Human Rights Violation Hearings — Ermelo — 1997-05-22

MR MKHIZE: There was only one White policeman, the rest were Black.

THOMAS MANTHATA: The rest were Black.  I don't whether at that time you had any idea of the whole concept of removing Driefotein community, Tygerkrans and the lot and the lot, that it reflected a grave and great division between the Blacks in the are of Driefontein and the White farming communities in the Eastern Transvaal.  Am I correct to say that ?

MR MKHIZE: Yes, I could say that is true.

THOMAS MANTHATA: What are the prospects now ?  Are there any prospects now, perhaps one would say, how are the relations to-day between the White farming community or what can we call it, yes, we'll still call it the Eastern whatever you call it and the Black communities that were not removed as it was the desire of the Government then ?

MR MKHIZE: It's not like before.  I think the situation has calmed down a bit.  At times we have meetings with the farmers and we do share their views with them especially with regard to the grazing of the cattle.  We are able to go to the farmer, negotiate with him then they sell us some lucerne and some feeding grass.  I could say the relationship is becoming homogeneous.  The situation is better.

THOMAS MANTHATA: This has happened without necessarily a formal gathering which could have been at the core a gathering for reconciliation.  It just happens naturally.   Do you understand it to be sensible ?

MR MKHIZE: We came together as the community because we were having a problem with regard to the grazing fields and we didn't have fire wood so we decided to approach them so that we could buy firewood from them as well as cattle feed.  We as the community came together and we approached them in order to improve the relations between the two opposite groups.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Thank you, Paris.  No further questions.

MR LEWIN: Bongani Mkhize, I'd like to thank you very much for coming.  You've told us of what happened to you.  The way in which you were brutally inhumanely beaten and tortured.  I think your story gives a very cruel twist to the old saying about the sins of the father being visited on the children but I mean your father will always be a hero of Mpumulanga .......  us to-day and to tell the story.  May I wish you strength in yourself and strength in your own life.  That is what we can wish you and the strong belief in yourself.  You come from a very proud tradition and we're very pleased that you could come.  Thank you very much.
Thank you.      
 Ladies and gentlemen before asking Reverend Kumalo to actually close our session here in Ermelo. I would just like to say thank you very much to you for having been here and I have some special words of thanks that I would like to say on behalf of those of us here on the panel and in the Commission.  
 As you can see there's a great deal of work that has gone in to making this session possible, these hearings possible.  In particular it is the people of Ermelo and the local authorities through  Mayor Madonsela who has made this possible.  I'd like to thank particularly the Mayor and his staff, the Town Clerk and the people who have helped set this up, the caterers, everybody else who has made this possible.  It's been a privilege for us to be here and we're very pleased that we have been able to be here.  
 The other people who you must realize, have actually made it possible too are our contacts on the ground who over the past months, not just weeks, over the past months have been working very very hard.  I think particularly of Reverend Nkosi.  Thank you very much Sir, for your help there.  I think particularly of Reverend Kumalo as well.  I think of the briefers whom we have seen to-day in their task and I think of the statement takers who helped.  All of them please we can't name everybody by name but thank you very much for that assistance.  
 Could I say a word there about statement taking.  This gives you some idea of what is possible through statements.  What we would appeal to is that other people come forward.  We have heard and we have a large number of statements but I think that what has been shown to-day where we've been talking quite specifically and we've been hearing quite specifically about a conflict.  A conflict which involves, if you like, two sides or possibly several protagonists, antagonists.  We have heard statements, we have heard testimony from people if you like, from only one side.  The work of the Commission is all-encompassing.  What we are trying to do by way of starting the process of Reconciliation is to bring out the stories of all people from all sides.  I think what we would appeal to very strongly, appeal to the community and appeal to everybody else from within this community and in a wide area, amongst all your contacts.  Whatever can be done to get more statements from more of the antagonists.  We need the full picture, we need the complete picture.  If it is possible and there's plenty of time still, there's not that much time but people do have some time to come forward and make statements and we would appeal to people to please come forward.  Let us have statements from the whole community not just the one part of the community.  
 I'd also in thanking people as well, like to mention a special word of thank to the SAPS, to Superintendent Beukman and his men and those who have been with us from Piet Retief as well and you will go on to Balfour with us, thank them for keeping us safe.  It's nice to be able work in that sort of  relationship now, isn't it.  I'd like to thank the media particularly for their assistance.  I'd like to thank the Commission staff, Truth and Reconciliation staff who also have made this possible.  Half of whom are now already in Balfour preparing for our hearing there to-morrow and as I said in the beginning I would like particularly to thank those of you who have been here to-day, who have sat so patiently and quietly and have listened.  I'm sure that you feel as enriched as we do by the experience of the hearing.  Finally, the most important people whom we have listened to to-day, the witnesses.  This has been their day.  They are the people whom we must thank from the bottom of our hearts.  Thank you very very much for your testimony, for coming forward in the way that you have.  Thank  you very much.  Now I'd ask Reverend Kumalo to say a few words and close this hearing in Ermelo.
Hearing closes with a hymn and a prayer.