Human Rights Violation Hearings — Port Shepstone — 1996-08-12

WITNESS:   My doctor is the Port Shepstone Hospital, Scottburgh Hospital, King Edward Hospital, and Wentworth Hospital.

KHOZA MGOJO: Has your neck been examined after those steel clamps?

WITNESS:   At that time I didn't know, Mr Commissioner, that I must go to the medical, but the medical - they did it in such a way that there was no external injuries.  It was more of an internal torture.

KHOZA MGOJO: You must have suffered, Mr Govender.  What about your wife?  Did your wife suffer?

WITNESS:   Yes.  She stood with me thick and thin.  I am grateful to her.  To compound this problem we suffered with autonomy.  I want to elaborate on this.  You know, the Port Shepstone Town  Council and all the others gave us autonomy in Marburg,

KHOZA MGOJO: and because of that it's amazing, it boggles the mind, how the security branch knows every move of mine.  I fought against racial.  They said, "You're bringing the kaffirs into this town.  You want completely non-racial town councils."  And then also I tried to report this to the local press, that is the South Coast Press.  I've got cogent evidence of support that the South Coast Press is also biased in their reporting, they don't give balanced reporting.  All this has compounded my problem, Mr Commissioner.  Even right up to this very moment I send pertinent letters to the South Coast Herald and they don't even worry about publicising the atrocities and the injustice.

KHOZA MGOJO: Okay.  Anyway, we don't need that now because there is the Truth Commission.

WITNESS:   Yes.

KHOZA MGOJO: In your statement you said that you were helped by one of the legal counsel, Congress attorneys on the pro amico basis.

WITNESS:   Yes.

KHOZA MGOJO: Do you remember their names?

WITNESS:   Yes.  It was Mr M J Naidoo.

KHOZA MGOJO: Was your legal counsel?

WITNESS:   Yes.

KHOZA MGOJO: Where does he live?

WITNESS:   He's in Durban at the moment, M J Naidoo.  He's still in practice.

KHOZA MGOJO: M J Naidoo.

WITNESS:   And Advocate Aboobaker.

KHOZA MGOJO: Advocate ... (incomplete)

WITNESS:   Advocate Rajesh Chowdree.

KHOZA MGOJO: Yes.

WITNESS:   Advocate A B Mohammed also assisted me.  Advocate Micky Naidoo.

KHOZA MGOJO: Okay, don't worry ... (intervention)

WITNESS:   And various others, and Professor Gearing. So how do you feel that you have said your story to the Commission?   ---   Mr Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I sincerely appreciate that you all - you know, much of my burden is out, but what I am rather peeved and grieved is those perpetrators are still holding high portfolios and they never repent or show remorse, so how I as a born-again can forgive them when they never ask for forgiveness?  Some of these people they only have lip service, but the heart never change.

KHOZA MGOJO: So what is your request to the Commission?

WITNESS:   I appeal to this Commission to seriously look into this matter of checking up on all these perpetrators.  On what moral and legal basis can they hold important positions in the State Department when they did certain horrendous deeds on us, which is the height of hypocrisy, and this is some of the things.  And some of the members are joined in IFP and various other organisations that - I don't want to elaborate further here, but I feel that you should look into this matter, and I prevail upon this Commission if it's possible, that this Commission will look upon that we'll have a neutral media where we can articulate our viewpoints and our problems, than going to these biased presses.

KHOZA MGOJO: Well, Mr Govender, thank you very much for your story, and you have really suffered indeed.  We can feel for you and your family, and I think you need - your family too needs some kind of psychological attention.

WITNESS:   My wife needs it very badly.

KHOZA MGOJO: Ja, both of you in fact.

WITNESS:   Mr Commissioner, at this juncture, with your permission, I seek the indulgence if it's possible that - this medical treatment is costing  me hundreds of thousands of rands, and I hope that if this Commission can make it possible for me to go for expert medical treatment and control my emotions and epilepsy and loss of memory, I will sincerely appreciate it.

KHOZA MGOJO: Okay, thank you very much, Mr Govender.  We have heard.  We shall take your requests, as we shall be doing with others, to the State President to see if you cannot get any help.  We don't guarantee, we just recommend the requests of the people.  Thank you very much.

WITNESS:   Mr Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for hearing my side of the story.  I appreciate it.