Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-09-11

WITNESS:  When I got to the stadium, I saw a helicopter.  I did not know where it was coming from.  I just thought it was hovering.  Then we were told to lie down.  We lay down.  I got shot in the leg.  I was helped by a marshal.  He put me on his chest and took me to an ambulance.  We went to Gray hospital, from there to Makiwane hospital.  I slept at Makiwane hospital that night.  I went to the wards.

REV XUNDU:  Exactly where were you shot sir?

WITNESS:  In my thigh.

REV XUNDU:  You were then treated and left the hospital?

WITNESS:  I was at the hospital for three months and then was discharged but then I had to go back for another month.

REV XUNDU:  You say in your statement that you went to attorneys.  Which ones?

WITNESS:  Smith and Thabata.

REV XUNDU:  Were you supported in any way, did you get a compensation?

WITNESS:  Yes I did.  They had promised to give me 30,000 but they took 6,000 and I received 22,000.

REV XUNDU:  Are you now working sir?

WITNESS:  No I'm not working.

REV XUNDU:  Is it because of your injury?

WITNESS:  Yes it is.

REV XUNDU:  Have you got a wife?

WITNESS:  Yes I do.

REV XUNDU:  And how many children?

WITNESS:  Two children.

REV XUNDU:  Do you just have one wife?

WITNESS:  Yes I do.

REV XUNDU:  What is your request to the Commission today?

WITNESS:  Pardon?

REV XUNDU:  What is your request to the Commission today?

WITNESS:  My wife is not working.  I am also not working.  I have children, one in college, the other in standard nine.  I will request that you help them in their education.

REV XUNDU:  What level is the one at college at?

WITNESS:  He is doing his fourth year.  The other is in standard nine.  I only have two children.

REV XUNDU: Thank you sir.  I will give you back to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Is there anyone who would like to ask questions - no.  Thank you.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 3 - 11 SEPTEMBER 1996

CASE NO: 15

REV XUNDU: We'd like Eric Qobongoshe to take the stand.
NKULULEKO ERIC QOBONGOSHE   Duly sworn states

REV XUNDU: What is your clan name sir?

WITNESS:  Nchonyana.

REV XUNDU:  You were with your brother in this march.

WITNESS:  Yes I was.

REV XUNDU:  Please tell us exactly what happened to you at the stadium so that we can get a clear picture.

WITNESS:  I was also a marshal.  As we entered the stadium, people started pushing me towards the razor wire.  As I was looking, a bullet entered my body.  I did not fall down.  I just realised that my leg would not move.  Then I realised that I had been shot.

REV XUNDU:  Who helped you from there?

WITNESS:  A marshal called Linda helped me.

REV XUNDU:  Did he take you to hospital?

WITNESS:  He put me on the tar road and then a Kombi took me to hospital.  Gray hospital.  From Gray hospital I was taken to Frere hospital.  I got treated at the Frere hospital.

REV XUNDU:  Did you go to any attorneys to claim?

WITNESS:  I went to Smith.  He said that the Ciskeian soldiers were promising 45,000 but they would write to me.  I'm still waiting.

REV XUNDU:  When was that?

WITNESS:  It was around February this year.

REV XUNDU:  Are you married sir?

WITNESS:  Yes sir.  I've got two children.

REV XUNDU:  Is your wife working?

WITNESS:  No she's not working.

REV XUNDU:  Are you working?

WITNESS:  No I'm not working.

REV XUNDU:  What is your request to the Commission today?

WITNESS:  I wish the Commission would help me fulfil my desires.

REV XUNDU:  [Indistinct]  particular?

WITNESS:  I want to build my family a home.

REV XUNDU:  Do you get a pension?

WITNESS:  Yes I do but I can't even buy groceries with that pension.

REV XUNDU: We have heard your story.  We'll try as much as we can to help you.  I give you back to the Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.  I would like to say thank you very much to all of you.  We have heard your requests.  We empathise with you in your pain.  May the Lord be with you.  Even though it is not easy but you can say that this did not happen in vain.  We have freedom today because people like you, even though unintentionally, gave yourselves, donated your blood, your hearts.  Your blood was not shed in vain.  Today we have freedom.  Thank you very much.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION: BISHO MASSACRE - DAY 3 - 11 SEPTEMBER 1996

CHAIRPERSON: I would like first of all, to express my appreciation as the Chairperson of the Commission to our regional office in Eastern Cape region.  They have arranged an event hearing that everybody will acknowledge has been an outstanding event.  We are very grateful for the leadership of Bongani Finca.  [I am talking and you are talking, I don't know what is happening.  Please.]  
 We are grateful for the leadership that Bongani is giving in this region and we express our appreciation as well to the committee members who work with him.  Then we want to say thank you to our staff, to thank our Regional Manager, [indistinct].  Thank you to the briefers [indistinct] for comforting people, strengthening them.  The statement takers, [indistinct].
 Even the secretaries that we do not see in these meetings.  We thank the caterers that fed us throughout this hearing and we want to say again thank you to you, our interpreters.  You do a super job of work and you are wonderful.  You don't complain.  Don't start doing so now.  And to you, technicians, thank you for helping our work to get on as well as it does.  
 Thank you to the police who provide the security for this venue.  We may also want to take things like that for granted but you never know, there are mad people who might want to come disrupt the proceedings and we thank the police for the work that they are doing and we are glad that they are being transformed.
 Thank you to the University of Fort Hare for providing us with the facilities and also thank you to the media for helping to publicise what happens in these hearings to a wider audience.  The SABC, radio and TV also, we express our appreciation.  Then we do want to say thank you to the witnesses who come to open up their hearts in public as they do. [Indistinct] from their families.  We have already said thank you to the churches for helping to organise the service that we had and for other support that they gave.
 I thank you all.  All those that are present here.  We have heard very painful things.  We know that we have been putting salt into your wounds but today we have heard people's wishes so that people come forward and tell the truth and not be evasive.  We thank the people that have spoken as clearly as possible.  I know that it is not easy.  I praise you dear people.  I praise the Lord who has given you the warmth and the reverence that you have for other people.  So that you, the very victims are able to withstand, to come here.  
 You are supposed to be people of bitterness, anger, but even so the whole nation is probably shocked that our people are given the gift of forgiving so that we can build a nation, a new nation.  So that we can show others that truly, the things that have happened to us, we do not want them to happen to other people.  We want to have a new nation, a new nation of love, of peace, people who work together well, hand in hand.  Bless us, God will bless you.  So that you are people who hold onto prayer, so that you are able to overcome this pain.
 We pray that God can transform us in our nation.  I want to ask the audience to clap.  I allow you, to clap for all these people.  I would like you to clap for yourselves because you are good people.  Thank you very, very much.  You are wonderful.

REV XUNDU: Please let's clap for the Chairman.