Human Rights Violation Hearings — Klerksdorp — 1996-09-23

DR RANDERA: While Mrs Van der Merwe is taking her place, I would like to welcome a few other people. We have Senator Rasmani who is sitting next to the Premier - if you will just stand, Sir. Councillor Henry Moleme from Klerksdorp - has he gone out already? Okay. Sandra Mahamba, the chairperson of the Joubertin CPF, Father August Lekhoko, Anglican Church, Kuma. Then we have a number of councillors from Stilfontein, Klerksdorp and Orkney, Joyce Matshayana, Mr Mojobe and Tosa Molempukana. Thank you. We have Father Goleng from Stilfontein, the Anglican Church and Daniel Molema, the deputy-secretary of the ANC. Thank you very much.
 Mrs Van der Merwe, good morning to you.

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Good morning.

DR RANDERA: You had a friend accompanying you, are you sure you don't want him to be there with you on the stage?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: That is not necessary, thank you very much.

DR RANDERA: Thank you. Mrs Van der Merwe, you have come here today to talk about your husband. Adv Denzil Potgieter who is sitting there at the table next to you, is going to be helping you as you tell your story. But before you do that, will you please stand to take the oath.
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SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: (Duly sworn, states).

DR RANDERA: Thank you, Mrs Van der Merwe, I hand over to Commissioner Potgieter.

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you, Dr Randera. Good morning, ma'am. Welcome here. I would like you to relax and there is absolutely nothing to worry about. The evidence which you will be giving is about the disappearance of your husband, Mr Van der Merwe in 1978. Is that correct?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: Just before you tell us about the disappearance itself, maybe I could put a few questions to you, just to get an idea of your personal circumstances. You are currently living in Potchefstroom, is that correct?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes, at the moment I live in Potchefstroom.

ADV POTGIETER: I wonder if you cannot move the microphone a bit closer to you, to enable us to hear, because we can't all hear you very well if you don't speak into the microphone.

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Is that better?

ADV POTGIETER: Yes, that is a bit better, thank you. We were saying that you are currently residing in Potchefstroom. Is that correct?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes.

ADV POTGIETER: But in 1978 at the time when your husband disappeared, you were living in the Thabazimbi region.

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes, we lived in that region. The regions are so close to each other, because I was teaching at Swartklip.

ADV POTGIETER: And what was your husband doing?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: At the time we were living in Swartklip. KLERKSDORP HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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I have got it all written down in my statement.

ADV POTGIETER: Yes, but I would like you to repeat it in your evidence so that we can hear about the background and so that the audience can hear your evidence and your story. Once again, you will attempt to speak into the microphone. Come as close to the microphone as possible.
 You have five children from your marriage to Mr Van der Merwe. Is that correct?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes, that is right.

ADV POTGIETER: Are they all over the age of minority?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: The eldest was 21, my son was 21, my daughter was 19, we had a son of 17, a son of 16 and the youngest was 11 at the time.

ADV POTGIETER: We are talking about an incident that happened approximately 18 years ago. So at the moment they are all adults.

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: I beg your pardon?

ADV POTGIETER: You say at the moment they are all adults.

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes, they are all adults.

ADV POTGIETER: And are they self-sufficient?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes, they are independent.

ADV POTGIETER: In 1978, you said that the eldest child was 21 and your second eldest daughter was 19 years old. They were at university at the time.

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes, they were at the university at the time.

ADV POTGIETER: And have they completed their studies since?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: My daughter could not complete her studies, the boy, my son was working in the evenings and he was a full-time student, but he used to do part-time work at restaurants and wherever else he could find employment, but
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my daughter could not and the other children, the youngest one was at primary school and the two others were i high school, but the third child could not proceed with the normal life before they found out what happened to their father. He just couldn't live a normal life.

ADV POTGIETER: Just to go back to the incident itself. On the 1st of November of 1978, that morning was the last occasion on which you actually saw your husband, Mr Van der Merwe.

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Yes, that's right.

ADV POTGIETER: Could you just tell us about the happenings of that morning of the 1st of November 1978?

SUSAN J VAN DER MERWE: Do you mind if I read it, please?

ADV POTGIETER: Certainly.