Human Rights Violation Hearings — Lusikisiki — 1997-03-24

UNKNOWN: We thank the Bishop of the Methodist Church, Bishop Dabula for his message that touched us.  It is a good way to start the day.  We have been eagerly been waiting for this day for quite a while.  It is a special day for the Commission.
 It will the first time when today we'll be looking at the battle that was here in Pondoland in 1960.
A lot of issues that were brought before the Commission clarified also battles that were fought by our people from the 1970's to the 1980's.  We are going to touch on areas where people arose and fought for their rights from 1960.  This is a battle that was fought here in Pondoland by the Boers fighting people who were not armed.  This is a story of gravity on our people.  
 We would like to thank all the people who made statements about this incident of horror.  Most of them will not come before the Commission but we have a lot of statements.  We have 200 statements about this calamity, the battle for freedom by the Mpondo people.

MS MAYA: Thank you Mr Chairperson, this morning of this day in Lusikisiki, Pondoland, this is our programme for the day.  In our list today we have 38 people.  We have divided these people into particular groups.
 First we have Mr Gxabu, Leonard Mdingi, Adolphus Cele.  They will give us a historical background as to what happened.  After that we have 16 people, they were tortured by the government of the day before the Ngquza incident. They are from Bizana.  This started in March 1960 before the ...(indistinct) incident in Ngquza.  I will read their names, I will read first the name of the person who is going to talk, and then the victim's name, if the victim will not be speaking.  
 As I said, they were tortured and ill-treated in Bizana in March 1960.  I will request that as I read each person's name, that the person gets up so that we see that the person is here.
 Mr Clement Khehlana Gxabu, Leonard Mdingi, Adolphus Cele,from Bizana Ethel Thandiwe Bambaliphi who will be talking about Gunqu Bambaliphi, Mvelwa Chushelwa who will be talking about Buyile Mguleni, Georgina Nomzamop Bele who will be talking about headman Phakimile Bele, Polina Nomathamsanqasiya who will be talking about Howard Siya, Zwelihli Zacharia Ngxoko who will be talking about himself, Nelson Jinineka who will be speaking about himself, Nconono Mabel Nondabula who will be talking about Clement Nondabula, Nomak Abitshi Mbewana who will be talking about Phungulwa Mchizwa, Zimisele Sukane who will be talking about Sukani Mbuthuma, Mavis Hleziphi Gazula who will be talking about Nanabezi Gazula,Jongindlu Theophilus Nuba who will be talking Mdodi Tshandu, Nelsie Mtutuse Mayidume who will be talking about Thakatshana Mayidume, Nokwanda Nora Mayidume who will be talking about Bubesi Mayidume, David Zifokofe Silangwe, who will be talking about Jamane Mxwengxe and Bhulekwana Silangwe, Simon Silangwe will be speaking about himself, apparently Simon Silangwe will be with Mr Gxabu, he will not be speaking about himself, Bekabantu Qalanyobe, will be talking about Nomnyaka Qualanyobe, Constance Xhelo and Nomawethu Francisca Johnson will be talking about Wanna "One" Johnson.
 Excuse me Mr Chairperson, there's a mistake, we will now be talking about people who were injured at the Nxusa incident, some disappeared from that day, they've been accepted as having passed away.
 Majay Mtombe will be talking about  Khoyo Chagi, Nyalasa Sipika will be talking about Ntamehlo Sipika, Ngqamngona Ropootshe will be talking about Ropotshe Ndindwa. The following two have relatives who disappeared, Mamkala Mlandelwa and Acelina Madlamini Ndzoyiyzna will be talking about Madodana Ndzoyiyana.
 The following were people who were present at Ngquza or whose relatives were there but fortunately they escaped but they were ill treated after that incident.  Some detained and some passed away after having been released from detention.  Nomntwana Mangonoma who is going to be represented by Nqintana(?) Mbekwa(?).  Mcingelwa Peter Bungana, excuse me Mr Chairperson, Nqintana Mbekwa will be talking about Mankungwini Nomntwana, Mcingelwa Peter will be talking about himself, Mkwenkwe Pelepele Nkonyeni will be talking about himself, Ntujanza Nkonyene Juze will be talking about himself if he's here, Nonzuzo Mfuntane will be talking about Mhlazwa Mfuntane, Clement Khehlana Gxabu will be talking about with a group that will be giving us a background, Alice Solani Ngalavu will be talking about Sithembile Mphoswa Ngalavu, Mapamtu Nokhedla Mbodli will be talking about Mbodli, we don't know the first name, Bulisi Silo will be talking about Silo Sipika, Richard Khetomthandayo Danisa will be talking about himself, Angelina Landiwe Melane  will be talking about Oliver Melane.  
 That is all from the people who were ill treated from the Ngquza incident.
 The last three are the people that were oppressed by members of KONGO because they would not Join KONGO, the ANC.
Their houses were burned down:
 Bukiwe Rosina Ngxuwa who is going to talk for Jonas Masoyini Gwayi who passed away, his house was burned down, Florence Namabala Mditshwa who will be talking about Stanford Mditshwa who was murdered, Panana Woodfield Giqi who is going to talk about Simon Giqi whose house was burned down.
 That is the list for the day Mr Chairperson.  If I could just clarify the procedure, Mr Gxabu, Cele and Mdingi will talk first.  They will give us a historical background to the whole Nxusa incident, then the people that were victims of the Nxusa incident will be next, then Ethel Thandiwe Bambaliphi and Nelson Jinineka will be representing the whole group.  Mrs Madlamini Ndzoyiyana and Mr Gxabu and Mr Khetomthandayo Danisa who experience sever ill treatment will also be speaking.
  Thank you Mr Chairperson.