Human Rights Violation Hearings — East London — 1996-04-18

JACKSON MBOVANE: Yes I would like to do so because I am an unemployed, ever since I was unemployed nobody is assisting me.  I don't have parents and even my in-laws are late.

MS MAYA: Thank you very much.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Could you please keep quiet.  Mr Mbovane if I can remember very well, Ndakana which is the place in which you live, is it now - it was under the jurisdiction of the Ciskei government.

JACKSON MBOVANE: Yes it is so.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: What you have given an account of, is it an incident which took place during the period when Gqozo was the president?

JACKSON MBOVANE: Yes it is so.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: What was the reaction of the people and what were the feelings and the attitude of the people towards Gqozo?

JACKSON MBOVANE: I do not know.  Most of the time I was not there at Ndakana because I was a migrant labourer.  I would come during the week, maybe for two weeks only and then I would go back.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Please maintain order.  Was there good relations between the community and Gqozo?

JACKSON MBOVANE: No.
EAST LONDON HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
11 J MBOVANE

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: What were the attitudes of the people towards the government of the Ciskei, or can I specifically say about Gqozo?

JACKSON MBOVANE: Some of the people were having a very negative attitude towards him because he was an oppressor.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: What was the impression that our daughter had about him, about Mr Gqozo?

JACKSON MBOVANE: Did you mean my daughter?  No she was not thinking anything about Gqozo.  I think she was just like everybody who had a negative attitude towards him.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Was it known that he had a negative attitude towards Gqozo?

JACKSON MBOVANE: (No reply heard)

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: In your explanation you mention the Peace Force, this Peace Force is it not meant to maintain order and peace in the community?  Do you understand about the Peace Force, it is the people who are expected to maintain peace?  This one, this force what do you remember about it?

JACKSON MBOVANE: No I don't remember that they were the people who maintained peace because they are the people who killed my daughter.  So if you say they were the people to maintain peace I do not understand how does this correlate.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Do you think Mandisa who was your daughter, was shot because of this?

JACKSON MBOVANE: Mandisa was in the struggle, but you know I didn't have any information that she was involved in the struggle.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Do you have any suspicion about her killers?

JACKSON MBOVANE: No I don't know, I only know they were from Sandile, but I don't know who the individual really is.
EAST LONDON HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
12 J MBOVANE

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Is there any letter maybe that you received saying you should go and appear at the police there is a case that has to be opened?  Did you receive any letter from Bisho?

JACKSON MBOVANE: Are you referring to the police?  No I didn't receive any letter.  The last person to be involved in this was that lawyer that was involved.  The police were never involved, they didn't say anything to me.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Thank you very much.

JACKSON MBOVANE: There is something that I have forgotten.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: You can say what you have forgotten.

JACKSON MBOVANE: This thing that I left behind it's a very important point.  I was giving the statement, before this thing happened two people arrived at my place, it was during the night and they had petrol, they burnt the door.  They put it just in front of the door, luckily I could realise very quickly and I took a jersey.  You know when the fire started I was very aware.  Those people ran off realising that I have seen them.  You know they were really at their best running away, and I said well I didn't see them carefully but I don't really mind.  I don't know, maybe one of them was the person who killed my daughter or not, I don't know.

DESMOND MPILO TUTU: Thank you very much Sir.  We really feel the pain you felt about this matter that took place at your house.  These are the events that took place at your home.  As a Commission we will try by all means to investigate who the perpetrators really are.
 We want to thank you as well because you are very strong.  Thank you very much.