MS BURTON
Good afternoon, Mr Yabo.
MR YABO
Good afternoon.
MS BURTON
We’re al of us seated across the table in front of you. We hope you’re comfortable, can you hear all right?
MR YABO
I can’t.
MS BURTON
No?
MR YABO
Can I speak Afrikaans?
MS BURTON
Can you hear me all right?
MR YABO
Ja.
MS BURTON
Right, I hope you feel comfortable. We’re all seated across the table in front of you and if you sit where you are now, you - the microphone is in front of you so we will be able to hear you. Please will you stand now to take the oath.
SIDNEY YABO Duly sworn states
MS BURTON
Thank you very much.
UNKNOWN
Bietjie voorentoe, skuif voorentoe. Okay, okay.
MS BURTON
Adv Denzil Potgieter is going to assist you to tell us your story.
ADV POTGIETER
Thank you, Mary. Mr Yabo, can you understand me when I speak Afrikaans. I hear you - you made the oath in Afrikaans, so I’ll speak Afrikaans to you. I’ll facilitate your evidence and this - in the story you are going to tell. And I would also just, once again, like to say - like Mary Burton said to you - I would like to reiterate the welcome that she expressed.
Your story takes us back to the situation in Beaufort West, during a short period of a few months, when kitskonstabels were working here in the residential areas. And earlier this morning we received a background picture from Joyce Seroke about the situation in Beaufort West at the time where kitskonstabels were patrolling the areas, and your story is once again going to take us back to those incidence.
You, in fact, were the first victim of five - first of five victims which Joyce Seroke referred to who were either killed or seriously injured during the reign of the - of terror of the kitskonstabels, so we are going to listen to your evidence now, which is about a shooting incident on the 20th of June 1987. So I would like to begin by asking you to explain to us what happened on the 20th of June 1987.
MR YABO
Can I start?
ADV POTGIETER
You may.
MR YABO
We came from a nightclub and were on our way home - it was approximately
9 o’clock that evening. On my way I heard a shot and started running. I was [indistinct] - taken to the hospital at Beaufort West - I was in Cape Town for 3 weeks and they came to fetch me in a police van and locked me up for two days, at the Police Station. Then they came to fetch me and I was released on free bail.
The trial continued for approximately a year and there were allegations that I had burnt someone’s house and then the case was finalizes on the 17th of May 1988. A claim was instituted - I’m not sure what the amount was - and the attorney representing me gave me R12,500-00 but I haven’t received anything beyond that.
ADV POTGIETER
The interpreters found that - unfortunate a bit difficult to hear. If - if the Commissioners could assist the victim. We’ve missed that last answer from the person. I’m going to ask - I’m going to ask you to perhaps - with Paul’s help - just move a little bit closer to the mike because people in the hall might battle to hear but also the interpreters so that - that might have a problem to interpret, so maybe can you just sit a little bit closer.
I’m going to ask a few questions to you so that we can get this story complete from you. You say that it was on the 20th of June 1987, at approximately 9:00 p.m. the evening, when this shooting incident took place. Is that correct?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Where did this happen?
MR YABO
At KwaMandlekosi location.
ADV POTGIETER
Could you just repeat that please?
MR YABO
In the location.
ADV POTGIETER
Were you on your way home?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Were you walking by yourself?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Do you know who - who shot you?
MR YABO
I heard afterwards that James Mbami had shot me threw the window - he had shot me threw the window.
ADV POTGIETER
And when you were shot, did you walk past he’s house - were you walking past he’s house?
MR YABO
Yes, I have to past he’s house in order to get home.
ADV POTGIETER
So it I understand your evidence correctly, you were merely walking passed James Mbami’s house when he shot at you threw the window?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
How old were you at the time, in 1987, how old were you? Can’t you remember, well that doesn’t matter. Were you working at the time?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
And you didn’t have any health problems at the time?
MR YABO
No.
ADV POTGIETER
So, you were shot and you were taken to the hospital and you say that afterwards you were taken to Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Did - were you operated upon?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Which part of your body?
MR YABO
My eyes.
ADV POTGIETER
Both your eyes?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
So they removed both your eyes?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Were you shot in the face?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
And what did they say to you what - what type of weapon was used?
MR YABO
These long weapons of theirs - these which shoot the pellets - the shotguns - rifles.
ADV POTGIETER
You were shot with a rifle?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
And you say that when you were finish at Tygerberg Hospital, you were arrested?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
What for?
MR YABO
For public violence.
ADV POTGIETER
For public violence?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
What do they say, what had you done?
MR YABO
They said I was - I was recent when this person’s house was attacked.
ADV POTGIETER
Was this person’s house attacked?
MR YABO
I don’t know, when I passed there it was quiet.
ADV POTGIETER
And there was a court case. Did James Mbami give evidence in Court?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
And what did the Court have to say about his evidence - did they reject it?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Did you also give evidence?
MR YABO
Yes, I also did.
ADV POTGIETER
And did the Court except your evidence?
MR YABO
Yes - no.
ADV POTGIETER
Did you lay a charge against him?
MR YABO
The attorney did.
ADV POTGIETER
Did you not lay a charge against him at the Police Station?
MR YABO
No.
ADV POTGIETER
And you say that there was some money paid out in this case?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
To - against whom was the claim instituted - against the State?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
And how much was then paid out to you?
MR YABO
R12,500-00.
ADV POTGIETER
Is this the money you received?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
But how much did the State actually pay out?
MR YABO
R150,000-00.
ADV POTGIETER
And was this money paid to the attorneys?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Which attorneys were these?
MR YABO
E Moesa
ADV POTGIETER
What did they say about the balance of the money, what did they say where was it?
MR YABO
Monkey told me that the money was invested in Cape Town and that every month he would bring me some money.
ADV POTGIETER
When was this money paid out?
MR YABO
He came to give me on the 10th of February - he gave me this money.
ADV POTGIETER
When last did you speak to them?
MR YABO
I don’t always get hold of him.
ADV POTGIETER
You - of - did you try phoning him?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
When last did you get him on the telephone?
MR YABO
A few months ago.
ADV POTGIETER
Has it been longer than that?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
This James Mbami - who shot at you - where is he now?
MR YABO
He shot himself.
ADV POTGIETER
When?
MR YABO
I think it was last year.
ADV POTGIETER
So I accept that you’d like the Commission to investigate the matter regarding the money that is due to you, so that we can find out from the attorneys what happened to that money? I except that you have need for the money. You’re not working at this moment, is that true?
MR YABO
Yes, I’m not working.
ADV POTGIETER
And in fact you can’t work again in life.
MR YABO
No, I can’t.
ADV POTGIETER
Is there anything else that you’d like to ask from the Commission, or that you’d like to tell us?
MR YABO
No.
ADV POTGIETER
Is that all you’ve wanted to tell us?
MR YABO
Yes.
ADV POTGIETER
Okay, thank you Mr Yabo. Thank you, any questions from the Commissioners, Mary Burton.
MS BURTON
Mr Yabo, I would like to know whether you’re receiving a disability grant?
MR YABO
Yes.
CHAIRPERSON
Any other? Sidney, we thank you for your presents here and we thank you - we thank you for coming to talk here and we sympathize with you and we also feel for you whiles walking down the street you had to be shot.
We are going to try and hear from your lawyers as to - as to what happened to the - balance of the money. As I said earlier, that - there are many who have suffered but what can give hope is that what they suffered for they have gained for it, because here we are now we have gained freedom that we have been wishing for. So you also have a contribution into this freedom through the pain you have suffered.
We all wish therefore that you could have seen all the beautiful things that happened like the inauguration of Mr Mandela as the president, but unfortunately you couldn’t see all that because your eyes were removed. But though you don’t express it, but in you heart you still know that he is president and you even say you have also made a contribution with your eyes until we are here in this level.
I now hear you saying you can never work again, but there are many people who are blind but learn a lot. Now don’t you want to try and learn something because I know of those who’re telephonist, et cetera and many other things.
MR YABO
I will.
CHAIRPERSON
What do you say? I say I didn’t hear your answer and because you said you were no longer going to be able to work. Now I’m saying there are many blind people - even in our office in Cape Town we have our - a telephonist who is like you - he is blind to - therefore I’m asking you whether you do not have any wishes to do some studies, so that you can be able to work for yourselves - self. Okay, you’ll think - you’ll think about this.
I must remind you about people like Stevie Wonder - perhaps you can also sing, don’t - can’t you play a guitar?
MR YABO
No, I can’t.
CHAIRPERSON
Okay, we therefor thank you, Sir.
