLOO: Thank you Mr Chairman.  Mr Zulu, do you receive a pension from the Natal Provincial Administration?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: I can't hear the question.

MR PRINSLOO: Do you receive a pension from the Natal Provincial Administration?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: Yes, I'm getting a sick pension because I had long service there.  It's not even equivalent to the salary I was getting when I got attacked?  I can't even make ends meet with this meager salary that I'm getting.  I'm being helped by my wife so that we may be able to keep head above water.

MR PRINSLOO: What is the amount of pension you receive monthly?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: I don't even think I should tell you that because that is my family's concern, as well as mine.

MR PRINSLOO: Does you wife work?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: No English translation.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR PRINSLOO

MR WILKINSON: Thank you Chairperson.  Mr Zulu, you testified that at the time of your admission to hospital you were notified of that morning's attack at the Durban Waterfront, is that correct?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: Can you please repeat the question, I can't hear you.

MR WILKINSON: Immediately after the attack on the bus, you were admitted to hospital, is that correct?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: Yes, that is correct, I was admitted to the hospital.

MR WILKINSON: And it was while you were in hospital that you learnt that there had been an attack that same morning - that there had been an attack that same morning launched by Black people against Whites in Durban, is that correct?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: No, you must listen properly.   When this happened I was at work.  I was working and I was going to knock off at night.  I knocked off at night and I boarded a bus.  I did not know that something had taken place at the beach-front that morning.

MR WILKINSON: But you later learnt of the incident, is that correct?

TABANI RICHARD ZULU: I only heard later when I was at the hospital, after a few months.