Human Rights Violation Hearings — Sebokeng — 1996-08-07

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: No the money I get is the money for the
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children and it's too little, there's nothing I can do with it, especially that myself and my other daughter have to attend treatment at the doctor and I cannot afford anything.

DR BORAINE: Just one last question for our own records, so that we can continue this after today is over. Your husband's name, could you give that to me please?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: It's Zephras Sibisi.

DR BORAINE: Is that Z-E-P-H-R-A-S.  Okay we can check that later, it's not all that serious. You must have thought many times about that night.  You must have thought, who are these people? Where did they come from and why did they do this? What do you think about today when you think about that?   Why do you think this happened? Who did this?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: I also don't know who did this.

DR BORAINE: Thank you very much for coming.  I have no more questions.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much Dr Borraine.  May I ask Mrs Seroke, do you have a question or two?

MRS SEROKE: This is a pathetic story and I know also that as a woman, it is too much to bear, especially you attend to your husband Zephras and I would like to know, who the cost, who carried the cost of the funeral?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: The parents did carry the cost of the funeral. The ANC said it would help. Now we gave the breakdown of the funeral to the people of the ANC but they never helped us in any way. No some others were helped but I for one, I was not helped.

MRS SEROKE: I thought he was saying you can barely go on like that, and after that you can claim the cost of what I thought you were saying, that means you did claim but they never give you anything?
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JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: /...
 
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JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: No some did receive something after they claimed but I for one, I did not get anything after I claimed.

MRS SEROKE: You are also telling us the girl who was there injured is now mentally disturbed because now each time she watches television she remembers all what happened and we said yes, we will take you to the briefers, you will have to meet with the briefers so you may talk to our briefers because we try our level best that there should be some other people who could help the witness and the victim who suffered mental torture. So we will try to get you to our briefers who will be of great assistance.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Randera.

DR RANDERA: Mrs Mbongo, I know you've told us about your one child, Victoria.  Do you have any other children?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: Yes I do.

DR RANDERA: How many children are there?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: Two children.

DR RANDERA: With Victoria, or two other children?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: It's only Victoria and Patricia.

DR RANDERA: Patricia was not there that night?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: No she was not at home that day.

DR RANDERA: Mrs Mbongo, I just want to get your feelings on this issue. In the last few days and again we've heard about so much pain in these communities in the Vaal, Slovo Park, Boipatong, Sebokeng, Everton.  I also said when I started this afternoon that, and you know yourself that people were charged with what happened at Boipatong and many people were sentenced. Do you feel there can be forgiveness and reconciliation in this community?

JANE NOZILILO MBONGO: Yes.
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DR RANDERA: /...
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DR RANDERA: Thank you Mrs Mbongo.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Mbongo, I think Dr Borraine said it all for us. We do not have words, for how can you explain in words what's been happening and how can we, using words really comfort you. But you must know, we have listened to you, the hall has listened to you, and when the report is written of the Truth Commission, your story and the story of your husband, of little Victoria will be in that report. The Act that was written said that one of the reasons for the Act was that it must be a healing experience for the people who come to testify and I do hope that you feel some healing because we have listened to you and we've listened also to your needs. What Mrs Seroke said about going to the briefers afterwards, to ask for advice or assistance for you and for your child for guidance, psychological guidance and other guidance, please do take us up and especially, especially, thank you for what you said to Dr Randera, that in spite of everything, you do feel that reconciliation, that peace is possible in Boipatong and in our country. May the Lord give that it will, that that will be true, that will come to all of us. Thank you for sharing with us and may we pray that the Lord will be with you and your two daughters in years to come.  Thank you.