Human Rights Violation Hearings — Pretoria — 1996-08-15

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: According to their explanation it was retrenchment in 1991.  Nissan and Numsa shop steward said that we should not worry, they are still following the matter.  I told them why do they retrench me because I was wounded or injured.  They said you do not have to worry, those who are retrenched will be readmitted or re-employed again.  If they want to recruit employer, employees.  1992 I was unemployed.  On the tenth of November, it was on Thursday they called me, I thought they were going to re-employ me.  We went to this first aid doctor, we met Dr Cloete.  He said because I was wounded that is why I was
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retrenched.  When I was in hospital I use to go to work with my plasters on, but when I removed the plasters I could not carry on my work, but the doctor decided that I could not work because I was wounded.  That was not a good thing that happened.  
 I wrote a letter to the shop stewards Chairman and explained the reason surrounding my retrenchment.  I told him that I was wounded, I am still a member of Numsa.  I should explain about my case.  So this one when he received this letter I told him, okay, I will meet you at Roslyn.  Did you receive a letter that I wrote to you, but he said he does not know about the letter.  They retrenched us according to life for system, but this life for system is not a good thing.  I forgot the numbers also.  I met Isaac Semake.  I said they are saying that my case was simple.  I timeously went to them to enquire about the matter.  They beat around the bush not telling me the facts of the matter at van Orkom number three.  When I enquire about the matter they do not tell me the truth.  
 I even went to Numsa's offices in Roslyn.  When I asked them they sent me back to Isaac and Isaac is not prepared to continue with the matter.  Lately when I was at this ANC offices, they sent me at De Wet House.  I got Mabena there.  He told me this case is an old case so they have nothing to deal with that case.  Then I got shocked when I received such reasons.  Today they said now I have left the evidence dating back to 1977.  I am still a member of Numsa even now.  In the train I tell people about these matters and some of their songs I cannot chant them because they enjoy, they reap the fruits of our labour.  Then they talk about Comrade Shula and then I tell them Comrade Shula should know about 
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these problem and I suspect he does not know about my case.

MR LEWIN: Since that time, since your retrenchment from Nissan you have had no job at all?

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: I am still unemployed.

MR LEWIN: And have you at any stage be offered any retraining so that you could do something else which would not be effected by your wound, the wound on your left side?

CHAIRPERSON: Since you can no longer use your left hand have you not received any training for whatever job that you could do where you would not use your left hand?  Maybe we could suggest that you get such training.

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: Are you referring to the work at the firm or anywhere else?  There was no problem at the firm.  I was a tinker operator.  I was doing computerised receiving.  I did work whilst I had plasters on my left shoulder.  I do not know why they have to reject me because I was wounded on my left shoulder.  I managed to work with plasters on my shoulder. That is what shocks me.

MR LEWIN: In your statement you, when you were talking about this lawyer, Willie Sebati, who came to visit you. You mention the figure too that you were going to sue for
R200 000,00.  Is that what, is that the figure that you actually used in your letters to the Minister now?

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: With respect to the letter that I sent to the Minister, I did not mention the amount, but that is true that even if the Commissioner could peruse through his files, I can give you the file number which is with Willie Sebati.  Maybe the Commission can investigate, he will know that Willie Sebati did include that amount because he asked me, then I gave him the amount as R200 000,00.  However, the letter to the Minister left from his office to the Lawyers
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for Human Rights.  Willie Sebati is no longer a lawyer.  Then he said this case, it is better if it can be solved out of court.

MR LEWIN: Did the Lawyers for Human Rights comment on the figure at all?

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: They never gave any comment.  They gave me a drafted letter, I gave it to the Minister personally.  Then I showed them this is the letter from the Minister.  One copy was taken to the Minister and the copy that I had from the Minster, they saw it.  I did show it to them and I told them that the Minister did his work.  I still have the reference number to that letter.  It was not necessary that they should continue.

MR LEWIN: I will pass you back.  I do hope that you have been able to give us all the copies of the correspondence and if you have not, if we could get those copies so that we can help you.  Thank you very much.

PROF MEIRING: Mr Morare, just a few questions for our record.  How old are you at the moment?

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: I am 38 years old.  I was born in 1957.

PROF MEIRING: Thank you very much and the two children, how old are they?

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: One is 16 years old and the other one is eight years old.

PROF MEIRING: And you are not working at the moment.  Who are caring for you?  Where do you get your money from for day to day living?

ISAAC SAKKIE MORARE: At present me and my wife are making car seat covers.  That is what we live from and we sell them at Johannesburg.

PROF MEIRING: Thank you very much.
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CHAIRPERSON: Mr and Mrs Morare we thank you.  We have
listened to your sufferings and we do understand how you lost the use of your shoulders which prohibited you from caring for your family and doing other work.  Therefore we will try as possible as we can regarding what you told us and see whether we cannot help you and we will do so by contacting you and telling you about what we have come up after making a few investigations.  
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