Amnesty Hearings — Umtata — 2000-01-31

MR MAPOMA: And during that period, were you still eager to serve the government of Holomisa?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: Yes, I was still eager.

MR MAPOMA: That Holomisa was leaning towards the ANC, are you saying did not affect your commitment in serving his government?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: At that time when all this started that was not clear from April 1989 and there was nothing that was affecting the Security Police that could lead us to be against Mr Holomisa on what he was doing, at this time from April until towards the end of 1989.  At this time that I was involved.

MR MAPOMA: When actually did you in the Security Force become uncomfortable with the government of Holomisa, if at all you did?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: It was until the end of 1989.  To me there was nothing I could say that was being done to show that we were against the government.  Yes, there was conflict here and there but that was not due to the fact that he had joined the ANC, but those were the things that erupted in the office.  But he didn't come out at that time, we were not sure of what was happening in his personal life at that time.

MR MAPOMA: Is there any stage during your service in the Security Police of Transkei, when you felt uncomfortable with the political stance taken by the Holomisa government?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: I found out about that when I was in prison, when I would meet other members that were still in the Police Force.  I was a prisoner at the time.

MR MAPOMA: What is it actually that you found out?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: They said that things were different from when the organisations were banned and when they were outside, when the organisations were still operating outside.  So they didn't know what exactly they were doing, what their job was, they didn't know whether to fight against the organisation they are doing the right thing or the wrong thing.  So they were not sure, they had no direction at that time.  They were not given the direction by the government.

JUDGE MILLER: I think what Mr Mapoma wants to know,  prior to your arrest did you have any dissatisfaction or grievance with the government of Transkei, the Holomisa government?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: No, that was not the case at that time.

MR MAPOMA: Thank you Chairperson, no further questions.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MAPOMA

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Mr Mapoma.  Has the Panel got anything?

JUDGE MILLER: Mr Nombanga, I'm still not quite clear.  You're saying that you had a meeting in Port Shepstone with Mr Mbotoli, part of your duties, you were performing your duties as a member of the Security Police when you had that meeting which involved Mr Mbotoli, is that correct?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: Yes, that is correct.

JUDGE MILLER: And did you meet him after that again? -Mr Mbotoli.

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: No, I didn't meet with him after that because what would happen was that I had to find out about his movements so that he can be arrested and taken to the Transkei.  So I didn't meet with him after that.

JUDGE MILLER: So you just had the one meeting.  Did you break the law at all, did you commit any crime?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: According to my knowledge Chairperson, I'm not sure whether I committed any crime because I was told to meet with Mbotoli to monitor his movements, so that I can set a trap so that he can be arrested.  When I was charged, that meeting was the main issue.  What I did wrong was to see him in Port Shepstone.  And at that time I had no jurisdiction to do anything on the South African soil at the time.

JUDGE MILLER: Did you report to your superior officers about that meeting?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: Yes, I reported to Col Booi.

JUDGE MILLER: Because I see from the documents that have been placed before us, one of the charges was that you failed to report information relating to foreign agents who were planning to overthrow the country.  Is that what the charge was?  I'm looking here at page 90, it's in the handwriting.  It seems to be the Magistrate's notes or something like that.  Was that one of the charges, failing to report information?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: Yes, it was one of the charges or it was also incorporated in the charges because the investigator who was investigating the case after it was removed from Col Booi, said that I had to contact him, the investigator that is, because he said that he was the one who was in charge at the time above Col Booi.

JUDGE MILLER: So you deny that you're guilty of that charge, because you say you reported to your superior officers, is that correct?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: I reported to Col Booi, so the fact that I was found guilty about that, I still don't understand it.

JUDGE MILLER: And then I see on page 105 of the papers you were found guilty of conspiracy to commit treason.  Did you ever in fact conspire to commit treason?  Did you plot to commit treason, at any stage?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: I was involved in this conspiracy or in the planning.

JUDGE MILLER: What rank did you hold at the time of your arrest, Mr Nombanga?

FUNDIKILE BLACKIE NOMBANGA: I was a Warrant Officer.

JUDGE MILLER: Thank you, Mr Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Any re-examination, Mr Malan?

MR MALAN: No re-examination, thank you Mr Chairman, that concludes our evidence.
NO RE-EXAMINATION BY MR MALAN

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Nombanga, you're excused, thank you.
WITNESS EXCUSED

CHAIRPERSON: We intend to continue a bit later than usual today and for that reason we will now take a short adjournment.  We will stand down for 10 minutes.
COMMITTEE ADJOURNS
ON RESUMPTION

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, Mr Dambuza?

MS DAMBUZA: Thank you, Mr Chairman.  I call Mazizi Ntisana to the witness box.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.