Human Rights Violation Hearings — King William's Town — 1997-05-14

NOMONDI: I don't want to waste time because after all this I took him to Grey Hospital.  That is where he  was photographed by the media and we took these photographs to Smith & Tavata.

MS MAYA: You mentioned Wendy, Lindiswa and  Luyiswa.  Can you please tell us about these children.

NOMONDI: The 2 children, who, there's 2 girls and my brother whose being supported  by my mother.  My brother gets a pension grant.  These children are my brother's children.  They were staying with my mother because their father passed away.
MS

MAYA: How old are they ?

NOMONDI: I took them because when my mother passed away.

MS MAYA: How old are they Ma'am ?

NOMONDI: The first one was born 1982, the other one 1985.

MS MAYA: Can you please mention their names, because we have 3 names.

NOMONDI: Nomsa, Nomsa is my sister's child who also passed away.

MS MAYA: Are they all at school ?

NOMONDI: Nomsa is not at school but she's still very young.

MS MAYA: Do you have any other requests to the Commission ?.

NOMONDI: I do have a request to the Commission.  I would like the Commission to assist us in these three, three children who were being supported by my mother.  As I am married now, I cannot support them.

MS MAYA: Mrs Mzinzi, would you like to add something ?.

NOMAVA LILIAN MZINZI: My request is the same.  I would like these 3 children to be educated.

MS MAYA: Thank you.  I will hand over to the Chairperson after I've finished with all of you.

MS MAYA: Mr Dara, you also from Masele Township.

ELIAS DARA: Yes.

MS MAYA: You were also affected on 27th of December 1991.  You were beaten with sticks and sjamboks by the soldiers.  What was happening ?

ELIAS DARA: The police came at home on the 27th of December 1991.  They took us near the school.  When we got to the school, they would take us and transfer us to the casspir while beating us.  They would make us lay down under the chairs and they were assaulting us all this time.  They said that I was a Chairperson.

MS MAYA: When you say that you were taken by the police, who was with you?

ELIAS DARA: Everybody in the village was taken by these police.

MS MAYA: What was the reason for this ?

ELIAS DARA: The reason was that a house belonging to Xhanga family was burnt down.  The soldiers were staying there.  It was burnt down on the 26th of December.  These police were asking us about this incident.

MS MAYA: Were you a member of any political organization ?

ELIAS DARA: I was a member of ANC.  The family of, the Xhanga family was a member of ADM.

MS MAYA: In other words, the members of ADM were helping the Ciskeian soldiers ?

ELIAS DARA: Yes.

MS MAYA: What happened to you after that ?

ELIAS DARA: They said that I'm the Chairperson and I must tell them who burnt down Mr Xhanga's home and I was not a Chairperson.

MS MAYA: After these assaults, were you arrested ?

ELIAS DARA: Yes, I was arrested.  They took me to Tamara Police Station.  We were then transferred to Thimbaza because Tamara Police Station was full.  On the 31st of December we were then released.

MS MAYA: The people who assault, assaulted you, did you know them ?

ELIAS DARA: No, I did not know them, but they were soldiers.

MS MAYA: Did you get any medical treatment ?.

ELIAS DARA: Yes, I did.

MS MAYA: Do you still have medical documents ?

ELIAS DARA: I don't know because my home burnt down.  A flame burst in my home, so I don't know whether the documents are still there.

MS MAYA: Did you lay a charge ?.

ELIAS DARA: No, I did not.

MS MAYA: Did you go to any attorneys ?

ELIAS DARA: No, I did not.  I cannot support myself, I cannot work like before and I would like the Government to assist me financially because I am not working.

MS MAYA: Do you have children ?

ELIAS DARA: Yes, I have 5 children.

MS MAYA: Do you remember their ages ?

ELIAS DARA: I don't remember, but my first- born was borne in 1980.

MS MAYA: We will come back to you for those details.  Is that all you wanted to say ?

ELIAS DARA: I would also like to know the perpetrators who did this to me.

MS MAYA: You will also be, like to be helped concerning your children.

ELIAS DARA: Yes.

MS MAYA: I thank all  of you.  I hand over to the Chairperson, maybe you will be asked questions.  Reverend Xundu.
REV.

XUNDU: Mr Stsikelelo Solani concerning your requests, you said that you would like a wife.  Would you like us to pay lobola for you ?

MR SOLANI: If that is possible, I would like you to do that.
REV.

XUNDU: Thank you, Mr Chairperson, I just wanted to know that.  We thank you people from Masele.  We've noted your requests concerning the conflict between the ANC and the ADM.  We will also look at your requests.  Thank you, you may go back to your seats.