Human Rights Violation Hearings — Umtata — 1996-06-18

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: On the funeral day, on the day of the funeral, yes we started at 9.00am but that was the most painful day for me because when we woke up the area was full of policeman, they were all armed. There were people who wanted to accompany Batandwa especially students who were his friends but the worst part was all those people who wanted to accompany Batandwa, especially those wearing T-shirts they were ill-treated and they were all detained. We went on with the funeral with those who were just left and we went to the cemetery but by half past eleven we already heard bullet shots. We were told that everybody must go home and remember there was another car from Tsomo that car was rushed out everybody told the police told those people that they must just leave. They tried to say no but we are the closest to Batandwa they would not listen to. After a while they were released.

MS MAYA: Now, how was the treatment at home after the funeral. How was the treatment that you received?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: We were tortured even before the funeral but after the funeral it wasn't so bad.

MS MAYA: Now after Batandwa's death was there a case that was reported to, or an inquest that was reported?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: No, I don't remember anything.

MS MAYA: Didn't you have any Lawyers at the time about the incident?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: No, at the time no, I didn't have any lawyers. I only got myself a lawyer later, much later because I realised that I need one.

MS MAYA: But was there anything happening in Court?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: No. There was no inquest.

MS MAYA: Now we heard from the radio and we also read in the newspapers about details about people who have details about Batandwa's death. Did you receive any such details about Batandwa's death.

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: No, I don't remember.

MS MAYA: Mama, is there anything that we didn't ask that you would like to talk about, something related to Batandwa's death?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: The most hurtful thing about Batandwa's death  is that there is no way you can reconcile within yourself knowing that you had a son and all of a sudden you don't have it any more without reasons.

MS MAYA: What is your wish about Batandwa's death?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: My wish is to know who did this because the people who tell me different stories other say it's this one who did this, it's this one who did that, but I want to know who actually did it. Who actually killed him and why.

MS MAYA: Can you remember how old he was?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: He was 22 years.

MS MAYA: Thank you mama and now I am going to give my colleagues here a chance to see if there is anything that we have left out. Perhaps there are still some questions.

MS MAYA: Thank you Chairman.

CHAIRPERSON: Now who from these rumours that you are talking about saying that it is this an that, this one and that told you this, who are these people who told you these stories?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: They told me it was Mr Mossie, Mr Dandala, Mr Tshabala. I don't know now this lady because I couldn't do the newspapers, there are two prominent people here, the other one is CD, the other one is Shosha.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you know who signed the restriction order?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: It was signed by the Station Commander of Twala.

CHAIRPERSON: Do you know his name?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: His name was Mr Gigeli.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Mama, do you know, did you said Batandwa was with a friend during on this day?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: Batandwa was with a friend at my sisters place.

CHAIRPERSON: Did you say his name is Tibula Bam?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: Tibula Bam was the one who he was with during, when the time the Kombi arrived.

CHAIRPERSON: Is Tibula still here?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: Yes. According to my knowledge Tibula is still alive.

CHAIRPERSON: You said there were three policeman who detained Batandwa. One of them was a woman, was there anything that this woman said?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: She said "Kill this dog, don't leave this dog still alive".

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mama.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Mama, was there any word from the Government at the time about the death of your son?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: Yes, there was but it was over the media in the meeting which was held at Idiqua.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Could you tell the Commissioner what was said at the time?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: The Government said we have killed the terrorist Batandwa, we have ordered Batandwa to be killed.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Thank you.

MEMBER OF PANEL: You will forgive me I will ask you in English so that we can understand each other very well. You mentioned that your son was expelled from the University and later on we learnt from you that your son was killed. Partly, it's important for the Commissioner to begin to have a clear understanding of the people whose lives were at risk in the past. Can you maybe tell us as to the kinds of things that you know your son to have been involved with which lead to his expulsion and then later on to his detention?

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: As I have said before as he was a member of the Student Representative Council he became part of the Freedom fighters. He was involved in the political organisations.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Besides his leadership role you mentioned that he was fighting for freedom. Can you tell us about the acts that you refer to when he was fighting for liberation? Were there things that he was doing or he was just ...(intervention)

PRINCESS LULAMO SIDUMO: As a parent, I didn't get to grasp all the details of his involvements because he was never detained or arrested before where I could actually gather that he has been arrested for this or that.

MEMBER OF PANEL: Looks like that, that is all questions I do have. Thank you very much Mama.

CHAIRPERSON: Mama, thank you very much for the report that you have put forward to the Commissioner today. As Reverend Xundu has said when he was welcoming you here, this will never leave our minds. The picture of that day, the day your son fell, the day your son was killed, so painfully, so brutally just like the policeman has said, according to your testament that your son was killed like a dog. I think at the time it was very difficult here in the Transkei, there were very few people that could stand for the truth. Many people here in the Transkei, they were in a position where that they had no hope, but Batandwa, you son became a bright light in the darkness. We are going to try by all means to investigate as the Commission, we will try to contact the people who you have mentioned, the people who have made the statements, especially to try to find out who exactly is responsible for the killing of Batandwa. We will try by all means so that we can get exactly why was Batandwa expelled from the University of the Transkei.
 We will also try and find from the authority at the time to try and find out what really happened because the role played by the University trying to look down upon the people, the young people who used to fight for freedom but being excluded for fighting for our freedom not on academic grounds that is something we are going to find out more even the principals are going to get in touch with them and find out why these things happen to the students. We salute you, Mama, as his mother we thank you as well that in your womb a hero like this one can come out. 
 We assure you as a Commission, that when we write our Commission, the last report that is going to our President we assure you that Batandwa's name will be one of those. In all the details that we will get from the investigations will be included. Thank you very much.