Human Rights Violation Hearings — Bloemfontein — UNKNOWN

MR LAX: Thank you, Chairperson. Good afternoon, Mr Mohlahle.--- Yes, good afternoon, Sir.

MR LAX: Do you know what happened to the other people who were in thathotel with you that day?

WITNESS: Yes, I know what happened to them.

MR LAX: Can you tell us please.

WITNESS: One died, according to the informationthat I got when they came to see me at the hospital. One of them had a brokenleg, the other one sustained a broken hand or arm, the other one just got injured.That's how it happened.

MR LAX: So as far as you know there were five people affected by this bomb to the extent that you're aware. ---Yes, according to my knowledge I know of only five who got injured.

MR LAX: You spoke about these policemen who came to see you who saidyou should come and make a statement, and then when you went to see them totry and give them a statement they simply refused to take that statement. Wherewere those policemen when you went to see them?

WITNESS: Those police were all there.

MR LAX: Where's there? What place is that?

WITNESS: They were at the KrugersdorpPolice Station.

MR LAX: These policemen, were they white policemen or black policemen,or both?

WITNESS: It was white policemen as well as one black.

MR LAX: How many did you speak to altogether?

WITNESS: If I remember quitewell I spoke to four policemen.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... three white people and one black person? ---Let me just correct myself. There were four white policemen and one black policemen.

MR LAX: Now, you said that you then went to see some other people whothen made some phone calls for you. Who were those other people? Was that alawyers' organisation, or some assistance centre or something like that? ---I think it was the attorneys, Legal Aid attorneys.

MR LAX: (Inaudible) ... we do have a letter from the Legal ResourceCentre that was attached to your papers. Would that be the place?

WITNESS: Yes, Ido know about that letter.

MR LAX: And then in response to those telephone calls and those lettersthe police then did take your statement.

WITNESS: They took my statement thereafter. But to date you've heard nothing about a case? --- Absolutelynothing.

MR LAX: Thank you. We will try and see if we can follow that up foryou.

MR LAX: Mr Mohlahle, you said that the hotel where you were injuredwas frequented mostly by blacks. Who is the owner of this hotel?

WITNESS: I don'tknow who the owner is. I tried to ask who the owner was. They didn't want togive me his name. They said he said he didn't care whether we were injured,he was not involved.

MR LAX: So you don't know whether the owner is black or white. ---I think it was a white person.

MR LAX: How much damage was done to the hotel?

WITNESS: There was greatdamage, windows were broken, but by the time i came out of the hospital it wasalready renovated. People who worked there said the insurance had funded therebuilding.

MR LAX: Thank you.

MR LAX: Thank you, Mr Chairman. Mr Mohlahle, I am just interested inthe condition of your two uncles who were together with you. I think you mentionedin your statement that you had Stefan and Julius who are both your uncles. Howare they now? Where are they?

WITNESS: Only Julius is there.

MR LAX: When you say only Julius is there, I think you mentioned twopeople, Stefan and Julius, and what happened to Stefan?

WITNESS: Stefanus is at work.

MR LAX: Sorry, just one last question, Mr Mohlahle. What was the name of the hotel if you can remember?

WITNESS: Itwas Roodepoort Hotel.

MR LYSTER: Mr Mohlahle, thank you for coming in todayto tell us your story. What happened to you on that day in Roodepoort has changedyour life completely. You were sitting enjoying the company of your relativesand friends and a bomb was detonated, and, as I have said, it changed your lifeforever.
Like the people who took the life of Mrs Gyeswe's son, thepeople who planted that bomb were raised by and in a system, a political system,which made them so afraid of their fellow South Africans that they were drivento do what they did - placing a bomb in a hotel, killing and injuring innocentpeople. 
As you have probably heard me say earlier today to other peoplewho've come and given evidence, that we don't have the power to compensate youimmediately, but we can make recommendations to the State President on yourbehalf concerning steps that should be taken to assist people like yourself,and I have very little doubt that people like yourself, who have been injuredin the manner that you have described to us, will receive assistance from thePresident's Fund.
Before you go I'd like you to make absolutely sure that thecontact address that you have given us is a proper and reliable address at whichwe can contact you, so that you can be assured that we will contact you andthat you will receive correspondence from us.
Again thank you very much for coming in today, and we wishyou everything of the best as you go home.

MR LYSTER: Thank you for coming in today, Mr Matselane.Please will you assist her with the earphones. Can you hear me, Mrs Matselane?Can you hear me well enough.

MAYSIE MATSELANE: I hear you perfectly well, Sir.

MR LYSTER: Thank you. You have come from Bohlokong townshipin Bethlehem to tell us about the shooting of your daughter in 1990 by the SouthAfrican Police.

MAYSIE MATSELANE: Yes, that's correct, Sir.

MR LYSTER: Before you give your evidence can you pleasestand up and take the oath?

MAYSIE MATSELANE: (Sworn, States)

MR LYSTER: Thank you. I am going to ask my fellow Commissioner,Dr Mgojo, to assist you in giving your evidence today.

KHOZA MGOJO: I greet you, Mrs Matselane ... (inaudible)... caused you much pain, this experience which you had about the death of yourdaughter. About the crippling of your daughter, I am sorry. Your daughter isSithekile Hadebe. Can you explain, because your name is Matselane but the daughteris Hadebe?

WITNESS: I was married to Hadebe. Matselane is where I was born. It'smy maiden surname. I had sent my daughter to Loso. She went to Loso.

KHOZA MGOJO: (Inaudible) ... Mama. Just give us more about the backgroundof the family. You say that you were married to Hadebe and then you went backhome. What really happened?

WITNESS: I separated with my husband. I have six children,three boys and three girls. We separated with my husband a long time ago.

KHOZA MGOJO: (Inaudible)

WITNESS: Yes, he is still alive.

KHOZA MGOJO: Thank you. So can you tell us about what happened on the 29th of January 1990?

WITNESS: On the 20th of January I sentmy child to Loso. She went to Loso. Until sunset she didn't return. I woke upand went to work. When I returned from work I was told that there were certainchildren who were shot and they had died. I went to the police station to seeif my child is one of the dead children. I was told three children had died,one had gone to Bloemfontein. The following morning I went to the hospital toinvestigate. They told me that the one who had been shot in the eye is in Bloemfontein.I devised some means to see what help I could offer my child. My boss phonedthe hospital at which my child was admitted. We managed to trace her. At Bloemfonteinthey told me I should come to see my daughter because she was going to undergoan operation. We went to Bloemfontein. I signed some papers for her to undergothe operation, then I came back. When I got home she came back quite some timethereafter. They gave her a letter that she should go to Bloemfontein for treatment.My boss said she should not go to Bloemfontein any more, but she should receiveher treatment at Bohlokong Hospital.

KHOZA MGOJO: Where were you working? Are you working now?

WITNESS: Yes, I amworking.

KHOZA MGOJO: Are you still working where you were working when your daughterwas crippled?

WITNESS: Yes, I am still working at the same place.

KHOZA MGOJO: What is your work?

WITNESS: I am a domestic worker.

KHOZA MGOJO: Do you know the name of your boss?