Human Rights Violation Hearings — Uitenhage — 1996-08-27

CHAIRPERSON: We are now going to ask our next witness, Mrs Buyelwa Plaatjies.  Thank you very much Mrs Plaatjies, Ms Maya will facilitate your evidence.

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: (sworn states)

MS MAYA: Thank you very much Mr Chairperson.  Mrs Plaatjies, I would like to ask you, what is your surname, is it Plaatjie, or Plaatjies?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: It is Plaatjies.

MS MAYA: In the statement before us on which your evidence today will be based we find that you are going to speak about Phumzile Gladwell Plaatjies, who was also part of the crowd of the people who was killed on 21 March 1985.  I would like you to please tell us when did you hear that Phumzile was no longer alive?  I would like you to tell us how his death affected you.

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: We heard on the Sunday that Phumzile had passed away.

MS MAYA: Who was telling you?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: We were told by a friend of his that was there.
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MS MAYA: How old was Phumzile at the time?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: He was born in 1967.

MS MAYA: Was he still a pupil at the time?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: Yes he was still at school.

MS MAYA: In which standard was he?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: He was in Standard 7.

MS MAYA: After having heard that he had passed away, what did you do?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: We went to look for him.  We came to AVBOB here and we were told to look for him in New Brighton.  We found him there.

MS MAYA: After how long did you find him?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: We found him after a week.

MS MAYA: Were you called, when the other people were called to the Jubilee Hotel?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: Yes, we were also called.

MS MAYA: Who did you find there, and what was done, what was said to you at the Jubilee Hotel?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: There were a lot of people there and there were attorneys present as well.  There were many of us and there were attorneys.

MS MAYA: What were they calling you for?  Since they say that there was money that the state compensated the people, did you receive any money?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: Yes we did.

MS MAYA: How much money was that?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: It was R15 000.

MS MAYA: How did Phumzile's death affect your family?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: We got so sick so much so that my mother suffered a stroke.

MS MAYA: How did the stroke affect her, how was she after
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the stroke?  Please take your time.  I would like to ask us to please keep quiet and show this witness the respect she deserves.

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: She was ill for a very long time, she is still not very well.

MS MAYA: One last question.  What is your wish as a family, what is your request to this Commission?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: I want some kind of memorial stone to be erected here in town.

MS MAYA: Is that the only wish you have as a family?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: Yes.

MS MAYA: Is there anything else that you would like to add before we conclude?

BUYELWA INNOCENTIA PLAATJIES: No, there is nothing else.

MS MAYA: Thank you very much, I hand you back to the Chairperson, there might be more questions forthcoming.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.