Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 2000-08-28

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: We timed the bomb to go off before people got to work, because we didn't intend injuring any ...(indistinct), as I'm saying, this was just meant to be a political statement, so we wanted it to go off before 8 o'clock when everybody reports for work.

MR MGIDLANA: Are you aware as to when did it actually go off?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: If I may recall, I'm subject to correction, I think it went off around that time, before 8 o'clock in the morning.

CHAIRPERSON: As planned?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: As planned, yes.

MR MGIDLANA: Did you get to hear as to whether or not were there any people that were injured?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: According to newspaper reports, I think there was a person who suffered some injuries.  I think it was somebody working in the Department, those who come earlier than 8 o'clock.

CHAIRPERSON: You say someone, or some people were injured?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I think it was someone.

MR MGIDLANA: We now know that it was Mr Ndzobole, is that the person that was reported to have been injured even then?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I can't recall the name at the time, this happened a long time ago.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Mgidlana, who do you say it was?

MR MGIDLANA: Ndzobole, according to the bundle, N-D-Z-O-B-O-L-E.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Mafu, are you prepared to accept that it was Mr Ndzobole who was injured?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I've got no problem with accepting that, yes.

MR MGIDLANA: Was it just one limpet mine, or were there many?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: No, it was one limpet mine.

MR MGIDLANA: Now with that having happened, where you say there were no other people except for this lone person.

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: As far as I know, Sir.

MR MGIDLANA: Was there any damage to the building caused?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: There must have been damage caused to the building.  I don't ...(intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: Are you prepared to accept that there was?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I'm prepared to accept, I mean because, when a limpet mine explodes, there's bound to be some damage.

MR MGIDLANA: Alright.  Which was then - let's go on, which was the second incident to take place?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: The Madeira Street Police Station was the second attempt of the sequence.

MR MGIDLANA: Could you tell us as to who was involved in the planning as well as the execution of that particular operation?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: In the planning of the operation it was myself, Maziz Makadeza, Mbule Longono, Solly ...(indistinct)

MR MGIDLANA: So you were all involved in the planning as well as the execution?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: We were not all involved in the execution.

CHAIRPERSON: Just hold it, I just need to write down all these names.  It seems that all your colleagues who acted with you, are now deceased.

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: That's my dilemma.  Yes.

MR MGIDLANA: So who was actually involved then in the execution of the operation?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: In the execution of the operation it was Mbule Longono, Solly Talagumeni and Siphiwe Mazwaye.

CHAIRPERSON: Just repeat that.

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: Mbule Longono, Solly Talagumeni and Siphiwe Mazwaye.

MR LAX: Were you also involved in the execution?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: No, I was not involved in the execution but in the planning as a Senior Commander.

MR LAX: Okay.  Thanks.

MR MGIDLANA: What was used in the execution of that particular operation?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: In the execution of the operation was used hand grenades, AK47's and pistols.

MR MGIDLANA: Who had supplied those who were to be involved in the execution with such armoury?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I supplied the armoury.

MR MGIDLANA: What was the reason for choosing to attack Madeira Police Station?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: Madeira Police Station was the main police station in Umtata, the capital of the Transkei.  One could safely say that it was the centre of oppression where police brutality was metered from to the people around the Transkei, so in a way it was the symbol of the Transkei Police.

MR MGIDLANA: According to the planning, when was this operation planned to be effected?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: It was planned to be effected towards 10 o'clock at night.

MR MGIDLANA: Was there any specific reason for choosing that time?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: The specific reason was that 10 o'clock was the curfew time in the Transkei, so we didn't want to attract attention by moving after 10 o'clock, but we thought that if it was closer to 10 o'clock, a lot of people would have left the charge office by then, that is the civilians, having applied for their curfew permits and it was also opportune because the attackers would approach the police station as if they were to come and apply for curfew permits.

CHAIRPERSON: When did curfew begin?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: You mean in terms of the time of the day?  At 10 o'clock.

CHAIRPERSON: 10 o'clock?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: Yes.

MR MGIDLANA: This 10 o'clock is 10 o'clock in the evening?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: That's correct.

MR MGIDLANA: So were these three going to be joined by some other people in the execution of this task, or were they just going to execute it by themselves, the three of them?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: No, they were enough being three.

MR MGIDLANA: As far as you are aware, were any people injured or killed?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: Yes, I'm aware that a number of policemen were killed and I think there were some civilians who were hit in the cross-fire.

MR MGIDLANA: Do you know the names of those that were killed?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I'm not familiar with the names.

MR MGIDLANA: What about those that were injured, do you know them?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: Also those who were injured, I'm not familiar.

MR MGIDLANA: Was any damage caused to the building?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I reckon there must have been some damage, since there were some hand grenades which exploded.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you prepared to accept that there was in fact some damage?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I'm prepared, ja.

MR MGIDLANA: With that operation having been executed, are you aware of any people that were - those who went to execute that particular operation, were they arrested?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: No, they were not arrested.

MR MGIDLANA: And you knew where they were staying, is that correct?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I knew, yes, that's correct.

MR MGIDLANA: Then let's come to the third operation, then ...(intervention)

JUDGE POTGIETER: Mr Mgidlana, what is the date of this one?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I beg your pardon?

JUDGE POTGIETER: What is the date of this attack?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I can't remember the date.

JUDGE POTGIETER: Is it ...(intervention)

MR LAX: 29 July.

JUDGE POTGIETER: Is it 29th of July, is that - there's a note in our papers that it happened on the 29th of July.

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I wouldn't dispute that date.

JUDGE POTGIETER: ;   You would accept that's the date?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I accept it.

JUDGE POTGIETER: Thank you.  Yes, sorry Mr Mgidlana.

MR MGIDLANA: Thank you Judge.  Then with that - what was the third operation?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: It was the ...(indistinct) shoot-out.

MR MGIDLANA: Are you able to recall as to when did it take place?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: I think it must have been towards the end of January in 1987.

MR MGIDLANA: Was that still during the era of the Matanzimas in the Transkei as the rulers?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: That's correct.

MR MGIDLANA: Were you personally involved in that particular operation?

BASIL DUMISANE MAFU: Yes, I was personally involved.

MR MGIDLANA: Could you briefly tell the Committee as to what had happened?