Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1998-11-25

MR SIPHO: I now call Thami Tulani Zondi.  His application form doesn't form part of my bundle, I have it separately, thank you.

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Sipho?

MR SIPHO: Thank you.  Mr Zondi, how old are you?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: I am 29.

MR SIPHO: During 1991, in what area did you reside?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: At Nhlalagahle, Greytown.

MR SIPHO: You have heard the evidence of the last two witnesses that testified here this morning.  Do you agree with their evidence?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: Do you associate yourself with what they have said?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: Okay, you were also convicted of having participated in the murder of the deceased, weren't you?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: And what time of imprisonment were you sentenced to?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Ten years.

MR SIPHO: Okay, have you now been released?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: When were you released?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: On the 11th of August.

MR SIPHO: Okay, now were you also a person who was travelling in a kombi that went passed the compound that day?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: Did you see the deceased?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: Okay, after you saw the deceased, where did you go to?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: I went home with my brothers.

MR SIPHO: Okay, and is it true that later that afternoon, you were part of a group of people that accosted the deceased and began assaulting her?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes, I did partake.

MR SIPHO: And did you also end up going to the home of Mr Msolo?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: Did you also take part in stabbing the deceased?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes, I did.

MR SIPHO: Do you know how many times you stabbed her?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: No, I can't quite remember.

MR SIPHO: Did you belong to any particular structures of the ANC at that time?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: Which structure?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: I was an ANC member.

MR SIPHO: Okay, but as far as you were concerned, what was the relationship between members of the ANC and the IFP, was it a close, friendly one, or was it a hostile one?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Hostile one.

MR SIPHO: Okay.  And is the fact that an ANC member had been seen in the IFP stronghold, that gave rise to the events of that day?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MR SIPHO: How do you feel about the fact that this person lost her life?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: It is hurting that a person had died in that particular way, actually it is hurtful, anybody's death.

MR SIPHO: Here again, members of the Committee, I don't wish to take this witness through every other aspect of the matter, and I leave him in your hands.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR SIPHO

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Thabete, do you have any questions to put to the witness?

MS THABETE: Just one question Mr Chairman.  Was it the norm that if an ANC person was seen in an IFP area, he or she would be attacked?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

MS THABETE: Do you have an example of an incident that had occurred before where a person was attacked, how that person was attacked?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes, a person would be killed when an IFP member entered the township.

MS THABETE: No further questions.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS THABETE

CHAIRPERSON: Any re-examination?

MR SIPHO: None.
NO RE-EXAMINATION BY MR SIPHO

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Lax?  Mr Sibanyoni?

MR SIBANYONI: No questions, Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Zondi, did you have your own knife?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: Did you stab the deceased more than once?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: When you stabbed her, was she standing up or laying down?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: She was standing.

CHAIRPERSON: And when you - after the stabbing when you left the deceased, was she in your view, dead?

THAMI TULANI ZONDI: Well, I wouldn't be accurate in that sense, but due to the fact that there was plenty of us, it was evident to us that she would die.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Sipho, any questions arising?

MR SIPHO: I've got no further questions.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR SIPHO

CHAIRPERSON: Ms Thabete?

MS THABETE: No further questions, Mr Chair.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MS THABETE

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Zondi, you may stand down.

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