Amnesty Hearings — Boksburg — 1998-03-06

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: When we arrived there, he was sleeping because he opened the door and he said, what is happening.  Now the answer we gave him was, you guys caused trouble and thereafter you go to bed.  We want you to tell us where some of your members are, because even the guns that you use against the community, were bought by the same community.

MR MAPOMA: Was Blanko attacked by the community?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: That is correct My Lord.

CHAIRPERSON: What about the ANC Youth League?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: I said they were part of the community, so they attacked.

MR SIBANYONI: Now after the attack, where did you go?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: We went to the long grass and we laid there.

MR MAPOMA: Yes, and after that what happened?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: After quite some time, one of us said guys, the members of the SDU are coming.  Then we took different directions, trying to run for cover because they were already shooting.
	We took different directions.

MR MAPOMA: Were you armed?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: Yes, we were armed.

MR MAPOMA: Did you hit back?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: We did not hit back.  They were unexpected sir.

MR MAPOMA: Then describe what happened when they arrived.

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: There were many of us, even members of the community.  Now, at a place where we thought we were hidden, we were there for a few minutes.  I think just after five minutes, gun shots were heard and we said they are very close, let's run away.
	We then ran to Block A.  There is a house where we got into.  I think we were six if not seven in number.  We stayed there.  The first two went out to check outside for, they were quiet, they didn't come back and myself and the deceased Ali Zulu went out.
	We saw members of the SDU coming, they were armed and...

MR MAPOMA: Now just there, can you describe who exactly did you see?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: Who are you referring to sir, members of the SDU?

MR MAPOMA: Yes, can you tell who were they, these members of the SDU?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: Yes, I have them.  Nxeba was among them, Oscar was there, Rooivalk was also there, some of them I do not remember because the one mentioned earlier on as Wehna was also there.
	I said to the deceased don't run away, and I grabbed him by his hand, but fear overcame him and he ran away.  He tried to jump over the fence behind where we were sleeping, but he could not jump, and then he fell.  Because they were on his tail, Nxeba himself had a spear and he stabbed him on the cheek with that spear.
	Now he was crying, blood was spitting, Nxeba lifted him up.  Among the members of the SDU who were approaching was Nxeba and then on the 5th, we had an altercation with Nxeba because of a site they wanted to give to someone, and he said I knew that I will catch up with you.

CHAIRPERSON: Will you please speak very slowly so that the interpreters may have time to interpret what you are saying.

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: Thank you sir.  I said when we went out, we saw the members of the SDU and I grabbed the deceased by his hand and I said please, don't try to run away, I know them, they cannot speak with people, all they do is just fight.
	But because fear overcame him, he ran away and he wanted to jump over the fence, he couldn't, he fell.  Nxeba arrived and he stabbed him on the cheek with a spear, then blood came out and then he lifted him and he came back with him.
	There was another group of men coming.  I already told you that on Sunday the 5th, I had an altercation with Wehna and he said I knew that I will catch you, because I told you that this week will not even pass.

CHAIRPERSON: Now, what became of Ali?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: I was talking with Oscar and next to him, the others tried to shoot at me.  The one who had 765, tried to shoot me three times, but the magazine went out.
	Rooivalk tried to shoot me with an AK47, it stuck.  Oscar himself shot at the deceased on the chest with six bullets, and then he spit on the floor.

MR MAPOMA: Was there any shootout between you and the SDU's then?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: No sir.  There was no shooting out.

MR MAPOMA: Now after Ali was shot at, what happened?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: When Nxeba realised that I was not shot at, one could see that he was sweating.  He said guys, you must know that he is their leader, if you kill him, the community is going to ask why did he not come to account.

CHAIRPERSON: What happened, what did they do with you?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: My Lord, we walked through the township and just before Block D, I think we passed about three shacks, they knocked at a certain shack.  They were already kicking and one boy came out of the shack, I think he was naked, he didn't have clothes on.
	Nxeba stabbed him then they put him back, so that he can put on his clothes.  Then the other one came out.

MR MAPOMA: Do you know who the boy was?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: Because of the commotion I cannot, but I do not know him, but I can identify him if he appears today.

MR MAPOMA: At what part of the body was he stabbed?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: He was naked, Nxeba stabbed him on the hands and on the ribs, he tried to block with his hands.

MR MAPOMA: Then what happened?  What became of the boy?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: I said there was an Albino boy inside the house, when he came out of the house, they said no, he cannot see at night, go back, we don't know what you want here.
	Then we walked along that street and they went into another house to fetch another boy.

MR MAPOMA: Now, when you  went along, was this boy who was stabbed, taken along?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: That is correct, My Lord.

MR MAPOMA: Okay, he went along then, where to?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: They tried to round us up.  They managed to catch up with another one, they came with him.
	Because some of them are guarding you and then some get into the shacks, looking for other boys.

MR MAPOMA: Now, you went along?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: I remember one boy was taken out of the house and he was already crying.  Oscar spoke to him and then he asked me whether I know him, and I said no.  You can ask him, verify it with him, he does not know me at all.  It is my first time to see him.

MR MAPOMA: Why did Oscar ask if the boy knows you, do you know?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: I think that boy was already crying when he came out, he said he arrived the previous night from Kumalo, he knew nothing of what was happening and Oscar left him and then he said he must leave.

MR MOTATA: So you went along, where to?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: We went to Block F, where Bulelwa's corpse was.  I think there were already three if not two young boys who were captured.  Nxeba, but I do not remember whether it was him, but he is present here.

CHAIRPERSON: When you proceeded to Block F, how many of you had been captured by Nxeba and oscer's group?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: We were three or four, I can't remember well.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you still recall who were with you?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: Yes, I still remember one.

CHAIRPERSON: Who are they?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: Well, I do not know his name, but he is present.

CHAIRPERSON: Where is he?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: He is among the audience.

MR MOTATA: Could you point him out, let him rise or stand up?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: The white T-shirt.

CHAIRPERSON: What is your name sir?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: His name is Jacob, sir.

MR MAPOMA: Jacob Moloi, Mr Chairman.

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: I do not remember the other one, but he is also present here.

CHAIRPERSON: Where is he?

LETUSANG RAYMOND SHARON LEKABE: I am trying to look for him.  There.

CHAIRPERSON: What is your name sir?