Human Rights Violation Hearings — Duduza — 1997-02-07

CHAIRPERSON: Could I ask the next witness to come forward please, Albert Nkuna?
 Albert welcome to you.

ALBERT NKUNA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Hugh Lewin is going to assist you but before you begin I just want to point out that the case that you are coming to speak about, the incident took place on January the 13th 1994. I just want to remind people that the original dates which were stipulated in the Act, the period which the Commission would cover, was 1960 until 1993, but a decision has been taken to extend that period so that the cut off date now is no longer 1993 December, but the 10th of May 1994, and it is because of that that we are able to hear Albert's case, so it's important for people who actually want to make statements to remember that the period now covered by the Commission is 1960 until 10th of May 1994 and anyone who believes that they have suffered a gross human rights violation between that period, those years, should feel free to make a statement to the Truth Commission.
 So welcome again Albert and I'm going to hand you over to Hugh Lewin.

MR LEWIN: Mr Nkuna could I ask you please before you make your statements to take the oath?

ALBERT NKUNA: (sworn states)

MR LEWIN: Thank you.  Albert you come from Katlehong.

ALBERT NKUNA: Yes that's correct.

MR LEWIN: And what you're going to tell us about is this incident that took place in January 1994, it's probably one of the most recent cases we have heard at a hearing.  We'd like to welcome you here and I think if you could, because it again involves the question of SDU's and ISU's, if you could just briefly, in your own words explain to us what was an SDU, what is an SDU so that we're clear about that and then tell us your story?  Thank you.

ALBERT NKUNA: The SDU are people who represented,

MR LEWIN: Take your time, feel relaxed, you're amongst friends so don't worry.

ALBERT NKUNA: The people we are talking about are people who represented the community, fighting for the community's rights. They are protecting their parents and we referred to them as people who were therefore our parents.  I was one of them because there were so many riots in the location, we had to stand up for our parents' protection.  We safeguarded our parents until such time came that even the authorities got interested to come in and see how much damage happened and that caused. I will show you even the picture from this article here so I show you that made the Joe Slovo and Ramaphosa came to see the area where people were fighting at.
 They sent McBride to tell us that they've already heard that there were people who have gone back to their houses and they wanted to come and see how much damage, and repair that damage.  Things that happened in the past won't happen again.  We tried to stop everything but still there was still shooting at the hostels.  I was a commander then of the ones who were fighting and we decided that I delegate authority amongst my people. ...(indistinct) and the people he was with wanted to take a turn, they started shooting suddenly. I therefore, and I have a cassette of what I'm talking about.  I said things are getting out of control and the situation's getting volatile.  Take cover and many of them have heard the word cover but some did not know about it.  When I was telling them to take cover, demonstrating with the hands, and I turned around to look at the hostel, I saw a white gentleman and he had an R4 with him and I tried to run, and I saw photographers and one of them was shot and I picked him up, trying to save him running with him.
 I went back now to the scene of the whole thing, I saw another lady who was already shot also and I tried to enlist help to her as well.  I was using an AK and we said we've agreed that we shall come in but now what we should do is to go on and never go back because already there's been attacks and I lodged a counter attack as well.  I will end there.

MR LEWIN: Could you also tell us what happened to you after that,?  In your original statement you mentioned something that happened after when you were picked up by the ISU's.  Do you want to tell us about that as well?

ALBERT NKUNA: I don't understand your question.

MR LEWIN: In your original statement you talked about the incident where you were protecting the leaders, Slovo Ramaphosa, Niehaus and McBride. You then said, after that you were approached and picked up by members of the ISU who wanted fire arms from you and then who took you away and did something to you in a house which you said was used as an office by the police in Newpark.  Is that right?