Human Rights Violation Hearings — Queenstown — UNKNOWN

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Chairperson, I promised you that I will engage the audience and make sure that you don't go to sleep on me.
 Molteno was a small community with primitive facilities, lack of accommodation, no water born system, no sewerage facilities like most small South African communities.
 There was unrest by school children, and I think you will all agree with me that our children were impatient with us parents because they felt that we were not moving the system fast enough.
 Children were in constant confrontation with the police and the police challenged the children even in what we thought were safe areas.
 What were the alternatives to shooting and killing children?  Well, children could have been arrested and detained and ask the parents to come and get them.  The children could be asked to do extra homework and a variety of other alternatives.
 The police chose to go on a rampage of arbitrary shooting, even innocent bystanders.  It was not enough to kill, the police behaviour was characterised by belligerence, disrespect and arrogance.
 The police killed even children and then framed them or brought charges against them.  There was abuse of power and responsibility of the ultimate, everywhere in  South Africa.
 Tanduxolo Ndletyana was an innocent bystander coming 
QUEENSTOWN HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
19
from work to spend his holidays with his family.  Mr Ndletyana's employer is a collaborator and I am talking about Snr Mr Ndletyana.
 All he wanted was permission to be released from work to take care of burial arrangements for his son and the employer chose to be the (indistinct).
 White South Africans say we didn't know what was happening, or we didn't know the full extent of the abuses.  Something as simple as saying I cannot give you permission to take care of burial arrangements is indicative of the collaboration that was going on throughout South Africa and we call them sins of omission.
 Mr Ndletyana today is taking care of an adult son whose dreams were shattered, this son was his hope and his future.
 He is taking care of his son with very few resources, while the perpetrators received promotions and salary increases.
 Mr Eric Mbango's brother, Richard Mbango was killed through the same arrogance of the police.  Richard was running away, using what he thought was a safe area.  The police nevertheless chased him as if killing Richard was not enough, his burial arrangements were desecrated and the family which was in mourning, continued to be harassed by the police.
 Mr Mbango's request to the Commission is humble.  He just wants assistance for the education of Richard's children.
 Mrs Richard Mbango raised those children under difficult circumstances.  She still has dreams for her children.
 She was forced to face the harshness of the South 
QUEENSTOWN HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
20
African world as a young bride.  It was not enough to kill her husband, she was also put through hell in order to survive.
 Ms Nondleko Loliwe, Shwalakhe was 15 years old when he was killed.  The trauma that she experienced when she saw the condition of her son in the mortuary, was horrendous.
 I want to repeat, that while Grootboom's children were safely going to school and playing in the street, walking on the street, for Shwalakhe was not safe.
 What the families are asking for is humble.  Mr Grootboom, I don't know you.  You and all the other Grootbooms of South Africa, I want to ask you as you watch this, what are you feeling, what are you thinking and what is your contribution towards the healing of this families?
 To the  Ndletyana family, the Mbango family and the Loliwe family, your pain is enormous, but your pride shows.  Although your childrens' lives were snuffed out, these were soldiers, even the innocent bystanders were soldiers.
 Because these freedoms which we are enjoying today, came at an ultimate price. Your childrens' death and your childrens' injuries.
 Mr Mbango is only asking for assistance for her children and meagre accommodation.  Throughout South Africa, we are hearing victims and survivors not asking for a million rand because the police killed my children, but they are asking for very simple things.
 What love of country, what love of freedom?  A part of me is ashamed to be a South African because I can't believe that the perpetrators would engage in such horrendous acts, but a part of me is also very proud of you and how you've carried this burden.
QUEENSTOWN HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
21
 And I salute you, and on behalf of the Commission I say we will investigate and attempt to recommend to the President that your requests be followed.
 With all due respect, with humility I say you have survived a horrendous time, carry on parents of soldiers, carry on parents of future South Africa, thank you.

BONGANI FINCA: We now thank Dr Romachela, you can go back to your seats.