Human Rights Violation Hearings — Alexandra — 1996-10-28

MS SIDZUMO: I can't really explain him because this will affect me spiritually.  It will be painful to explain about him.  I think God will sort of like reveal all about him.

MR LEWIN: Can you tell us perhaps who is now in your home.

MS SIDZUMO: At the present moment there are people I asked to stay at my house.

MR LEWIN: And would you want to go back there yourself?

MS SIDZUMO: If possible, yes.

MR LEWIN: And how do you think that could be done, to get you back home and away from the Council premises?

MS SIDZUMO: If I have to go back it must be God's wish because I believe in God.

MR LEWIN: Can you tell us how many are you in your family now.  How many people are you now looking after yourself?

MS SIDZUMO: I have five children and some grandchildren.  There are four.

MR LEWIN: Do they live with you in the Council premises?

MS SIDZUMO: They are staying in town in a flat. I tried to find a flat for them because where we were staying we were so overcrowded so I tried to find them a flat where they could stay.

MR LEWIN: I will pass you over to the Chairperson now.  Thank you.

MS MKHIZE: Can you please explain according to your knowledge do you know Jerry as someone who belonged to any political organisation?  (Witness upset).  We hope now you are gaining composure.

MS SIDZUMO: Jerry used to stay with women.  He didn't go around or roam around the street.  He didn't like most of
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the things at that time and most of the time he used to spend his time with women around him and the women at home.

MS MKHIZE: We would like to thank you.  Maybe I might have to continue and ask as to what has happened in 1992.  As you have explained that in your heart you would really like to know that during the ethnic violence as you said you didn't know whether he killed himself or committed suicide, the person you talked to did he or she belong to any political organisation?

MS SIDZUMO: Most of the time Dumsani used to go to the city and he used to work there and get paid and he used to come back to me and say Mom here is the money that I have earned.  And he used to go and work there even during Sunday.  So I used to take him as my husband because he is the one who was taking care of us at home because at the end of each and every week he used to come to help us with a few things that we need.

MS MKHIZE: As I have asked you we would like to find out as to whether he was involved in any politics.

MS SIDZUMO: No, he wasn't.

MS MKHIZE: Another question further.  You also explained that you were also harassed because you were also one of the activists in your place.

MS SIDZUMO: Yes, that is true.  We used to organise ourselves in groups according to our residents.  So in each and every family they had to choose one person who will take the peoples' complaints, someone who would sort of oversee and look as to what is going on around the residents.  So we used to work as a group maintaining order and also to make sure that the community has clean toilets and houses.
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MS MKHIZE: Were you one of those people who had to take solutions as to what must be done to people who don't take care of their yards?

MS SIDZUMO: I would say that I was only chosen as one of the representatives for my house.  Because as I have already said they had to choose one person from each house.

MS MKHIZE: Thank you.  I will take you back to the Chairperson.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you, Mama, for coming today and sharing your story with us.  You have indeed had a number of tragedies in your life.  First the loss of your brother, then your son and then being displaced from your own home.  And we know that that situation still remains.  We have taken note of what you have told us and we will see what we can do about getting closer to the truth about what happened to your brother.  We would like to thank you for coming today to share your story with us.  Is there anything that you would like to add to what you have already said in your evidence?

MS SIDZUMO: I would like to ask, I don't know maybe I have done something wrong, maybe not, however I am of the opinion that the person who called me to report about the death of my son should come and explain as to what has happened because he didn't explain to me.  We just took the body to the mortuary and she just took the properties and went away.  Maybe she knows something about the death so I would like to hear more about it.

YASMINE SOOKA: Mama, do you know the name of the person who phoned you?  You don't have to say it to us here you could perhaps tell our statement takers.

MS SIDZUMO: Yes, I do.
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YASMINE SOOKA: If you give us that information then we can actually go to that person and ask them to tell us what they know about what happened.  Do you want to give the name now or would you rather tell our statement takers?

MS SIDZUMO: I would like to tell the person who will come and take a statement from me.

YASMINE SOOKA: All right, we will make sure that happens.  Thank you for coming today.