Human Rights Violation Hearings — Johannesburg — 1996-05-03

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: We are looking to have what me might call event hearings where we concentrate not so much on individual testimony but on testimony that relates to an event that would give a kind of window, an example of specific kind of human rights violations.  So we might for instance look at the Bisho Massacre or Boipatong or whatever, to look at the characteristics of that kind and we have said for instance too, we're hoping that we will have political parties come to make presentations so that we may begin to have some insight into their own particular perspectives on the period under review, what their policies were and so be able to locate individual violations or acts or omissions within the context that each of the different political parties will be making submissions, will have indicated to us.
 We also want, having underscored the fact that these first hearings were meant to be victim-orientated hearings where people, many as they have testified, been given the opportunity for the very first time to tell their stories. Apart from what was announced was that we may be going to subpoena alleged perpetrators.  We also would want to specifically have hearings where those who have been named will be given the opportunity of giving their side, as it were, of the story.  We want for that to happen as quickly as is feasible.
 May I introduce the panel that is accompanying. On my extreme left, your right, Tom Manthata, member of the Reparations and Rehabilitation Committee, Gauteng Region, Professor Piet Meiring, ditto, Hugh Lewin, member of the Human Rights Violations Committee Gauteng Region, Wynand Malan, Commissioner, deputy chair of the Human Rights Violations Committee, Faizel Randera, Commissioner, member of the Human Rights Violations Committee and also coordinator of our Gauteng office, Dr Alex Boraine, deputy chair of the Commission and member of the Human Rights Violations Committee, Yasmin Sooka, Commissioner, deputy chair of the Human Rights Violations Committee, Joyce Seroke, member of the Human Rights Violations Committee, Gauteng Region and Russel Ally, member of the Human Rights Violations Committee.

FELICIA AZANDE DLODLO: (sworn states)

DR RANDERA: Felicia welcome.  Before I give you the opportunity to tell your story, I just want to give a brief background of that period.
 During 1987 ANC operatives and sympathisers based in Swaziland were particularly hard hit by anti ANC forces with at least eleven people said to have been killed in clandestine operations during the first nine months.  One source described Swaziland this time as becoming a killing ground for gun men carrying out politically inspired assassinations with impunity.  
 Jaques Paauw in his book In the Heart of the Whore: The story of Apartheid's Death Sqauds, lists various victims of what he calls apartheid's death squads.  Among these are Mildred Msomi, Tutu Nkwanyane and Theophilis Dlodlo. Paauw says that an eye witness to the incident has named a former ANC guerilla who operated in Swaziland, but who later became an askari, as one of the killers.  The alleged killers, according to Pauw are in all probability, a Vlakplaas death squad.
 On the heels of an increase in MK incursions into South Africa, the idea of a "constellation of states" was born. This plan involved the spreading of Pretoria's influence and economic assistance to neighbouring states in order to create a strong anti-Marxist, ANC-free zone around South Africa.  According to one source this plan took a new turn in the mid-80's when the South African government began applying a carrot-and -stick approach to frontline states.  In short South Africa offered economic assistance to states in return for the flushing out of all ANC bases in those states.  
 This year on 22 May 1987 at approximately 10H45 pm, a top-ranking ANC member in exile in Swaziland, I understand he was a commander of MK and on the ANC Military Committee, together with two others, including Mildred Msomi, who we will be hearing about later, were shot to death in the car near Thembelihle in Mbabane, Swaziland.  
 I would like you to please, if you will, I know that you too were in Swaziland at the time, first tell us something about Theophilus and yourself and then go on to tell your story.