Human Rights Violation Hearings — Umtata — 1996-06-20

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: They were also cracked, but I was informed that I should evict that one.  I should evacuate that one because it was a hazard to me.  I was the only one who was evicted.  All my neighbours, although they had, their houses had cracks also, they were not evicted.  After I left the house the same Municipality who said that was a health hazard took another family to my house.

KHOZA MGOJO: That there was a time when you were, your sites, business sites were taken away from you.  What happened with those business sites?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: I had a business site and it is the time when my husband was still a lawyer.  When I was paying the site I lost my job as I have already explained.  I told Mr Maynard that I would pay the site.  Mr Maynard recorded that, but when I came to pay I was informed that the site has been repossessed because it was discovered that my office, my husband's office was closed down and I was unemployed and nobody was going to pay for the site.

KHOZA MGOJO: So was the site repossessed?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: Yes.  I had a car, an Isuzu van, which I bought and that van, when I went to report that I have been employed the car was repossessed also.  In other words I was liquidated.  I was regarded as the wife to the terrorist and these were the abusive language which were used towards me.  At the same time I was arrested.  I could not understand why I was arrested, but Mr Sangoni, Themba Sangoni, who was the lawyer at the time assisted me and I was released.  I had to pay that money which I was still owing because my car was repossessed, but I had not yet finished paying it.
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 When I went to Pretoria to get money or my benefits I was informed that I could not get the money at the time until a permission from the Circuit Officer was obtained.  I was given only R800,00 which I used to release myself from jail.

KHOZA MGOJO: What would you wish the Commission should do for you?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: I have a wish.  I have got minor children.  They are still attending school.  They cannot attend school here at Butterworth because I am still in the four roomed house.  Here are the photographs of my children.  They are still attending school in Cape Town.  I had to take them to the boarding school although I did not know how I was going to maintain them.  So I had to take them to the boarding school.  I had to pay R3 000,00 per annum, but I have not paid.  Even now I have not paid.  I will pay instalments, R200,00 a month or R300,00 a month.  As I am talking now my husband is in hospital because he is now an invalid.  I have to pay those medical bills.  I was unable to send the money to school because I have no means of support.  I had a child who was attending school at University of Western Cape.  He did not get his results because he could not pay the fees.  So he is expected to pay.  He is doing odd jobs.  I think he was the child who could have been supporting me.  We really have lost our identity and this affects my children as well.

KHOZA MGOJO: This is pathetic really.  Mr Chairperson I think I will have to hand over to you.

CHAIRPERSON: Any questions.  Mr Sandi.

MR SANDI: Mrs Makiwane I have only a few questions to
ask you for clarification.  I think I will just ask questions about Xola Tennyson Makiwane who is your brother-
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in-law.  Did you say he has two children?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: Yes, a boy and a girl.

MR SANDI: Where are they now?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: The boy is in Natal and the girl is a lawyer in Cape Town.

MR SANDI: In other words are they independent now?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: The girl is married, but the boy is not independent.  I am not quite certain about what happened to him academically.

MR SANDI: Do they know anything about their father and his death?  Do they know that you are here now?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: Yes, I did visit his daughter.  I was in Cape Town. I visited his daughter.  When I stated that we should be here with her mother she said she cannot trace her mother.  He did not know where exactly where she is because he said she is between Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town because she said this affects her mother severely so she does not like to talk about it very much.  So that is why I have come here on, I think I have come here on her behalf also.

MR SANDI: Did you say Mr Xola Tennyson Makiwane when he came back from exile he was harassed by the police?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: No, I did not hear any stories about harassment.  It was before he went into exile.  So after he came back there was nothing that we could report and say he was being harassed.

MR SANDI: Was he never persecuted or tortured or anything during the time of the regime of the previous Government?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: I did not notice anything because they were staying here in Umtata and I was in Butterworth.  He did not stay long.  He would stay for a short period and then he
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would go abroad.

MR SANDI: When he visit the area did you talk to him ever since he came back from exile?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: No, I did not talk about what happened to him.  Usually he use to communicate with my husband and it is my husband who informed me that they came to overthrow the Government.

MR SANDI: You did not have any opportunity to communicate with him and get details about what happened to him during the period of the previous Government?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: I can just explain and say there were some conflicts which use to take place between the brother-in-law and the Government, but I do not have much details.

MR SANDI: Do you know anybody with whom he worked together during the time when he was in exile?  Do you have any information about the communication amongst them?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: I could say those who were working underground had good support and they also communicated with him.  They were relating very well with each other.

MR SANDI: If I can ask the last question about your husband Mr Thomas Ntsele Makiwane.  In your statement you mention the fact that it is believed and suspected that his present condition is due to the death of his younger brother.  Is it the doctor who said so?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: No ... the surname of the nieces and nephews, he said their surname is Tennyson.  When I reported this to the teachers they said, okay, we must just leave it as it is.

MR SANDI: Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: Ms Maya, do you have anything to say?

MS MAYA: Thank you very much Mr Ntsebeza.  I will have only UMTATA HEARING EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
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one question.  When Mr Makiwane Tennyson when he died what was he doing if he was working?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: He use to go abroad.  I am not quite sure what he was really doing at the time, but I know that he was working for the Government here in Umtata.

MS MAYA: Was he working for the previous Government when he went to exile?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: Pardon me.

MS MAYA: Was he working for the same Government, the one from which he ran away?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: No, he came later on.  He went before Matanzima's Government was in power and that is why he came back to say they came for subversive actions because they wanted to overthrow the Government.

MS MAYA: Which year did he leave?

ALBERTINA NOMFANELEKO MAKIWANE: I cannot remember, but when he came back his boy was 14 years.  They were born in Zaire.

MS MAYA: In one of your statements it is stated that during the period when your husband was shown these signs of mental illness he was also arrested.  When was he arrested?