hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SUBMISSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1997-05-23 BALFOUR 1 MKIJIMA J MNGUNI JB3342 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=54950&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/balfour/8balmngu.htm DR ALLY MR MNGUNI Thank you. DR ALLY MR MNGUNI (sworn states) DR ALLY Thank you very much Mr Mnguni. DR RANDERA MR MNGUNI DR RANDERA Did you then go out and see what happened ? MR MNGUNI Yes, I did. It was true, he was laying on the ground. DR RANDERA Was dead already by then ? MR MNGUNI I think he was dead. DR RANDERA Can you tell us what happened after that Mr Mnguni ? MR MNGUNI The boys took him into the cupboard. We could see that the damage has been done and he was killed. DR RANDERA What occurred ? Did the other boys take him to the hospital ? MR MNGUNI Yes, they took him to the doctor. He was already dead. It was just a formality to take him to the doctor because we were aware that he was dead. DR RANDERA You want to now tell us what happened on the day of the funeral. How many days later was the funeral ? MR MNGUNI It was on the thirteenth. They never allowed us to carry on with the funeral. They harassed us and they kept throwing teargas canisters on the day of the funeral. It was terrible and it was chaotic. DR RANDERA What happened after that, Mr Mnguni ? MR MNGUNI They took the corpse with and buried him themselves. I went to them to find out where they had buried my son. They told me he was buried in Greylingstad. DR RANDERA As I understand it, they just took the body away without any permission from you and buried the body. MR MNGUNI That is correct. DR RANDERA MR MNGUNI They told me that he was buried in Greylingstad. I went there to try and locate the grave and there was one gentleman who knew me and he pointed at the place where he was buried. DR RANDERA How old was you son, Mr Mnguni ? How old was Abram when he was killed ? MR MNGUNI He was eighteen years old. DR RANDERA And he was still a student at that time. MR MNGUNI Yes, he was a student. DR RANDERA Do you have any other children ? MR MNGUNI Yes, I do have other children. DR RANDERA Mr Mnguni, tell us what was actually happening in Siyathemba on that day ? You said earlier on that there was chaos and the police and soldiers were firing teargas canisters. MR MNGUNI They had set the store alight and previously there was nothing then they started. That was when things started. Turmoil. People were not fighting. DR RANDERA Who set the store alight ? MR MNGUNI I do not know. DR RANDERA MR MNGUNI Yes, there was nothing, it was quiet. DR RANDERA What about Abram himself, was he a Comrade ? Was he part of the youth structures in Siyathemba ? MR MNGUNI Not to my knowledge. He never mentioned whether he was a Comrade or not. DR RANDERA What would you wish to the Truth Commission to do, Mr Mnguni ? What is your wish ? MR MNGUNI I would like to have some compensation because I believe that if he was alive, he would be taking care of me and supporting me. DR RANDERA Thank you Mr Mnguni, I have not further questions. MR MANTHATA Mr Mnguni, where was the mother at that time ? MR MNGUNI MR MANTHATA MR MNGUNI No, she never made any attempt. MR MANTHATA As it is, if I understand you well, you talk of compensation. You are not talking about the chance that the remains be taken from Greylingstad to where you are right now ? MR MNGUNI Most of the people do suggest that the body should be exhumed from where it is and buried locally. MR MANTHATA Who are these many, Mr Mnguni ? Who at the time of the death of your child did not protest that he should be taken to Greylingstad but now you say they would protest for the remains to be brought back to where you are ? MR MNGUNI MR MANTHATA In what Class was your son at school at the time ? MR MNGUNI I think he was in Standard Seven. That is Form Two. DR ALLY Please people. Can people please just settle down and be quiet ? MR MANTHATA What did his teachers say when he died and when he had to be buried and when the police took the corpse and buried it where they wanted it ? MR MNGUNI They said nothing to that effect. MR MANTHATA MR MNGUNI No, nothing to that effect. MR MANTHATA No further questions. DR RANDERA Mr Mnguni, just one last question. Did you lay a charge at the police station against the killing of your son ? MR MNGUNI Yes, I did. DR RANDERA Did anything come out of it ? MR MNGUNI DR ALLY And the matter of your son being buried ? Did you take up that matter as well, Mr Mnguni ? The fact that the coffin was taking away from you and the family. MR MNGUNI I did take that further. DR ALLY How did you take up that matter ? What did you do ? MR MNGUNI I went to report the matter to the police at the police station. I asked how they can they do ? They laughed at me and mocked me. That was it. DR ALLY