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

DR RANDERA: The last question is that related to this random shooting, was your mother a member of any political organisation at the time or was she just a ....

MS MASENYA: No, she was not a member of the political organisation.  She was just an ordinary person.  She was a sangoma.

DR RANDERA: Thank you very much.  Chairperson, I have no further questions.

MR LEWIN: Miss Masenya could I ask what afterwards, tell us about what actually happened to you as a family and the house and what are you doing now.

MS MASENYA: At the moment I will try to think.  I am a domestic worker in order to support the family because I am also a mother although my husband has passed away.  With that money that I earn from this work at least it sees me through but I thank God for all the strength he has given us.  The two girls are married and only Bele is dependent but at the moment I am working at Mr Twala's house.

MR LEWIN: Thanks very much.

YASMINE SOOKA: You mention in your statement that the case was heard in the Wynberg court.  What was the final outcome of that case?

MS MASENYA: I don't know what happened.  All I know is that there was a case but thereafter nothing went on.  All that happened was just police coming to us wanting to know how did we know that my mother was shot by the police.  My mother stayed for three weeks in the mortuary because they demanded to know who said they shot her.

YASMINE SOOKA: Were you represented by any attorney in court?

MS MASENYA: No, we didn't have because we never even went
ALEXANDRA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
7 MASENYA
to the court.  Because they just took us there in order to ask us who told us that she was shot by the police.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you.  We are grateful to you for coming here today to share your story with us.  We know that it must have been traumatic both to lose your mother and then to lose your home and for you to have assumed the responsibility of looking after all the other children.  Is there anything that you would like to add before you finish your evidence?

MS MASENYA: What I would like to say firstly if this killer is still alive he must come forward, there is forgiveness.  He must just tell us did he think that because my mother was dressed in black was she seen as a symbol of black power.  Secondly I would like to thank God for all the strength that he has given me to face the challenges of life because today I am a strong woman and I became a woman at a very early stage in life.  I can survive and therefore I thank God and I would also like to thank our President Mandela who brought us thoroughly trained policemen who can take care of our security now.  Thank you.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you very much.  We have heard your plea and we would urge those policemen who were involved in the shootings during that time to come forward and to apply for amnesty.  Amnesty remains open until the 15th December this year and we would encourage people who have committed acts of gross human rights violations to take up the challenge that is being issued to them and to use the opportunity that is given to come forward and disclose what they have been involved in.  Thank you for sharing your story.  You are indeed a survivor and your bravery shames those who don't come forward.  Thank you for coming today.