Amnesty Hearings — Umtata — 2000-03-27

MR DUKADA: And what was your rank at the time you were in Norwood security offices?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: I was a Constable.

MR DUKADA: And is it correct that at that stage the rank of a Constable was the most junior one in the Security Branch of the Transkei?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: That is correct.

MR DUKADA: And who would give you instructions concerning your duties as a member of the Security Branch?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: The senior officers including the Branch Commander, would give me instructions.

MR DUKADA: By Branch Commander, are you referring to the Branch Commander of the offices which were at Norwood, in Umtata?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes, that is correct.

MR DUKADA: And is it also correct that at times you would be summoned to the Security Headquarters in Umtata at Botha Sigcau building, and given instructions?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: That is correct.

MR DUKADA: Captain, can you precisely tell the Committee exactly what was your mandate from your superiors at Norwood Security Branch?  What were you asked to do?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Please repeat the question, Sir.

MR DUKADA: As a member of the Transkei Security Branch, what were you told to do for your seniors, concerning the activists?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: My duty was to arrest per instruction through the detention(sic) warrant who was serving under Section 47, Act 13/77.

MR DUKADA: And you would get instructions from commissioned officers in terms of the security legislation, to arrest political activists, is that correct?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes, that is correct.

MR DUKADA: And as a junior policeman holding the rank of a Constable, did you have any powers to authorise any arrest?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: No.

MR DUKADA: Okay.  Read from paragraph 9.2 - towards the end, Honourable Committee - the sentence starting with "My duty".  I'll just read what you've deposed to here.  You say
"My duty was to arrest a person and hand him or her over to a head of prison for detention, thereafter I would report to my immediate senior handling the matter.  On a number of occasions I would be instructed to go and arrest a person by means of a warrant, being virtually ignorant about the circumstances leading to the arrest and detention of such person."

CHAIRPERSON: Do you confirm that?

MR DUKADA: Do you confirm that?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes, I do confirm.

MR DUKADA: In fact - just to clarify this for the purpose of the Committee, it is not that you were not aware about certain things in connection with the arrest, but on a number of occasions there would be instances where you'll be authorised simply to execute a warrant.

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: ...(no English interpretation)

MR DUKADA: There will be instances where you will be given a warrant to go and arrest an activist or a person.

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes, that is correct.

MR DUKADA: Can you read, Captain, from paragraph 10.1 of your affidavit?
MR SIQHOLA
"And then he will be interrogated by all members of the Security Branch, including myself.  During the course of interrogation a detainee would be assaulted by the Security Police, including myself, in order to get information regarding to the activities of the banned organisations, particularly the ANC.  The interrogation would take place only in the presence of senior officers.  At no stage did I interrogate any detainee alone."

MR DUKADA: Yes, can you carry on with paragraph 10.2, Captain, which I find is very important.
MR SIQHOLA
"The assault would take various forms, clapping a detainee with open hands and clenched fists, beating a detainee with a sjambok, forcing a detainee to hold a chair by both arms upwards for an inordinate period.  The detainee would collapse due to exhaustion and fatigue.  Letting a detainee to do physical exercises.  Some of them were push-ups.  Forcing a detainee to kneel against a wall for a long period.  Every member of the Security Branch, senior and junior, was aware of, and in fact used the above torture methods to induce a detainee to divulge information about banned organisations, particularly the ANC."

MR DUKADA: Yes carry on please, Captain, paragraph 10.3.
MR SIQHOLA
"There was a method which was popularly known as helicopter.  That is, a detainee would be handcuffed and a stick would be used to suspend him between two tables.  Various detainees were victims of this practice, which was very popular in the Security Branch."

MR DUKADA: Yes, thank you.  And then during 1986, the Security Branch introduced a further torture method of detainees.  Can you elaborate on that?  The one which you refer to in paragraph 11 of your affidavit as a canvass bag treatment.

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: ...(no English interpretation)

MR DUKADA: Yes, can you just read the second sentence of paragraph 11.
MR SIQHOLA
"A canvass bag would be filled with water and the head of the detainee would be submerged into the water, in order to suffocate him or her.  This would be done until the detainee divulged the required information.  Again a number of detainees were the victims of this practice."

MR DUKADA: Is it your evidence, Captain, that the helicopter as well as the canvass bag method were used by the Security Police in Transkei, to force detainees to give information?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes, that is correct.

MR DUKADA: And in paragraph 12 of your affidavit you set out a list of persons whom you assaulted, just read the list please, for the benefit of the people who are here.

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: ...(no English interpretation)

MR DUKADA: Yes, you start with Dugard Maqekeza.

CHAIRPERSON: I think just perhaps for record purposes, Mr Dukada, at the beginning of paragraph 12 he states that those are the people that he can recall.

MR DUKADA: Oh yes, he states that.

CHAIRPERSON: In other words, it might not be an exhaustive list.

MR DUKADA: Yes thank you, Mr Chairperson.
	Is it correct that during your performance of duties as a member of the Transkei Security Branch, you handled a number of detainees?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: That is correct.

MR DUKADA: And at this stage you are not in a position to remember all of them.

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: I cannot remember all of them.

MR DUKADA: Can you read out the list of those whom you can remember at this stage.

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes.  The first one is Dugard Maqekeza, Mayekiso, Thobile Ndlaku, Njobane(?) brothers, and the other one was a teacher and the one was a civil servant.  It's Manelisi Nyoka, Edgar Zote and his brother, Norman Demadut(?), Mvula Mtimkulu, Sisi Ndamasi, Boy Jafta, Mnyatheli, Tom, Toto Magwentshu, Doctor Nombi, Phambili Jizana.  And the others I can only remember when I see their faces.

MR DUKADA: Yes thank you, Captain.  In fact, Mr Chairperson and Honourable Members, J is - Boy is spelt as B-o-y, not Booi.

CHAIRPERSON: B-o-y?

MR DUKADA: That is correct.
	In your paragraph 13 of the affidavit, you claim that the assault and torturing of detainees was well-known by senior members of the Transkei Security Branch.
END OF SIDE A OF TAPE
START OF SIDE B

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: At times we would be given instructions to assault a person, when this helicopter method was used and clapping people with open hands and the method of the canvass bags.  Even the offices that we were using were in the very same buildings.  Meaning, if you were assaulting a person here in this room, the people next-door would hear what was happening.

MR DUKADA: In your affidavit you also claim that at times a detainee would be interrogated by senior members and brought to you already hurt.

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes, that is correct.

MR DUKADA: Can you explain to the Committee - are you able to remember the names of officers who used to give instructions to interrogate and assault detainees?

NELSON NKOSINATHI SIQHOLA: Yes, I can still remember their names.