Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bisho — 1996-09-09

UNKNOWN: Well thank you Chair.  I think I will definitely take your advice and in the interest of time, having also consulted with the leadership, I would have definitely liked to stress on the context that prevailed in the former Ciskei before the Bisho massacre, and which definitely culminated ... end of Tape 3, side A ... into that fateful day and which was preceded by the dismissal summarily of 3,000 civil servants and quite a number of other people that were killed, assaulted before the Bisho massacre, but be that as it may, I think you have promised me that you will definitely go through the document to get to the context of what was happening in this area.  
 Now moving to the march itself, I need to start maybe with paragraph 12 where we say that the first march in early August which culminated in a march  ... [indistinct]  to Bisho that was organised by the ANC border region and its alliance partners, and this march was halted at the border of Ciskei.  After intensive negotiations with the Ciskei Defence Force the marchers were then allowed to move to the stadium.  I wanted to stress that one because it is very critical of what ensued thereafter.
 Then this march unfortunately had very little effect on the negative attitude of the Ciskei government and its Security Forces towards the process of democracy in the area.  Numerous meetings and consultations took place involving alliance partners, churches and structures of the popular front as it was indicated by the last speaker, and eventually a national day of focus in the Ciskei was decided upon.  This was endorsed by the National Alliance, by the campaigns committee of the ANC nationally and it was agreed that on the 9th September 1992, a further march was to be held in Bisho, and this march, the objective was to hold a people's assembly in the Bisho CBD to express our demands, calling for the free  political activity and the end to violence as well as resignation of Brigadier Gqozo but subsequently this date was eventually changed to the 7th September, in particular to coincide with De Klerk's conference on federalism that was organised together with De Klerk's, or National Party government's allies.  That is why we had to go for the march on the 7th September because we wanted to highlight the plight of the people of the area, quite strongly.
 This event of holding a people's assembly in Bisho was along similar lines as also it was indicated with many other incidences and of the similar mass action campaign that were taking place in other parts of the country and in particular within our area in the border region at the time.  We had heard a campaign of a similar nature in King William's Town without any negative incidences at all.  And it was always an imperative that moral high ground be retained through a focus on the climate for free polal activity and ensuring that the march and the proposed assembly remained peaceful and without incident.  I don't want to get into the details again of the preparations but quite a number of intense preparations were made for that day.
 On the morning of the 7th September a meeting was held at the Border Council of Churches offices where final briefings and preparations were made for the march into the Bisho CBD and from there we moved to the rally at the stadium in Victoria Grounds.  Thorough briefing was given to everybody and the destination and the objective of the march culminating in a people's assembly in the Bisho city was made clear to all.  A great deal of emphasis was made on that day on the peaceful nature of the march, even to an extent of as people were coming in the stadium they were searched by marshals.
 I need also to make the point that the marshals as it was mentioned, they were well trained long before the march and on the day of the march, 6 o'clock in the morning they assembled at the stadium to get the briefing.  1,200 Of the marshals were organised right through the length and breadth of the region and the march started at 12 o'clock with approximately 80,000 people participating.  The march paused at a number of intervals along the route while marshals ensured better control.
 During the procession of the march on the South African side of the border, no problems were experienced at all.  At this point SADF, traffic police and South African Police personnel accompanied us right through as we were moving up but surprisingly, Chair, approximately when we were about one kilometre away from the Ciskei border, the South African Police and SADF seized to accompany the march.
 At approximately 1 o'clock together with Mr Ronnie Kasrils, Andrew Hendriks and Donnay Kunie, amongst others, I travelled ahead in a bakkie driven by Doctor Chippie Olwer to assess the situation at the border and to see what the possibilities were of entering Bisho.
 At the border we found that the road had been cordoned off with razor wire set in such a way that the marchers would be headed to the left towards the stadium.  There was a strong Ciskei Security Force presence along the right-hand ridge near the Ciskei government buildings and directly ahead at other government installations.
 At this point the peace monitors John Hall and Anton Geldenhuys and members of the press were informed that the marches would arrive within plus or minus 20 minutes and although they were determined, they were disciplined.  They were unarmed and peaceful.  It was also made clear to the peace monitors that the march would culminate in the holding of a people's assembly in Bisho CBD.
 When we continued onto the stadium it was noticed that there was a gap approximately ten metres wide in the fencing surrounding the stadium where it had been flattened as we learned later.  This gap was situated towards the north of the stadium.  This route potentially provided no obstruction to the march.  CDF members were visible to the right-hand side almost 250 metres away at the radio station.  On the left of the gap there appeared to be an unobstructed path which would give access to Bisho's CBD.  It was believed that we could veer westwards to the left to avoid any confrontation with the soldiers.
 We thereafter returned to the head of the march and informed the march leaders what we had seen.  Agreement was reached by the collective leadership on the plan of entry and a decision was taken that the march would split in two.  The first section led by Chris, by Cyril Rhamaphosa and would continue to the border while the other which would include Ronnie Kasrils, Chris Hani, Linda Mnti and myself amongst others, would enter the stadium and attempt to enter Bisho via the gap in the fence.
 We are firmly of the opinion that this would be safe as there were no security personnel visible in this particular area and would not imagine that the soldiers would open fire particularly since our plan was to avoid coming into contact with them.  At approximately 1325 the march arrived at the border and the leadership deployed themselves as per arrangement.  The section I was in then entered the stadium.  On emerging through the gap in the fence we managed to move very fast through the veld and had managed to cover approximately 50 metres before the first volley of shots rang out.  We immediately dived to the ground for cover.  There had been no prior warning of any sort that such drastic measures would be taken.  
 There is no doubt in my mind that it would seem as though the gap in the fence was left for the express purpose of luring us as marchers through it, particularly as it was later learned that there was a unit of soldiers hidden to the west of the gap, with a direct line of fire at oncoming marchers.
 There was a lull in the shooting which led marchers to believe that it was all over.  This was obviously another ploy to wreak maximum havoc amongst marchers, as another volley was released catching marchers again by surprise as they were attempting to regain their composure.
 I believe that it was this second volley, Chair, that accounted for the majority of casualties.  After this volley I made my way back to the main road assisting Ronnie Kasrils with his injured bodyguard Bushy Vanqui.  At this point, seeing the deceased and injured strewn across all over, I became aware of the full scope and extent of this massacre which had accounted for 28 lives and injured almost 200.  It shocked and stunned us all to see the brutal and hideous carnage that had taken place.  It must once again be clearly stated, Chair and the members of the Commission, that at no point prior to our, and our move, prior to or during the shooting, was there any provocation by marchers nor were the lives of the CDF forces in any danger, nor were there any attempts by the Security Forces to exercise any form of accepted crowd control, nor was there any obstacles placed in the way of the march through the gap in the stadium fence, nor were there any instructions or signs made by the CDF to indicate what the marchers may or may not do, nor was there any warning given of possible actions that might be taken by the CDF to stop the march.
 These facts together with the fact that the CDF forces opened fire on the march across its entire flank almost simultaneously and that this fire continued uninterrupted for some minutes in the first volley before erupting again in the second volley, leads me to conclude that this massacre was premeditated.  On the part of the CDF the seconded SADF officers that commanded them and the Pretoria regime of F W de Klerk were clearly the culprits in this brutal massacre.  It was them who were responsible for the killings and must now confess and tell the truth if reconciliation is to be achieved and mean anything.   I would like to briefly draw the attention of this hearing to the further terror that was unleashed on the people on the days immediately after the massacre.  These attacks included the unforgettable and unforgivable cold-blooded murder of the Budd family who were in their 70's asleep and posing no threat at Umzubumfu near Alice.  The brutal assault of four elderly villagers including a 70 year old man by soldiers in the village of Ngwele on the 9th September 1992.  
 Similar random attacks took place at Zwelitsha, Massingata, Dimbaza, Digititana and many other places on the days following the march.  As if this was not enough, further in Zwelitsha on the 9th September a school principal, Jeff Nculombo on his way to the shop was shot and killed by CDF members.
 On the 10th September 1992, a 22 year old youth Pagamisa Pike was beaten to death by soldiers in  headman's house at Digititana.  A grenade and petrol bombs were hurled at an ANC executive member Themba Mbasabeni's house.  On the 11th September 1992 another 22 year old youth Malusi Ngobo was shot dead by CDF soldier Blackie Mgamba in Peddie.  On the same date in Mildrift, four ANC members were arrested and detained, again under Section 26.  Also on the 11th September 1992, two villagers were shot and injured by CDF members dropped from a helicopter at Tembeni village near King William's Town.  
 This reign of terror, Chair, continued until the installation of the Interim Administration.  In the so-called Ciskei just before the national general elections, killer death squads bent on murdering and maiming people who happened to oppose this regime, roamed the area.  
 Examples of this include on the 16th December 1993 such a squad attempted to kill Mr Sam Kwelita now a provincial member of parliament as he was alighting from his vehicle at his home in Dimbaza.  On the 23rd December 1993 Mongezi Dudula another teacher was slain while entering his home also in Dimbaza.  There is a case presently underway where Mr Mquoana a senior ADM official and others that are indicated in such killer squads.  It is alleged that a hit list bearing the names of various activists and a large quantity of weapons was also found in this process.  
 In conclusion, Chair, I would like to say more and more of such incidents proved that the Gqozo Regime was determined to quench their thirst with more and more blood of the innocent and that they were not worth rationalising with at all.  Ultimately what was proved by this march was that freedom and basic human rights cannot be withheld from people even if they have to stare down the barrel of a gun.  Such atrocities as committed by the Ciskei Regime, all its strength and the resolve of our people to continue struggling for freedom even if one's life was the sacrifice.
 We remember all our fallen heroes and heroines, their sacrifice has not been in vain.  We honour them and their families in the democratic South Africa.  I hope that this Commission will manage to extract the truth on all issues raised in this statement and beyond.  I am extremely grateful for having been offered an opportunity to put the statement.  I thank you.