Human Rights Violation Hearings — Mooiriver — 1997-05-28

MR LAX: Please tell us what happened.

WITNESS:   There was violence in 1991 at Brandville, and the situation was tense.  There were sporadic outbreaks of violence, and on this particular day he went to the office where he was called.  They said he must come and fetch the house title.  He went during the day to the office, and he got to the office and fetched the title.  As he was coming back from the office, just next to the hostel, a group of people approached him from the back and they shot him.  He tried to drag himself and walk up to Mr Zokela's house, and he reported that he had been shot.  They went to look for a car to take him to the hospital.  They were children, but I wasn't present when this happened.  He was taken to the Brandville Hospital, but he was certified dead on arrival.

MR LAX: Somebody witnessed this incident.

WITNESS:   That is true, but that person is not present today.  It was a certain girl who was doing some washing outside her yard.

MR LAX: We have her name.  That's not important at this stage.  Is it correct that she wanted to get assistance, but these perpetrators prevented her from doing that?

WITNESS:   Who are you referring to?

MR LAX: The witness which you spoke about.

WITNESS:   At first she said she has a problem, and at the moment she is not here because she was traumatised by the incident when she helped my husband.

MR LAX: What was your husband doing at the time of his death?  Was he working?

WITNESS:   Yes, he was working at Mooi River Textiles, and on that particular day he missed work because he had to go to the office.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... say the matter was reported to the police at Mooi River.  Did anything ever happen?

WITNESS:   No, nothing happened, because at that time I didn't know what to do, and the situation was tense at that time.  And the children were very young at that time.  I didn't know where to go or who to go to for help.

MR LAX: Mrs Ndlovu, we will try and track down your husband's case and see why nothing further was done about it.  Now, you've said that some of your children had to leave school soon after your husband's death because you ran out of funds, is that right?

WITNESS:   That is correct.

MR LAX: Thank you, Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Mrs Ndlovu, for telling us that story, for coming in today.  We note from what you've said that your husband was going to the Council offices to collect the title deed for his house, and we presume that that meant that he had paid off the house and he was entitled to receive the title deed, a house for which he had worked hard all his working life and finally paid off, and on that very day he was attacked and shot.  As I said to earlier witnesses, the stories that we've heard here in Mooi River, Brandville, are terrible stories, some of the worst that we've heard, and your story is really no exception.
As Mr Lax has said we will try to follow up this case, see whether we can get to the bottom of what might have happened on that day, and we will communicate any information that we get to you.
But we thank you for bringing this case to our notice, and we hope that by coming here today and telling your story it has made it a little bit easier for you, along with all the other victims whose stories we've already heard.  It makes it easier for you to understand and accept your husband's death, and we hope that you and the other victims feel some unity in the sorrow that you have experienced.  Thank you very much indeed.
/CHAIRMAN

CHAIRPERSON: The next witness, and the last witness today, is Mrs Margaret Zuma.  Good afternoon, Mrs Zuma.  We are glad that you were able to come in today.  We understand that you only just came in a few minutes ago.  You are also from Brandville, from White City, and you've come to tell us about the death of your husband, Elias Zuma.  Sorry, your father - your father.  Can you please stand before you tell us your story.  Sorry, your uncle.

UNKNOWN: (Sworn, States)

MRS GCABASHE: Good afternoon, Margaret.  We appreciate the fact that you have been able to come and appear before this Commission with regard to what took place.  Could you please just tell us about your uncle.

WITNESS:   It's my uncle, my mother's brother.

MRS GCABASHE: Just tell us about his family first.  Was he married?

WITNESS:   No, he was not married.  He was staying at my mother's place.  I do not know how old he was a that time, but I do have his identity document.

MRS GCABASHE: You'll hand over the document to the briefer.

WITNESS:  He was not working.  He was receiving a disability grant -a disability grant, not pension.  He was limping, and his whole right-hand side was paralysed.  He got injured ... (inaudible - end of Side A, Tape 5) ... I do have children.

MRS GCABASHE: Where is the father of the children?

WITNESS:   He is not around.

MRS GCABASHE: How many children do you have?

WITNESS:   I do not have any.  I had one, and he has since passed away.

MRS GCABASHE: Who are you staying with at the moment?

WITNESS:   I am staying with my two brothers.   How old are they?   ---   The one - they are younger than me.  The other one was born in 1954 and the one was born in 1960, the last-born.

MRS GCABASHE: Are they working?

WITNESS:   No, they are not employed.  They were employed before, but they were retrenched, both of them.  I am also staying with my other brother, who is one year seven months old.

MRS GCABASHE: What's his name?

WITNESS:   The name of the girl is Letty.

MRS GCABASHE: Is it your brother's child?

WITNESS:   Yes.

MRS GCABASHE: How old is she?

WITNESS:   One year seven months.

MRS GCABASHE: Where's the mother?

WITNESS:   I do not know where the mother is.  The mother left or dumped the baby with the father, and the father is Tommy.

MRS GCABASHE: Is that all?

WITNESS:   Yes, that is those who are staying at my place.

MRS GCABASHE: Are you employed?

WITNESS:   No, I am not.

MRS GCABASHE: How do you earn your living?

WITNESS:   My brother buys food.  He is the breadwinner, my other brother.

MRS GCABASHE: You said he is not working.

WITNESS:   No, he is not staying at my place, he's staying at 'Maritzburg.

MRS GCABASHE: Is he your brother also?

WITNESS:   Yes.

MRS GCABASHE: But you said you have two brothers.

WITNESS:   I was counting the ones I am staying with.

MRS GCABASHE: Could you please just count them all.

WITNESS:   There's one who is in 'Maritzburg, as well as my other sister who is staying here.  My brother who has got kids is working at BP garage in 'Maritzburg.

MRS GCABASHE: Do you also have a sister?

WITNESS:   Yes, she is staying at Iraq, an Indian location.

MRS GCABASHE: Is your sister working?

WITNESS:   She is self employed.  She is a dressmaker.

MRS GCABASHE: Tell us the circumstances surrounding or leading to the death of your uncle.