Human Rights Violation Hearings — Queenstown — 1996-07-22

NM KAMATI: Then when we stopped, the helicopter just turned towards our yard and all the people were scared such that they decided to run away.  As we were coming, this hippo was stopping us from the front.
 We met at the gate with the hippos such that it nearly hit us.  As I was sitting in the Kombi I could see the hippo and they said, come on, "fuck off", come out and get into the hippo.
 We couldn't even wash our hands, because we were being rushed to get into the hippo.
 So we went into the hippo.

MS MAYA: Then where did they take you to?

NM KAMATI: Then we were taken to Nquantwa at the
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Coloured location, such that I was scared.  I thought they 
were taking us to the Coloureds, to beat us up as they had used them previously.
 Then when we got down I saw some boers who were waiting, they were laying on their stomachs and we were taken to them.
 They said perhaps it was their (indistinct), then he said we should be taken to the showground and when we ... (tape ends)  (tape starts) ... to one another, then they came to us to confront us and said that this gun could shoot, because one could push in a bullet.
 The Black policemen was standing behind us with their rifles.

MS MAYA: ; How many were you?

NM KAMATI: We were quite a number, there were old people, there were women, there were my sisters, then the young ones were taken into a separate room and they were beating them up whilst we were sitting down.
 There was screaming and crying and the door was closed.  After they had beaten them up, they took them to the police station together with our Kombi.  
 It was now getting towards sunset and they came back to us and they asked how many people were being buried, then we said 11 of them were being buried.
 Then they asked but how, why are they so many, then we said we don't know.  Then they asked who were the people who were tuning Mandela, Mandela and who were also the speakers.
 Then one woman said we were crying and we were not looking at the people who were singing Mandela, Mandela.
 Then they said you say (indistinct) you fat, bitch.  Then we kept quiet, they said to the Black policemen in one 
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moment, they asked them to chase us and then I rushed out, 
the old women couldn't run and it was late, we didn't have transport.
 When we got there at home, we didn't see any people.  There was no food, it was just clean.

MS MAYA: So after you were released and your car was taken, what happened to the Kombi?

NM KAMATI: It was held there at the police station until my brother-in-law went there to get it.

MS MAYA: Is there any other thing you would like to add on so that we can now conclude?

NM KAMATI: There is nothing at the moment.

MS MAYA: Therefore, by your appearance here before this Commission I think you have a wish, could you just express your wish?

NM KAMATI: Yes, I have a wish that because the people they killed was my first born and I had great hopes that by now I would be a better person and they have really messed me up by killing him, because he was a gifted person and he used to repair radio's, he had green fingers, he could plough and today I wouldn't be buying cabbage for R3-50 if I would be having some money, I would give him to buy some seeds because I knew that he was gifted.
 So, I would like that this Commission should give me something and do what I do not have and give to me and meet me half way.

MS MAYA: I am sure you would like to know who are the people who actually killed your son.

NM KAMATI: I don't hear.

MS MAYA: I would like to know who are the people who killed your son.  We thank you, Mama.
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MS MAYA: Can I turn to you Siphiwo and perhaps there
is something that you can love to add on to what has already been said.

S KAMATI: According to me there is nothing that I am going to add, only to say that when I was 16 years old I couldn't continue with my studies for 2 years, because I didn't have time and I studied because I was being harassed by the police and has already been said by my mother.
 I recovered after some time and then finished my standard 10 in 1992.  I would love the Commission if it could, so that it could help me with regards to continuing my studies, so that I could be able to continue with my career at this point in time, this is all I can say.

MS MAYA: The following person would be, the person to follow is Ms Ndabambi.  Ms Ndabambi, how are you?

PV NDABAMBI: I am fine.

MS MAYA: The statement before me, you are going to give us testimony about Zandisile Ndabambi who was shot by the police, who died on that fateful day at Nonzwakazi.  Details have already been given by Ms Kamati and I would love so to hear about the death of your son so that we can get light of what happened in the process that led to his burial, so that if there could be something that you would love to add  on to what has already been said, you can say it.

PV NDABAMBI: On that Sunday we had a meeting, we had already left the church, we were at home.
 Zandisile and others too, they left for the meeting, because usually the meetings started at two.   We were not in the meeting.  At about sunset, at about six or seven o'clock somewhere there, there came a police van at about seven there was a police van which came home, we were just 
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relaxing at home.
 There was some people who alighted, who came to the house and they wanted Zandisile Ndabambi's home.  And I went to the doorstep and I told them that they were correct, this was his home.
 They asked the mother and I told them that I was.  They told me that they had brought Zandisile.

MS MAYA: Can I interrupt you mother?  We just cannot get clarity or cannot hear you.

PV NDABAMBI: They said they brought Zandisile and they were taking him to hospital and I asked what had actually happened.  They told me that he was sick and they were taking him to the hospital.
 I asked why was he covered with the blanket behind, because a sick person cannot be covered with a blanket.  They only told met that they were taking him to the hospital because he was sick.
 They took him to the hospital only to find out that he was being taken to the mortuary.

MS MAYA: Who were actually the people who arrived?

PV NDABAMBI: It was the people who were activists at the time.

MS MAYA: Are they people whom you know?

PV NDABAMBI: No, I do not, because I was not in the meeting.
 They took him to the hospital, actually they took him to the mortuary and the came back and they told us that they have taken him to the mortuary and we slept then, there was nothing that we could do up until such a time that we could arrange for the funeral.
 Zandisile was buried, they were buried in a mass, at 
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one time.

MS MAYA: How old was he?

PV NDABAMBI: I do not remember, because you know, I am illiterate, but he was more of a teenager.  He had already undergone initiation.  No he was not married.  He did not even have children.

MS MAYA: Do you know that there is any political organisation or any residents association that he allied himself to?

PV NDABAMBI: It is the ANC.

MS MAYA: I thank you.  Is there anything that you would love to add?

PV NDABAMBI: No, I do not have anything.

MS MAYA: What would you love the Commission in its powers to do for you?

PV NDABAMBI: I would love the Commission if it could succeed to place, to unveil a tombstone for my late son.  I would love the Commission if it is possible to unveil a tombstone of my late son.

MR SANDI: Let us now call upon Bandile Ndabambi?

B NDABAMBI: Yes.

MR SANDI: Can I ask is Mama Ndabambi your mother?

B NDABAMBI: No.