Human Rights Violation Hearings — Beaufort West — 1996-08-12

ADV POTGIETER: So the interrogation was a - about the events at the school - they wanted to know  more about that?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: That's right.

ADV POTGIETER: Did you refuse to answer they're questions.  What was your attitude?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: I was quite arrogant, later on I could actually not even feel them hitting me, and I just decided I'm not going to leave my friends in alert.  I don't want to - want them - to be hurt.  And I was actually stead fast in what I did.

ADV POTGIETER: So because of your attitude, you were actually assaulted even more - that resulted in that?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: That's correct - yes that's correct.

ADV POTGIETER: So later on they took you to the cells in Carnarvon and tell us what happened then.

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: When we - got - got - came to the cells, I met some other friends there.  Wesley, for instance, was one of the people that gave me information.  Eshelle Andrias was also detained at the same time that I was captured.  They took him in a blue Ford car, I was taken in a bakkie.  Now these friends were there - they were left alone and they only wanted information from them, but they look me, instead, and I was kept in a cell.  About a month in  - in the cell in Carnarvon and then I was transferred to Williston.

ADV POTGIETER: So you were kept for about a month in the cells  -in the Police cells - in Carnarvon?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: Did they interrogate you even further.

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: No.

ADV POTGIETER: So you were just locked up?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes, I was just locked up.

ADV POTGIETER: Did they tell you what they did - to you - that you were detained?  Did they give you reasons?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Du Toit came there each weekend and then they would tell us something about a Fourteen-Days-Detention Law and I was later on transferred to Rooihel at Williston and it was - we were always kept for a period of  fourteen days and they notified us  - with regard to that.

ADV POTGIETER: So you say from Carnarvon you were transferred  to Williston.  How long did they  detain you there?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Also for a month.

ADV POTGIETER: And from Williston, where were you transferred then?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: I was transferred to George.

ADV POTGIETER: How was you - long was you detained there?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Also a month.

ADV POTGIETER: And when were you released?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: It must have been towards the end of October - I can't remember the exact date.  I know the exams have been completed and the schools have reopened when we have returned.

ADV POTGIETER: So you were detained from 16 July 1986 and released at the end of October '86.

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: And after the events at the shooting range, were you ever interrogated again?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: No, not again.

ADV POTGIETER: So, they've just locked you up?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes, they just locked me up.

ADV POTGIETER: And they left you there?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: Were you all - were you convicted on anything?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: No.

ADV POTGIETER: Did they ever give you a reason for your detention?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: No, no reason.  I was assaulted and locked up and they treated me the way they saw fit.

ADV POTGIETER: And as far as you are concerned, why were you locked up?  What did you do wrong?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: I think it was part of intimidation.  I think it's because they saw me as a intimidator, trying to close the school, because we demanded that the students, that were released, be - that's been detained be released before we went on with the school.  And I think it's because of that.

ADV POTGIETER: How old were you then?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: 18.

ADV POTGIETER: What is the impact of this incident on you?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: To  be honest, I've entered the course for Business Management but I have really problems studying.  It might be all the hitting on my head - I don't want to make excuses - I wasn't that bright at school but the point is now I really battle to concentrate.  I find it very difficult - I really battled last year - I struggled.
I prepare myself, I study but some days I just give the impression that I might be lazy, because I just don't have a focus.  It's although I go blank  and I can't remember anything.  Last year I've had a operation to my knee.  I'm a  [indistinct] , there I asked the doctors to try and establish whether I've lie - low or high blood pressure because I wanted to determine the reason for all this.  I'm usually very dizzy when I get up,  you know.

ADV POTGIETER: Now, before the incident how was your health?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: I was at the doctor once before in my life -  when my tonsils were removed.  So I'm  - I'm - very healthy actually.

ADV POTGIETER: You've given us evidence that they treated you with this bag - this wet bag over your face.  Do you have any effects of that - what happens if you close yourself with a blanket, for instance?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: If a duvet or a blanket - if I have to live in a - lie under it and I feel it on my neck, then I - I - feel smothered and I get very tense.  So I have to lie on my stomach, for instance.

ADV POTGIETER: So if you pull the blanket up to high then you have the feeling that  you'll be uncomfortable?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes, that's correct.

ADV POTGIETER: Does this all happen after the incident?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: How do you feel today about the incident?  I mean  they've  just left you there for a few months.

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: I'd like to put a question to the panel  [indistinct] and is it for me - is it okay from my side  it's impossible, and honestly to you, it's impossible for me to reconcile with someone, today, who's still in the Force, still influence people.
And the end of the day I must go back to these people, reconcile with someone.  Is there not a possibility that the Commission can do something so that that people can be, at lease, removed form their positions?

ADV POTGIETER: All 3 Police Officers, are they still serving in Carnarvon?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: I don't - I'm not quite sure where Du Toit is - I think one of them is at Beaufort.  The other one, Kriel - you know the Government went so far that they've actually - they did post him to -  Carnarvon as well, again.

ADV POTGIETER: So he actually was promoted?  That's what you're saying ?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes, yes.

ADV POTGIETER: Anything else that you'd like to add to your evidence?   Any - anything that you'd like to add?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: No, actually not - I just hope that the panel will give attention to what I've put to them.  You know, many things happened  [indistinct]  in the Forces.  They can influence someone else to do that - at lease please remove them from the Forces.  How could I reconcile with someone at the end of the day , who's on top of me.
If I can make an example of - if I can make an example of Biskop.  My Biskop - his a Biskop of my church, sorry, he will divide your congregation - he will - and lets say he brakes up the congregation, how can I reconcile with such a person?  So that person will have to reconcile.

ADV POTGIETER: Did you make - did you lay a charge at any stage?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: The Deputy of the Police Station, Attie Kriel -  Attie Kriel - took reports.  I don't hate him - he's a very ordinary person today and he was paid off, apparently because of alleged  crime - alleged robbery, but the statements he took from us he never took forward anyway. He is just a ordinary till man in our town today.  So - so - our cases were not followed up at all.

ADV POTGIETER: Marius, we thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Any questions,  Dr Ramashala?

MAPULE RAMASHALA: Mr  Marius, you say that you suffer from dizziness?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: And you've had medical assessment done?

ZOMARIUS BOCKS: Yes.

MAPULE RAMASHALA: And what did the doctors say?