Human Rights Violation Hearings — Worcester — 1996-06-24

MR NTSOMI: Exactly, that's what happened.

WENDY ORR: And he discharged you were wearing only the hospital nighty and the dressing gown?

MR NTSOMI: Can you repeat the question?

WENDY ORR: You were wearing only the hospital nighty and the dressing gown.

MR NTSOMI: Yes.

WENDY ORR: How do you feel about that doctor?

MR NTSOMI: To me that situation is very unacceptable - I really can't describe and explain it, it was very painful - seemingly those days the system - the whole system of the country was corrupt -  upside down.  Because I don't think a qualified medical doctor could discharge a person from the situation I was  knowing that that person is being taken back to the police cells.
What I was thinking of I thought that  I would stay there for about six months, I had no idea what happened to a person who has been amputated.  I thought I was going to stay there,  get proper medication and examination as someone who had an operation.  That's what I thought I was going to get.
I am very painful and heartbroken because I just can't expressed my feelings of the situation that I was in that time.  Because I would say - I would say maybe I am inhuman because I don't think   that was not a professional doctor.  I think the professional doctor is the most person who could  care for a patient and he is the one who must care for you even from the police torture and all those things.  But that one discharged me.
I went to Parow Police Station in Cape Town, that's where I realised that I will wait for policemen from Worcester.  I sat on a bench in the charge office.  I sat there for along time - there were people coming in and out and I was taken from there.  I was not given crutches to walk.  As I was taken from the wheelchair two people gave me support, take me into the van - police van -  even while  I was getting off in the  Parow police station I was given support by two people inside the police station.  So that showed me that - that I was careless - which shows that, that was not the right time for me to be discharged from the hospital.
I was taken to the police cells telling me that I was waiting for the police from Worcester to take me back to Worcester.  I waited there for a long time.  They arrived there around about five.    They opened the cell and they woke me up because I was already asleep.  They told me that they are taking me and they said I must prepare myself we are on a journey.  There were two Coloured policemen - they supported me, taking me to the police van.
This police van - there were  two drivers who were wearing the camouflaged uniform.  They drove it as fast as they could.  The speed was very high - I can't even explain or describe - they were in such a hurry that they were driving at a very high speed.
I was sitting on this - at the back of the van on those small benches that's where I was seated - with pains and in that terrible situation and with my leg that was amputated was so swollen - I couldn't stand even the pain.   As they were driving recklessly I was seated on the left side of the van.
I couldn't tolerate the way they were driving because my leg was painful and the situation - I couldn't stand because there was also a wind that was blowing inside the van.  I could not bear the pain and I told myself - I tried to wave my hand to the police station and they stopped the van.  We were - we were just Paarl - it was just  a minute we passed Paarl and they stopped the van.  They get off, they came to me - they asked me what was my problem.
I tried to plead with them and tell them my situation at the back of this car.  I tried to explain the pain I am having and the way they are driving -  can't they assist or help because I saw there was a space there were only two of them in front a third person could fit in there.  So I asked them can't they do me that favour.  They looked at each other, they nodded their heads, I think they had a little bit of humanity because they couldn't resist and they take me into the front seat.
They were supporting me to the front seat of the van.  As I was - as I was seated there I was - I felt much  comfortable  and I had to thank them a lot because I was relieved of the situation I was in at the back of the van, I thanked them a lot time and again and they drove off.
We arrived in Worcester.  As we were in the charge office that - the one here in Worcester, I think they even called those who were inexperienced to come and see this fool that was here because there were a lot of policemen by the time we arrived here,  even those that were not on duty, they came in.
I was - they could - they had the guts to say anything that they can.  They told that this were the fruits of what you are doing in the location. The way you try to put the situation in the location - so they were saying things which one could not accept as a human being - terrible things that I couldn't even listen at because they were very terrible.
I still remember one of the policeman saying to me you mustn't worry - your leg will grow again.  It was funny to me because I have never seen a leg growing again, seemingly he was very happy of what happened to me.  He kept on saying that thing time and again.  I accepted it at that moment although it was unacceptable because I can still remember they said it and it's still in my consciousness.

WENDY ORR: It must have been very difficult for you after having your leg amputated to still be treated so rudely and humiliatingly by the police.  Are you ready to continue - can we go on?

MR NTSOMI: Yes.

WENDY ORR: Can we go on a bit?  You were kept in the  jail - the Worcester jail and then released on bail, is that correct?  And you appeared in court and what happened as a result of the court case you were charged with public violence, what happened?

MR NTSOMI: I was charged with public violence and related charges which I think they were about 3 - but there was only - they were all under one charge - public violence.  I was then acquitted because they found me not guilty.  
May I continue from there?

WENDY ORR: [indistinct] made against the State.