Amnesty Hearings — Pietermaritzburg — 1998-02-10

NORMAN ARENDSE: At your home?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: Yes.

NORMAN ARENDSE: And what did he tell you?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: He came to request a car telling me that they have carried out the operation.

NORMAN ARENDSE: Did he mention to you what took place and where the operation took place and what happened, did he give any details to you?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: If I remember well, he told me that they carried out the attack.  I don't remember as to which target they mentioned to me, and they told me they didn't meet any problem on the way, they were not stopped by police, or they didn't fight with other people there.
	So, however, they didn't identify as to which target.

NORMAN ARENDSE: Okay, did Tanda stay at your home that night?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: He came that night to take a car, and left.

NORMAN ARENDSE: Did he take your car?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: That is correct.

NORMAN ARENDSE: Now, we know that the next day, the 15th of February, you were arrested together with your co-applicants, is that correct?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: That is correct.

NORMAN ARENDSE: And was it in your car that you were all sitting?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: No, we were using my friend's car.

NORMAN ARENDSE: Is there any reason why you didn't use your car?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: It is because it worked throughout the night and it was dirty.   It was a time where we had to go to work, I couldn't use it to go to work, because it was dirty.  I left it with my friend to wash it, and took his car.

NORMAN ARENDSE: Mr Chairman, that will be all at the moment, thank you.  Thank you Mr Malevu.

NORMAN ARENDSE: .

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Prior?

MR PRIOR: Thank you Mr Chairman.  Mr Malevu, I am going to ask you questions on behalf also of one of the victims, Mrs Swarts, whose daughter died in this attack, and also in my capacity as evidence leader for the Amnesty Committee.
	Do you understand?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: Yes, I do.

MR PRIOR: Thank you.  What was your position with in the PAC in the Newcastle area, did you have an office, were you an office bearer within the organisation for that region?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I was a member of the local committee.

MR PRIOR: Who was the Chairman of the local committee, do you recall?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: It was Victor Twala.

MR PRIOR: And if I understand your evidence, you were approached in 1993 and given information that an attack was eminent in the Newcastle area and that you were to give assistance to the APLA members who were to approach you, is that so?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: That is correct.

MR PRIOR: Now, during the conference in December of 1993, that was in Umtata, was it not?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: That is correct.

MR PRIOR: You say the armed struggle, or the idea of the armed struggle was to continue, that was the resolution that was taken at that conference?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: That is correct.

MR PRIOR: Was that a clear signal that went out from the leadership that the armed struggle was to continue during 1994?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: In the conference it wasn't only the leaders who were speaking, it was the whole conference that resolved that the struggle should continue.

MR PRIOR: Was there any disagreement that the struggle should continue in the run up to the elections in April of 1994?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: There were two views.  The other view was that it should be suspended, the other one was that it should continue, however, those who were in favour of the continuation of the armed struggle, won the vote.

MR PRIOR: Yes, that is what I am trying to demonstrate, that there didn't seem to be unanimity among PAC members, or the leadership of the PAC and APLA, whether the armed struggle should be discontinued in the run up to the elections or not.  I just wanted you to assist us there, is that correct, there was no unanimity, there was a rift.
	There were two parties, two views of thought as to whether the armed struggle should be discontinued or not?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: At the conference, it is clear that people come into a conference will not come with one view, they will have to debate all the views, but it didn't mean there was a rift within the organisation.
	It was PAC as one political organisation.

MR PRIOR: I don't want to burden the record with referring to all the news clippings and paper clippings, but it seems to me, it seems to be common cause that at the stage, prior to the election and particular at the time of the various attacks, for example St James church in Cape Town, the Heidelberg Tavern in Cape Town, King Williams Town golf club, the Crazy Beat disco in Newcastle, those attacks, there seems to be lack of uniformity of decision amongst the PAC.
	We have had views saying that it wasn't their type of operation, they hadn't sanctioned that operation and we were also hearing that in fact the PAC had not suspended the armed struggle.  We were getting two types of signals in the press.
	Are you able to comment on that?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I would like to understand when you are referring to suspension of armed struggle and what do you mean by that?

MR PRIOR: All right, if I can refer to page 80 of Exhibit A.  Unfortunately Mr Chairman, those preparing the bundle have not indicated the date of this press release, but I want to refer to it in general terms.
	There is an article headed PAC (indistinct)  and it seems to report that the PAC expresses disappointment, yes, there were statements made by veteran Raymond Laba at the weekend, when he criticised the PAC for being committed to the armed struggle.
	It referred to Mr Timothy Jantjies of the Eastern Cape who said last night that the PAC was not opposed to the election in terms of the congress resolution taken in Umtata in December.
	And he is going on to report.  Sorry, if I may stop there.  Do you know Mr Jantjies, Timothy Jantjies from the Eastern Cape?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I don't know him, I don't know anything about him.

MR PRIOR: Well, he is reported to have said we have never threatened civil war or the use of force to disrupt the election.  Are you able to comment on that?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I don't know where he got that, however, what I knew is that the PAC said that we had to continue with the armed struggle.

MR PRIOR: He is reported to have said that the PAC were committed to peace, was committed to the peace process?  Was that the type of thing that was being discussed at the conference in Umtata in December of 1993?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: What peace when we were oppressed?

MR PRIOR: Sorry, it is a very simple question.  Were those the type of things that were being discussed, that the PAC was committed to peace, a peaceful resolution of the problems of the country, that they were committed to the peace process and the election that was forthcoming or were those things not discussed?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: We all wish peace, however the situation wasn't right for peace.

MR PRIOR: Right, at page 82 of the bundle, there is a report of Sevello Parmer in the Argus African News Service, who is reported to have said and once again I apologise, but as to the time frame of this article, obviously it must have occurred before Mr Parmer passed away and that was I understand in 1993.
	He had indicated that orders had gone out to members of the PAC armed wing to seize all military operations and the reports of attacks from APLA were being made not by APLA people, but by other people, are you able to comment on that?

BONGANI GOLDEN MALEVU: I  won't deal with Sevello Parmer's stories or his reports.  He was reporting, I wasn't trained in that field, I don't know what he was saying.