Human Rights Violation Hearings — Venda — 1996-10-04

MR LYSTER: Thank you Revd Phosiwa, for giving us that very clear account of your detention and torture.  It is also nice to hear of some positive involvement and participation from Doctors.
 Doctors have often in the past participated with the security police, we think of the Doctors who assisted the security police in the interrogation of people like Steve Biko, who were subsequently struck off the role of Doctors.
 And it is nice to hear that these Doctors at the hospital where you were detained, were prepared to even lie 
VENDA HEARING TRC/NORTH WEST
16 M PHOSIWA
on your behalf to the security police to insure your protection.
 Just a couple of questions.  The policemen who were actually involved in your torture, you mentioned that the torture took place under the supervision of Brigadier Ramoswana, but is was junior police officers who were actually assaulting you.  Who were they?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: Ramarighera, Managa, Joseph Nesemari and other people that I cannot remember, they were eight in number.

MR LYSTER: The same names came up in other people's evidence, particularly Ramarighera and Managa.  And it may well be possible that we will subpoena these policemen to come and give an account of themselves to the Truth Commission.
 You said that you were charged with murder, two counts of murder, attempted murder and terrorism.  Was this in connection with the bombing of the Sebasa police station?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: Yes.

MR LYSTER: And the case did not even continue, the charges were withdrawn against you, is that correct?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: Well, two cases, murder case, attempted murder was withdrawn, terrorism case was considered regarding the two people I mentioned, the young people I mentioned.  And I was sentenced for five years.

MR LYSTER: And as a result of your being tortured, you instructed your attorney to sue the Venda Government for compensation, is that right and they settled out of court?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: Yes.

MR LYSTER: They gave you some money?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: R3 000-00.
VENDA HEARING TRC/NORTH WEST
17 M PHOSIWA

MR LYSTER: Finally, are you still suffering physically from the torture?  You saw that you saw a special Surgeon in Germany who told you that your heart had expanded from the suffocation that you underwent.  Has this persisted, are you still suffering from those sorts of problems, hypertension?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: Yes.

MR LYSTER: And are you receiving treatment for that?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: Yes, I am still receiving treatment.

MR LYSTER: And how else has, was this period in detention, how else has it effected you, emotionally, physically, any way?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: I was suffering from depression and high blood pressure and frightenings and diabetes.  That is what I know.

MR LYSTER: Revd Phosiwa, thank you very very much for coming in and sharing that with us.  I am going to ask the Chairman now to sum up.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Revd Phosiwa, am I correct to say your politicization became gradually through working with the youth rather that picking it up at the institution?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: Yes, I was working with the youth.  Although at school we were having political discussions and that have contributed.

THOMAS MANTHATA: So, you came to appreciate the youth and the latest political thinking and how did this work out or impact on your day to day work as an evangelist?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: By my preachings and by my constant meeting with the youth, I was forced to be interested in politics or in this matter and talking about liberation.

THOMAS MANTHATA: In short, this still place you in a better state, more especially you have referred to quite a number
VENDA HEARING TRC/NORTH WEST
18 M PHOSIWA
of issues in this hearing, the youth and the witches, youth and others.  One would suspect that you have a good of this kind of relations and activities amongst the youth and this other structures of the community?

MBULAHENI PHOSIWA: In my capacity as Reverend I am not solemnly looking to the youth only, but including the whole community.

THOMAS MANTHATA: That is when we say, we say the youth and then the community, normally when you talk about witch hunting and witches, we talk about what we might call, senior community members, that is elderly people, so one would say these - you could understand roughly how the youth gets to think that witches were involved in politics, I am just throwing it at you, you are at liberty to say you don't understand.  Thank you, Reverend.

RUSSELL ALLY: Thank you again, Reverend Phosiwa.  And thanks for coming all the way from Mpumalanga for coming to share with us your harrowing account.
 We wish you all the best and we, as the Commissioner had said, the names that you have mentioned, have come up repeatedly and we are certainly going to follow that matter up.  Thank you very much.