Human Rights Violation Hearings — Empangeni — 1996-11-04

WITNESS:   His children are at Esikhaweni and he is staying at Mbonambi.  Where it's stated that there was someone who showed these people the area, I think it's wrongly written, because I didn't say that.  What I said that they asked the name of the house and no one answered them back and then they went to another neighbour and they took the father from that house and they asked him where is, "Shandu's house?".

KHOZA MGOJO:  Who is this neighbour whom they had taken from his house?

WITNESS:   Thandanani Mabaso.  He is the one who told us that these people has been asking, "Where is Shandu's "house?", but this is what he told us, that they took him from his house and they took him out and they asked him where was Shandu's house.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Is Elizabeth Mkhwanazi still alive?

WITNESS:   Yes.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Where is she staying?

WITNESS:   I don't know the number of her house but it's at Esikhaweni Location.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Is Mangazi still alive?

WITNESS:   No, Mangazi died after my father.  He was beaten next to the hostel.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Who beat him?

WITNESS:   I don't know.  What I heard is that attackers came from the hostel and they beat him to death.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Is Mumzabalazo Khumalo still alive?

WITNESS:   I never heard a thing about him.  I think he's still alive, because another thing, I can't identify Mumzabalazo.  I only know his name.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Where is he?

WITNESS:   He's staying at hostel.  At Singobili Hostel.  That's where he stays.  I think it's been spelt wrong.  It's not Sibongele, it's Singobili.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Yes, thank you.  We would like to ask you a question which we ask every witness, that how did this thing affect you.

WITNESS:   It affected me very bad and I always have had a - and what I always think about is that I don't know if the kids are having food or being well taken care of, because after my father's death his brothers took the children with them to Ulundi and me and my sister we are now working, trying to help, to send to Ulundi.  Because if we were together with the kids it was going to be much better.  We were going to see if they didn't have something to eat or if they had, but now we are here, they are there.  Because another reason I sent my brother there is because I was scared they wanted to kill him - Tedius. He is still at school.  He is at Mazubumbani High School.  He is doing standard 10.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Who is paying for his education?

WITNESS:   It's me.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Mazubumbani High School, where is this school?

WITNESS:   C Section, Ulundi.

KHOZA MGOJO:  How do you feel?

WITNESS:   I am well, except for the headache and I know it's because I'm thinking a lot.  I usually go to clinic and they give me tablets and I don't pay for that.

KHOZA MGOJO: Thank you, Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Magwaza.

PROF MAGWAZA: Mrs Mbatha, I just want to follow what Dr Mgojo has just asked you.  You said there are three children, who are also facing problems in their education or in their studies.

WITNESS:   One of them is Tedius and then the other two is Emmerentia and Nontotuko.   Emmerentia and Nontotuko, are they your siblings?   ---   Emmerentia and Tedius are my siblings and Nontotuko is my kid.

PROF MAGWAZA:  Another thing that I'd also like to follow is that you said the house was burnt.  Did you go back to that house and try and rebuild the house?

WITNESS:   No, only the furniture got burnt, because I tried to extinguish the fire.  I'm staying in that house at this moment.

PROF MAGWAZA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Elizabeth, I want to thank you very much coming here today.  We're very glad that somebody who - you said that your family were IFP supporters at that time and we, unfortunately, especially in this area of KwaZulu/Natal, we have heard a lot of evidence from people who are members of the IFP.  They have not been keen in coming forward to the Truth Commission, which is a pity, because our job is to make a report to the Government of all human rights violations that took place from 1960 to 1993.  It doesn't matter who caused or brought about those human rights violations, and it's very important to us to hear stories like yours.  You were living with your father.  He was making a living, supporting his family and he was killed and it's very important that more people like you come forward and tell us those stories.  You are also sitting here today with people who are members of the ANC, who have said that they were killed by members of the IFP, because of their political views and we hope that you can both see and understand that the violence that both sides have been involved in does not bring about anything, except misery, poverty and sadness, and we hope that this coming together and being together under one roof, in one hall, can play a small part in bringing people together in this region.  So, again, thank you very much for being brave enough to come and sit and talk to us today.  Thank you very much.
/CHAIRMAN
5A/0

CHAIRPERSON: ... KwaSokhulu, is that right?

MRS MTHETHWA: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: You have come to tell us about the death of your husband, Michael Mthethwa.

MRS MTHETHWA: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: Who died in 1992.  Can you please stand up to take the oath before you tell us that story about your husband's death?

NTOMBIKANINA MTHETHWA: (Sworn states) (Through Interpreter)

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Mgojo will help you now with your evidence and it will be in Zulu.

KHOZA MGOJO: I greet you, Ntombikanina.  Relax, don't be nervous.  Just relax.  Is it true that you reside in KwaSokhulu and your name is Ntombikanina?

WITNESS:   Yes.

KHOZA MGOJO:  I would like you to paint a picture of your family -your father, your mother or your husband, if you have brothers and sisters, and your own kids.  We just want the whole picture of your family.

WITNESS:   My mother is still alive.  My father passed away.  I have brothers and sisters.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Where does she stay?

WITNESS:   She stays at Ngwelezana.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Who is she staying with?

WITNESS:   She is staying with my younger sister.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Is your younger sister married?

WITNESS:   No, she isn't.

KHOZA MGOJO:  How many brothers do you have?

WITNESS:   Two.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Do they have their own families?

WITNESS:   Yes, they do.

KHOZA MGOJO:  As well as children?

WITNESS:   That is correct. Are they older than you or younger?   ---   They are older than me.

KHOZA MGOJO:  (Question not translated)

WITNESS:   The other one is has five and the other one has two kids.  The elder one has two kids.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Are they still at school?

WITNESS:   The eldest one has got one kid who is still at school.  He is doing second year.

KHOZA MGOJO:  The last wife, does she have any children?

WITNESS:   Two of them have already finished school.  The three are still very young.  They have matriculated.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Did he get married before the third wife?

WITNESS:   The eldest one did not want to get married.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Was he a bachelor?

WITNESS:   No, he was not a bachelor but he could not get a girlfriend.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Okay, okay.  Were you married?

WITNESS:   Yes, I was married to the Mthethwa family and I have four kids.

KHOZA MGOJO:  How old are they?

WITNESS:   The other one is already matriculated, he is 21 years old.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Finished standard 10?

WITNESS:   That is correct, he is matriculated.

KHOZA MGOJO:  The second one?

WITNESS:   The second one is in standard 8.  He is 18 years old.

KHOZA MGOJO:  Yes.

WITNESS:   The third one is 13 years old and doing standard 6.  The last one is in standard 7.

KHOZA MGOJO:  How old is that child?  You said the other one is 21 years old and he's already matriculated, the second one is 18 years old and he is in standard 8, and the 13-year old one is doing standard 6.