Human Rights Violation Hearings — Nelspruit — 1996-09-05

MR MALAN: And on the envelope, was there a stamp or was it hand-delivered, how did it reach you?

MR D F SHONGWE: No, it was just an ordinary letter without a stamp.

MR MALAN: How did it get to you, who gave you the letter?

MR D F SHONGWE: As I had explained that my mother was going up and down trying to make enquiries. My mother found this letter in one house and the family name is Langilasa.

MR MALAN: Did they tell your mother how that letter got to them?

MR D F SHONGWE: No, they didn't tell my mom how they got that letter, except that they said to her they have lots of letters which they want to distribute to relevant families.

MR MALAN: Was your brother still at school when he disappeared or did he leave school, what was he doing?

MR D F SHONGWE: Yes, he was at school at that time.

MR MALAN: No further questions, thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: I would like Yasmin Sooka to help you.

YASMINE SOOKA: Mr Shongwe, I would just like to ask you, I think one more question.  You say that when the others came
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back, your mother went to talk to Peter Clome, and he told your mother that he had come back from Uganda. Now did they say where the last place was that your brother had been seen? Was that in Lusaka, was that in Angola or in Uganda?  Do you know?

MR D F SHONGWE: Peter said the last time they saw my brother it was in Uganda. They don't know where he left to, after that.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: I would also like to ask you a few questions.  If this letter was found at the Langilasa family, and you also mentioned that there was also one lady who left with them. Is this lady from Langilasa?

MR D F SHONGWE: Yes, she was from Langilasa family.

CHAIRPERSON: Is this lady back?

MR D F SHONGWE: Yes, she came back.

CHAIRPERSON: Now I would like you to explain to us that when you asked this lady when was the last time she saw your brother?

MR D F SHONGWE: No, we didn't ask this lady because when she came back she didn't stay long, she left for Johannesburg.

CHAIRPERSON: I would like you to explain to us.

MR D F SHONGWE: Even if she came one day, for one day, you will go and ask.  When she went to Langilada. Like Peter she also said the last time she saw my brother was in Uganda.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Shongwe, is there anything that you would like to tell us?

MRS SHONGWE: Yes, there is.

CHAIRPERSON: We welcome you, Mrs Shongwe. We will ask Commissioner Malan tb help you to take an oath.
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MR MALAN: Good morning, Mrs Shongwe.  Will you please stand?

MRS SHONGWE: ;  (Duly sworn, states).

CHAIRPERSON: Before I would like you to put forward your testimony, I would like to ask you one thing about Mr Lamgilasa. Is he a reverend?

MRS SHONGWE: I don't really know whether he is a reverend.  They just showed us this house that we can go there for help. I don't know whether he is a reverend.

CHAIRPERSON: But can you show us if Mr Langilasa is present, can you identify him? I would like you to explain to us how you went about looking for your son.

MRS SHONGWE: After I have received the letter we found this letter at Rev Nlovu, not at Mr Langilasa's house. It was at Peter's home.  When we went there they told us that they received many letters but they did not know where to distribute the letters.  So I went there, I identified myself. I told them I am Derick's mother.  They told us to come back during the week.  We went there. We found the letters.  They gave us the letters. We left.  When I got home I opened the letter. It was written that he has left, he has left for Lusaka and I must not worry, he will come back.  He also wrote that at Lusaka he was being transferred to Uganda.  In 1992 Peter came back. We asked Peter where was the rest?  He said he was in Tanzania and he is now finished.  Those who are left, are left in Uganda.
 Peter was the first one to come back after the five of them left.  One guy, who was my neighbour as well, came back.  He was the first one to leave. I think he left in 1986.  Then he is the one who said he suspected that Vusi died. Peter said he doesn't know that.  
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 We continued looking for my son.  We asked people, other people told us we must wait, after we have voted people will come back.  All the people who left will come back.  Thandi from Langilasa's family came back as well.

CHAIRPERSON: Please take your time, Mrs Shongwe, so that you help the Commissioners to get the full story.

MRS SHONGWE: She also explained to us that Themba is still alive and Ndusi as well is still alive, and I also asked her that how many of you left.  So she said five. Then I asked her what about Vusi. So she said Vusi left with Peter, they went to Tanzania. I explained to her that I don't understand because Peter said he was in Tanzania and Vusi was in Uganda.  I also went to the ANC offices and they told us that they will come back after they have voted.  They will all be back.  My son didn't come back.   I kept on trying, going to the ANC offices.  Until one day Kenneth Thole tried to help me. He tried to look up and down, and he said he can't find the truth.  Then he said to me he suspects that my son died, and people from Johannesburg will come back and talk to us.  Up until today no one came and talked to us.

CHAIRPERSON: We thank you very much, Mrs Shongwe. I will ask the Commissioner Yasmin Sooka to help to clarify a few things.

YASMINE SOOKA: Mamma, are you able to answer questions?

MRS SHONGWE: Yes, I will try.

YASMINE SOOKA: The five people who left, that was your son Vusi, then Eric Nkambuli, Peter Clome, Christopher Mlambo and Thandi Langilasa. You say that the other four came back, but your son is the only one who didn't.

MRS SHONGWE: Yes.

YASMINE SOOKA: And according to Thandi, Peter and your son
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went to Tanzania.

MRS SHONGWE: Yes, that's what she told me.  She saw Peter left the area.  Then while Peter said to us he left him in Uganda.

YASMINE SOOKA: Also, just to clear this up.  You say that you got the letter from Rev Nlovu, but your son earlier said he got it from the Langilasas. Now can you just clarify where you actually got that letter?

MRS SHONGWE: He made a mistake.  We received the letter from the Ndlovu family.  Yes.

YASMINE SOOKA: Until now you have not got any confirmation about whether or not your son died in exile or not.

MRS SHONGWE: We did not get any information yet.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you, Mamma.

CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Shongwe, we would like to thank you very much.  Your testimony about your son is one of those testimonies that we come across.  We have met many people who came forward and gave testimonies about their children and relatives.  We have seen that even outside, while in exile, people were suffering. The Commission that was headed by Mr Manzinane, helped, tried and helped the Commission. They also tried to put forward what we should do to help families like your family.  We as well as the Commission, we have received letters from different organisations, political organisations.  They have tried to give us some ideas what to do. But we as a Commission, as we have received your testimony, we would like you to put forward your statement so that we investigate more about your testimony.
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