Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-11-19

REV XUNDU: We have heard the story of that day Sir and you are from Mngqaba in Debe Nek here in the Eastern Cape?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes that is correct.

REV XUNDU: Please tell us shortly how you were injured Sir.

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: I cannot hear with my one ear, my one ear is deaf and I cannot hear with this ear.  My other arm is not working.

REV XUNDU: Where were you at this time?  Were you in the stadium?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: No I was approaching the stadium.

REV XUNDU: Were you with the people who were marching?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes I was with the people who were marching, I was in the march.

REV XUNDU: And the bullet damaged your ear?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes it damaged my ear, I can't hear with it properly.

REV XUNDU: And what happened to your left arm?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: My left arm is not working properly.

REV XUNDU: Did you go to any attorneys because other people approached attorneys to get compensation?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: No I was not aware of that.  I didn't know that people were going to the attorneys.

REV XUNDU: So in other words you didn't go to any attorneys?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: No I didn't.
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REV XUNDU: How do you survive now Sir, where are you working?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: I am not working Sir, I am at home.  I am a farmer and I support myself through that.

REV XUNDU: So Sir what is your request to this Commission?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: I want my children to be educated.

REV XUNDU: How many children do you have?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: I have five children.

REV XUNDU: Do they still have a mother?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: No, their mother has passed away.

REV XUNDU: How old is the first one?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: The first one was born in 1970.

REV XUNDU: So you want the Commission to help you, to assist you with the request you have put forward?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes.

REV XUNDU: I hand over to you Mr Chairperson.

BONGANI FINCA: Thank you and we will take the last one.
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NTSIKELELO MXOLI

BONGANI FINCA: Reverend Xundu.

REV XUNDU: Thank you Mr Chairperson.  Mr Mxoli what is your clan name?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: Tshawe.

REV XUNDU: You were born in King Williamstown at Ngqaba.  You are 34 years of age.

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: Yes Sir.

REV XUNDU: Please tell us about the march, how were you injured?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: I was shot towards my backside.  I was in the march going towards the stadium.

REV XUNDU: Did you go to hospital?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: Yes I went to Frere Hospital.

REV XUNDU: Were you treated there?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: Yes I was treated.

REV XUNDU: Are you still under treatment?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: No I am not.  But they had said that if my leg starts aching I must go to hospital.

REV XUNDU: It seems like a lot of you went to attorneys, did you go?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: I went, I am still going to the attorneys.

REV XUNDU: What did they say?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: They said that they are waiting for a reply from the Defence Force.

REV XUNDU: What do you do for a living?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: I work at Mdantsane with the taxis.

REV XUNDU: Are you a taxi man?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: It is not my taxi, it is just a small car.  I force onto it because my family is looking up to me.

REV XUNDU: Do you have a wife?
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NTSIKELELO MXOLI: Yes I do.

REV XUNDU: How many children?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: Two children.

REV XUNDU: What would your request be to the Commission today?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: I request that my children would be helped with their education even though they have not started school yet.  I also have siblings that look up to me.

REV XUNDU: How many?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: There are two that are at school.

REV XUNDU: Is your wife not working?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: No.

REV XUNDU: Do you have another request besides that one?

NTSIKELELO MXOLI: I need treatment because my leg is not functioning well.  If perhaps I could get treatment so that my leg functions well.

REV XUNDU: We have a Chairperson who is recording these that will put them forward to our State President.  I will give over to the Chairperson.
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BONGANI FINCA: Ms Maya?

MS MAYA: Thank you Mr Chairperson.  Mr Mejane please come closer to the mike, I am going to ask you a few questions, I need clarity.  When we spoke earlier on I thought you said that you were in an accident, you were not actually going to the march, you had gone to ask for help at a certain office and then you got injured is that so?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes it is so.

MS MAYA: Could you elaborate what happened exactly to you that day.

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: I was going to the office at the magistrate.

MS MAYA: Where was this?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: This was at Hlekse(?).  The officers were closed and then I went to the hiking spot.  There were three queues, people were going to the march at Bisho.  I was told to get onto the taxi because if I would not get on they said that I was an informer.  That is how I got shot.  I don't even know if I was shot actually because it just became hot.

MS MAYA: Do you remember these people that forcefully put you on a taxi?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: No I do not remember them.

MS MAYA: Sir you said we can't even get details from the hospital that actually give proof and confirm that you were injured on that day, is that so?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes it is so.

MS MAYA: Where did you get help as someone who had been injured?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: I went to a witchdoctor because I was too scared because people were being shot at - people were neglected at the hospital who had been shot.

MS MAYA: So up to now you had not been attended to by a
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doctor in actual fact?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes.

MS MAYA: As a person who had been injured to you think that you need help from a doctor?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: No not anymore because I got satisfied with the witchdoctor's treatment.

MS MAYA: Do you use traditional medicine?

THOZAMA SAMSON MEJANE: Yes I do.