Human Rights Violation Hearings — Duduza — 1997-02-04

CHAIRPERSON: Next we have ...

RUSSELL ALLY: Sarah Mabaso.

CHAIRPERSON: ... Ms Sarah Mabaso, Sarah Mabaso.  I had thought that is what we said, this other one is not here.

RUSSELL ALLY: This relates to the same strike.  So you can try and ...

CHAIRPERSON: But this one is more in the.

RUSSELL ALLY: Yes, this is an ANC person ...

CHAIRPERSON: Yes.

RUSSELL ALLY: ... who was involved in the strike and the petrol bombs, but it is the same Ratanda strike.

CHAIRPERSON: Are you going to talk, are you going to talk?  Okay.  Sarah, we welcome you.  Who has come with you?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: Mr Mabaso as well as Anna Densey.

CHAIRPERSON: I see, that is good, as a family they must be worthy to your strength and you are welcome, all three of you.  Sarah, can you stand up and take an oath.  I had not even led you.  Hello Sarah.  Could, I had to lead you Sarah.

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: (Duly sworn in, states).

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, thank you.  Sarah, you too are going to tell us almost the same strike as Ndumo or another one where there was harassment to the workers.  Can you please tell us that story?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: That was in 1992, it was in September on the
22nd, on the 28th of September 1992.  We were coming back from our work place, we had knocked off at five and we were already going home at that time and when we got to the Heidelberg Hostel something came and it hit the bus when we were coming back from work, that is Escourt.

CHAIRPERSON: And what happened to the bus?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: We just saw something from the hostel, from the direction of the hostel, it came inside the bus.  When this thing came I did not see, I only saw it when it was inside and inside the bus there was smoke and even this apparatus that was thrown inside caused an explosion and the windows of the bus broke and we also saw some fire within the bus itself and the tyres of the bus burst to such an extent that the bus could not be driven any further, but the driver of the bus tried to drive the bus slowly even though it was without tyres so that he could drop us off at the bus stop, so that we could move from the hostel, because there was danger and we got to the residential area.
 When we got to the bus stop I got off the bus and we were running away from the bus because at that time the bus was alight, it was on fire and we were actually running for our lives.  When we got there some vans came to take us and ferry us to the hospital.

CHAIRPERSON: What did you say, that instrument that was thrown into the bus came from, who could have been responsible for that?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: I would not know where that came from, because I did not see.  When this bus started catching fire I never even thought of looking back to see as to which direction that came from.  My concern was to save my life because the bus was now alight, it was on fire and we wanted to save our lives.

CHAIRPERSON: And thereafter was there not talk amongst you or in the community, who could have thrown that instrument into the bus and why could he have done that?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: No, even today we have not heard as to who actually threw that instrument in the bus, because even when we went to the hospital we were talking and we thought that as time went on, we could possibly hear as to what had happened that day and we could get a clue as to who threw the instrument into the bus.

CHAIRPERSON: Was all fine and normal at work?  Were there not factions or was there not a strike at work?  The question is, sorry.

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: We were actually from a boycott, we had actually boycotted.  We wanted our salaries to be increased and we were coming back from work at that time.  When this happened we had already returned to work.  I think it was about a week after we had returned to work when the bus was attacked.  When this happened it happened on a Monday and we were coming back from work so, I could not say it was related to the strike.  As to why it happened I have no clue.  Even today I do not have any clue as to what was the cause, what the reason.

CHAIRPERSON: You see, we would want to know what could have caused that kind of a deed that nearly resulted in the loss of lives of the people, but if even thereafter it was still very difficult for the workers or the bus company, itself, to find out who was responsible, it makes our problem, it works, it makes our work very difficult.  What company was that?  That is the bus company?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: It was our bus.

CHAIRPERSON: When you say, our bus.

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: It was an Escourt factory bus.

CHAIRPERSON: It was a factory bus?  Sorry.  Was it a factory bus?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: No, it was a location bus or a bus that use to ferry people to and from the location.

CHAIRPERSON: And you never knew what company that bus was?  Was it Putco?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: It was not Putco, it was a Heidelberg bus.  It was Mr Nkosi's bus.  It was Mr Nkosi's bus.

CHAIRPERSON: Then, yes, how can we get exactly what could the matter have been.  As you were on strike were there people in the township who were opposed to your strike much as it had ended at the time?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: By the time we got injured the strike had already ended and we were back at work then.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, what I want to know is, during the strike were there people who were opposed to the strike?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: No, there were not any.

CHAIRPERSON: There were not any.  Okay, what has since happened to all those people who were taken into the hospital who were victims of that bus?  They are all discharged?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: Not all of us were discharged at the same time.  Some were left at the hospital.  We came out at our respective time, at different times.  Some were left at the hospital and some of us went back to work.

CHAIRPERSON: Yes, okay.  Did you belong to any union?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: Yes, I was a member of FAWU.

CHAIRPERSON: Of FAWU.  Did FAWU not try to trace what could have been, what this could have been that was a danger to
its members?

INTERPRETER: The witness seems to be having a problem.  She says she speaks Zulu.  It could be possible that she is hearing Sotho over her earphones.  She must tune in to three to get Zulu.

CHAIRPERSON: Please, help the group.  Joe, can you make it possible for her to hear Zulu.  Sorry.

JOE: It is on three.

CHAIRPERSON: Is on three.  Yes, my question was you belonged to FAWU as a trade union.

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: And most of you in that bus were members of FAWU that day?  Am I correct?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Now how, yes, my question is did FAWU ever make effort to find out what this accident could have been that nearly caused the loss of lives of its members?

LINDIWE SARAH MABASO: No, it did not make any effort.

CHAIRPERSON: Okay, let me just stop there and leave members of the panel to ask questions if they have.  Russell.

RUSSELL ALLY: Just a few questions and I will try to be very brief and I would just like to repeat the request of the Chairperson for the audience to please try and be as quiet as possible.  We understand that it is hot and it is late in the afternoon, but it is very difficult to actually follow what the witnesses are saying if there is this constant noise coming from the audience.  So, if we could please show the witnesses the necessary respect, because they are speaking about things that are very difficult and very painful and I think by us being quiet we actually show them that we respect them and that we appreciate them coming here to come and share these experiences with us.  So, please, just to repeat what the Chairperson has said, can we have quiet.
 Mrs Mabaso, did the police ever come to any of the workers, to you and take statements with regard to this incident?