Human Rights Violation Hearings — Newcastle — 1996-09-12

COMMISSIONER: (Inaudible) ... according to the documents that we have Nthokozo is suffering from what is called post-traumatic stress disorder, which is a disorder or a syndrome which is brought on after exposure to a very traumatic event.  It's something that some people are susceptible to.  Not all people who have undergone a traumatic event develop this, or they develop it in varying degrees, and it seems as though Nthokozo is still suffering after these many years from this emotional problem, post-traumatic stress disorder.  In fact he is not well at the moment, and there is a doctor seeing him.  So I think that's a good time for us to end, and to take a lunch break.

COMMISSIONER: But it's clear that what has happened to him was brought about a style of policing that was used by the South African Police which didn't involve real policing at all.  It involved brutal assaults, torture, electric shocks on people, in the hope or the expectation that that person might give them some information.  People frequently made false confessions in desperation, and Nthokozo said he too made a false confession about the death of a policeman that he'd never heard of, Mazibuko.  And he was - it seems as though he's been permanently affected by that very traumatic event, and although he has suffered, he still is suffering, we do - we saw here today quite a positive young man, who gave us a very articulate and clear story about what happened to him, and it's wonderful to see that despite what happened to him, and despite the emotional problems that he is having, that he is able to function, that he is involved in two organisations which are aimed at uplifting the community, the Osizweni Development Forum as well as in the - his work with the peace office, and that is a credit to him, and to you as his mother.

COMMISSIONER: So we thank you both very much for coming in today, and for telling us that story, and we will convey that to him when he is all right.  Thank you very much, Mrs Mhlungu.

COMMISSIONER: Good afternoon, Mr Makhanya.  Thank you, you also waited a long time to give your evidence.  You are from Madadeni township, like so many other people who have been to this Commission, and your story is also about harassment and torture by the police in 1993.  Before you - can you hear me now?  Is the voice getting through to you now, can you hear me?  Good, thank you.  You have come to tell us about your torture - arrest and torture by the police in 1993.  Can you stand to take the oath before you tell us that story?

VUSUMUZI MAKHANYA: (Sworn, States)   (Through Interpreter)

COMMISSIONER: Mr Dlamini will help you.

MR DLAMINI: We thank you for your patience.  Vusi, you look very young to have experienced so much harassment and torture.  When were you born?

WITNESS:   In 1974.

MR DLAMINI: So are you 22 now?

WITNESS:   Yes, I am 22 years old.

MR DLAMINI: How many members of family?  Do you have both your parents?

WITNESS:   Yes.

MR DLAMINI: Are they here with you?

WITNESS:   No.  I am the only child.  I have no brothers and sisters.

MR DLAMINI: Were you working or were you at school?

WITNESS:   Yes, I was at school.  I was attending at section 4 at Madada.  Before I went to Madada - I started school at Madada up until standard four, and Inkatha and ANC got involved into a conflict.  I continued attending school, but I had problems because I had to fight every afternoon and every morning as I was going to school because we were fighting, ANC and Inkatha members.  And then I realised as time goes on that it was difficult, I can't fight every day of my life.  I stopped attending school, I stayed at home together with my brothers.  After that on a Thursday at about half past three ... (intervention)

MR DLAMINI: Vusi, you said when you left school IFP and ANC were involved in a quarrel or a fight.

WITNESS:   I was an ANC member.  So along the way every time when I was going to school I would fight with IFP members.

MR DLAMINI: We would like you to continue and tell us about what happened on the 9th of July 1993.

WITNESS:   Before this what happened is that Inkatha came from section 5 to section 2.  Section 5 and section 2 are nearby.  We heard that Inkatha people were coming to attack on ANC people.  We realised that it was true they were coming and we went to Ntuli's house, and ZP police came there.  I know some of those ZP police who came to Ntuli's place.  When they arrived there there were also women from section 2, and they were asking the police, "Why are you quiet when people are attacking on people's houses?"   They didn't answer back.  They started throwing tear-gas canisters and we ran away.  Late at night we decided not to go and sleep at home because we were scared.  We decided to go on camp because we wanted them to found us all together, because we were scared, we knew that they will come and attack us at night.  At about half past three late at night I heard a knock.  I fact I heard knocks from the windows, both doors, everywhere, and we were 18 inside that house.

MR DLAMINI: This house where you were, whose house was it?

WITNESS:  It was Mr Ngwenya's house.

MR DLAMINI: Who was Mr Ngwenya?  Was he an ANC member as well?

WITNESS:   Yes, he was.

MR DLAMINI: I woke these other guys with whom I was.  I tried to check if the doors were all locked, because we were scared.  Sometimes Inkatha was accompanied by police.  So as they were knocking I told them that they must come tomorrow morning.  Eventually they kicked the door.  I was at the kitchen that time.  I ran to my bedroom.  They came inside.  They were white police.  They were many.  I think they were 14 to 15, because as they were inside it was full inside, and they were grabbing all of us and they were kicking at us.  We were crying.

MR DLAMINI: Vusi, I apologise, I just want you to clarify one thing.  From where were these white policemen coming?