Human Rights Violation Hearings — Newcastle — 1996-09-10

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Why aren't you working?

WITNESS:   There are some other means that a person can survive with.  It's not just a job.  Like selling something.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: How far did you go to school?

WITNESS:   Up to standard eight.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Are you trained for any job?

WITNESS:   No, I am not.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Did you try to look for a job?

WITNESS:   I once worked for SANDF, and then I left there because of my arm and my hand.  I have cramps, so I couldn't continue working there.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: When was this?

WITNESS:   In 1995.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: When was your last time?

WITNESS:   In June.   It was because of this hand?   ---   Yes.  I can hold with my hand, but I have difficulties in doing so because I have cramps.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Did they tell you to stop working or you decided to stop because of your problem?

WITNESS:   Yes, it's me.  I decided to stop because I could tell that I can't handle.  Even when the weather is cold I have a problem.

BONGINKOSI DLAMINI: Is there any doctor that you are seeing, or a physiotherapist?

WITNESS:   The last time I saw a doctor is when I went to Dr Sprinter.

MR LAX: Sorry, did you ever have - or was any case ever brought about your shooting?  Was anyone ever charged?

WITNESS:   Yes, someone opened a case, and my mother told me that Sergeant Dlomo was the one who was handling this case, but no one was arrested.

MR LAX: From which police station?

WITNESS:   Madadeni Police Station.

COMMISSIONER: Mr Ntuli, thank you very much for coming to talk to us today.  Your evidence shows that right up to 1994 - 1993 and 1994 there were very similar patterns of behaviour taking place in Madadeni as were happening in 1986, and by this I mean the very close relationship between the KwaZulu Police and the IFP.  We have heard many, many stories like this all around KwaZulu-Natal, particularly from places like Port Shepstone, and also the townships around Durban, like KwaMashu, KwaMakutha, Umlazi, Ntuzuma.  In these areas the relationship between the KwaZulu Police and certain elements within Inkatha was very, very close, and it seems to us that it was a deliberate policy of that police force, the KwaZulu Police Force, to support and assist one side, the IFP, and to harass and detain and undermine members of the ANC.  The remark which you made about how you feel about the police is also very important and very revealing.  Many young people like yourself have got a lot of suspicion and mistrust and hatred for the police, and this is understandable, but it's also very problematic, because we're now moving into a new era where there is ongoing transformation of the police force into a community police force, and in many areas of this country the police are dedicated to assisting the community and upholding the law.  However, there are also areas of this country, particularly here in this province, KwaZulu-Natal, where there has not been that same degree of transformation, and there is still a lot of suspicion between communities and the police.  However, we at least do have a sympathetic ministry, and it is very important that any biased behaviour by the police should be reported immediately to structures like the Peace Accord and the Community Policing Forums so that this sort of behaviour on the part of the police can finally disappear.
We note from what you have said that you have been disabled to a certain degree by the shooting, and that it seems as though you lost your job in the Defence Force from that shooting, and it is our job to make recommendations to the Government as to how people like you could be assisted, and we will be making those recommendations on your behalf.  So we thank you very much for coming to tell us your story today.  It gives us a clear picture of what life was like for young activists like yourself right up to 1993, and that information will go into our report.  Thank you very much.

COMMISSIONER: Mr Nene, we welcome you here today.  You have come with some members of your family, is that correct?

VUSUMUZI NENE: That is correct.

COMMISSIONER: Who are they?

VUSUMUZI NENE: It's my wife on my right-hand side, and on my extreme right is my sister.

COMMISSIONER: We welcome them here today as well.  You have all of you come from Madadeni township, like all the other - most of the other witnesses today.

VUSUMUZI NENE: That is correct.

COMMISSIONER: You have come to tell us about the bomb blast which took place at the Newcastle Magistrate's Court in 1986, as a result of which your legs were amputated.  Before you give that story can you just raise your right hand to take the oath please.

VUSUMUZI NENE: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Now, Mr Nene, you are married.  Do you have any children?

WITNESS:   I have three children.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... age, or are they left school?

WITNESS:  They are attending school.  One is in class one, the other one in standard three, the other one in standard eight.

COMMISSIONER: And you are obviously no longer working, is that correct?

WITNESS:   I am still working.

COMMISSIONER: Oh, are you still - are you still working for the SAP?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

COMMISSIONER: An administrative or clerical job, is that right, or what sort of job are you having?

WITNESS:   That is correct, I am doing clerical work.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... in Allen Street in the now - in the police station, or where are you ... (intervention)

WITNESS:  That is correct.  I am working in Newcastle, Allen Street.

COMMISSIONER: Now, can you tell us then what happened to you in November 1986 in your own words?

WITNESS:   On the 11th of November 1986 I was at court.  I had gone to a case.  I was a witness, a State witness in a certain case.  As I was just sitting there on top of the dustbin I heard an explosion just nearby, and I stood up and I wanted to go and see as to what was happening, but I saw nothing.  And at that time the senior public prosecutor approached - I think it was Macintosh if I can remember quite well - and he said I should move away from the dustbin because he wanted to look inside.  He checked inside the dustbin and he could not find anything.  Then I sat on top of the dustbin.  After quite some time I heard another explosion and I could not see.  I thought I was running, but when everything had cleared up I realised that I had fallen just next to the dustbin, and I just saw some bricks falling from the wall and they were falling on top of me, and I tried to manoeuvre myself to move away from the falling bricks and I realised that I had been injured on the legs.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... terrible for you to relive these memories, and you can just take your time, and breathe deeply and we can wait for you.  (Pause)  When I looked at my feet and legs I just saw bones.  The flesh was ripped from the bones, and I could not see my knees.  And after quite some time ambulances came, and we were taken from the scene of the explosion and we were taken to the hospital.  At hospital I was given an injection, and the next moment I woke up I had been amputated.  I was not married at that time.  (Pause)  I was still staying with my mother at that time at Osizweni.  I stayed for about a month and a half, because I was released on the 23rd of December, and on the 24th I was taken to Pretoria at a military hospital.  That's where they gave me artificial limbs.  I tried using these artificial limbs, but I was discharged the following year, that was in 1987 in May, on the 15th.  I could not use the artificial limbs, so I had to use the wheelchair.  And I went back to work in August 1980 (sic).

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... with you at the time who was injured, Mr Nene?

WITNESS:   There was a boy from the Simelane family.

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... suffer injuries?