Human Rights Violation Hearings — Tembisa — 1996-11-26

YASMINE SOOKA: It is the place where victims tell their stories.  We have received a number of statements from Tembisa but not everybody can tell their stories publicly.  What we have done is we have chosen statements and we have chosen some from young people, some from old people, a number of women and stories relating to the different events which took place in the lives of the people from Tembisa.   I am going to introduce the panel to you.  On my left-hand side is Commissioner Hlengiwe Mkhize, the Chairperson of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee, on my extreme right-hand side is Professor Piet Meiring, a member of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee.  Next to me is Mr Hugh Lewin, a member of the Human Rights Violation Committee, and I am Yasmin Sooka, the Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Violations Committee.
 This hearing is an opportunity for victims to tell their stories, and we ask that when they are telling them that you allow them to speak in peace and that you are silent during that particular time.  We stress that we do not make findings at this hearing.  We hear the cases from the witnesses and once they have told their stories the matter is then handed on to our Investigation Unit which investigates before the Commission makes a finding as to whether someone is a victim or not. 
 We also wish to emphasise that being found a victim is 
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not dependent on your appearing publicly before the Commission.  We can do that on a statement as well.  We have our statement-takers who are sitting in the room to the right of the exit sign at the back of the hall, and if anybody wants to make a statement they are available for you to do that.
 We have provided interpretation services and these are available.  Earphones and headsets for those people who do not understand the languages which are being spoken.  The witness will speak in his or her language of choice.  
 Before we begin our proceedings today we are calling upon a man who is very well-known to most of you, Mr Timothy Tony Mabena, who will come forward and very briefly tell us a little bit about the history of Tembisa.  We know that Tembisa began its life in 1957.  The stories we are going to focus on today relate to people who disappeared and who have not been seen again, to many of those who were tortured and who were shot in the different periods of violence.
 We now call upon Mr Timothy Mabena to come and take the stand please.  Mr Mabena we would like to welcome you for your assistance in the preparation for this hearing and we would like to welcome you to this hearing.  However, before you begin I am going to ask you to take the oath.

TIMOTHY TONY MABENA: (sworn states)

YASMINE SOOKA: Could I ask you to begin please.

TIMOTHY TONY MABENA: Yes.  I have prepared a paper that states "Brief Report to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee about Tembisa", and I am going to give the history.
 Tembisa Township was established in 1957 to accommodate families removed from Olifantsfontein, Irene, Verwoerdburg, Edenvale, Kempton Park and Alexander.  They were 
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accommodated in shacks.  The first sections were Thobeni, Ekhaleni, Mqansa, Sitebeng and Masimong.  Some years later Sithughau Hostel was established next to Thobeni Section and there were two schools at Ekhaleni and Thobeni and one shop at Ekhaleni which also served as a post office.
 In 1962 or '63 the first four-roomed house was built at Sitebeng Section.  Residents were invited to inspect and it was called the "Sample House", and they wanted the approval of residents.  The Municipality started building those four-roomed houses and administration offices at Sikhelo Section and a two-roomed clinic at Mqansa Section. 
 Tembisa was granted municipal status in 1983 by means of election.  Only 14% of the residents voted.  In 1984 the Town Council collapsed and it was replaced by seven Black administrators and one White chairperson.  At that stage the Civic Association emerged and started questioning the imbalances in the Township.  The working committee requested a meeting with the authorities.  Street Committees were formed to take mandates from communities.  This led to major consumer boycotts in 1985 and also wanted the withdrawal of army, police from the Township.  The rent boycotts started in 1985, people protesting against increases of rent and service charges.
 In 1986 the entire leadership of Tembisa Residents Association was detained and taken to Modderbee Prison.  By 1987 arrears totalled, that is rent arrears, totalled 12 million and the Council collapsed.
 Tembisa was intended to house only single people.  Most of the sections in Tembisa were hostels for single men. One might sight Maqulong, Timong, Chiyane, Etafene, Mlonganeng, Toga, Vusumuzi and Lerale.  In most of these hostels we have TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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seen people taken those houses and taken them to be family houses.  Some houses were surrendered by the Council for allocating the families.  
 Tembisa was one of the horrible townships with four creches, 28 primary schools, ten secondary schools, and we had a total formal houses, that is 20,000 formal houses and rented were 9,000.  Those bought for 30 year leasehold were 8,000.  99 year leasehold were 2,500 and freehold, none.  Occupants per house was round about 16.  Hostels four, halls three, police station one, post office one, library one, hospital one, clinics three, soccer fields 15, cinemas two.  The above was for the population estimated 400,000.  Thank you.

YASMINE SOOKA: Thank you very much Mr Mabena.  I think that it would be very useful if you would give a copy of your statement to our briefers so that we can put that in terms of our records.  The statistics you sight are incredibly frightening and one recognises that it is incredibly difficult for people to live under those kind of circumstances.  We know that the system of single-sex hostels was one of the roots of contention in this country, particularly in townships.  I am going to ask my fellow commissioners if they have any questions that they would like to ask you.
 Mr Mabena you have also given us a statement relating to your own personal story.

TIMOTHY TONY MABENA: Yes.

YASMINE SOOKA: Are you going to deal with that as well?

TIMOTHY TONY MABENA: Yes I am going to deal with that as well.

YASMINE SOOKA: Alright.  You can go on to that.