hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HEARINGS 1996-06-18 GEORGE 1 CT/06103 MPUMELELO VENA MPUMELELO VENA TORTURED BY POLICE AND, BRIBED TO BE A POLICE, INFORMER https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55105&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/george/ct06103.htm MS BURTON Hello Mr Vena are you willing to take the oath? MR VENA Yes. PATRICK VENA Duly sworn states MS BURTON Thank you very much, please be seated - Dr Russell Ally is going to facilitate your testimony, thank you. DR ALLY Mnr Vena gaan jy in Afrikaans praat of - in which language will you testify? MR VENA In Xhosa. DR ALLY Mr Vena your case is one of - of severe ill treatment and torture. So if you could just tell us in - about what happened to you. MR VENA Can I - can I go on. DR ALLY Yes please. MR VENA Can I go on - are you waiting for me now. DR ALLY Yes we are waiting for you now. MR VENA We were waiting for a Kombi at 1st Avenue, the Kombi was going to pick us up and take us to the Civic Centre - we were waiting there - the five us who were representing the sports committee. A friend of ours came, one friend who was working at the funeral undertakers, he is [indistinct] he just stopped on the other side of the road, he was with someone who is deceased now, asked for tobacco, I crossed to them, to give them the tobacco and then I chatted with them for some time. There was one boer they asked him to kept me there and they will be back in ten minutes or so, I stayed there for about ten minutes. On their way back, they had Africa Kholile we call him Afrika Grootboom because his surname is Grootboom. He was also there, they said yes you come, in our minds we thought we are going to the police station. But the direction was not the one that was to the police station, it was the opposite direction, we were going out of Oudtshoorn on our way to Mossel Bay - on the way to Mossel Bay. But I was - I managed to win the chair and got those wires loose and then I preferred to be kicked to being electric with the - I said I would rather be kicked than endure the electricity shock and then I would slide down, they would take me up - lift me up then they start again - one in - next to me, if I turn back, he will push me this way - he will pull me with my hair and knock my head against the wall. They - when we got there, they took this young chap and they took him up to the third floor where they kill people, I remained in the van, they came back after some time - two detectives took me, I was with me was Mpondo, those were with me and Mpondo and then they asked me - I wanted my toothpaste and my toothbrush and then I said if you going to lock me up, I would like to have those, and then I said I was going to be locked up at - I waited there, this one would come and introduce himself and then [indistinct] so - so I forget the names and these are the security guys they are from the Veiligheidsmagte, the Security Forces. At some time they left - they left me alone and it was around about one, I saw one of the kitskonstabels - one was guarding by the gates. I just - I went to one of this constable and ask for a match, and I told him that I went to buy some match, and he asked if these guys are finished with me, I said yes. I managed to get out and I ran off, and approached Signal Garage, asked one of the guys who was working there who has passed away now - I asked him to give me some help. I told him - I tried to tell him the story, but I just went out of my mind and unconscious I fell down. He took me, but I told him not to take me home, he must take me somewhere else, and then he take - he took me and dropped me to the place I asked him to. I tried to tell the comrades that I am back and I told them what happened to me. We - we as comrades went to Saamstaan to one of the ministers and tell him by the Council of Churches, I gave him this statement and I told him everything that has happened. He take me to the doctor for some examination, Dr Hendricks and he gave me some pills. When I drank one of this pills, I just felt weak, I decided not to drink them anymore. Now it was Sunday, I saw that my health was falling apart - I felt sick, my family was here in Oudtshoorn, I decided to go to Cape Town, maybe I will get better help. I got some contract and I managed to leave the place and get to Cape Town. On the 22nd of September there was a meeting, I tried to attend that meeting, my whole body as shaking and I was feeling very cold, although I had a big jacket on and they helped me other - some clothes and I fell unconscious and fall down. They took me to Dr I and I in Athlone, we were there at five past seven, he was about to close. We plead with him, Gibson Mafenuka plead with him and ask him to consult me because I was very sick, plus the doctor had seen that no this person is sick and then he decided to take me inside and he put me into the examination room. He gave me some medication like rubbing stuff and he gave - also gave me a letter to take to the clinic. They gave me another letter from the clinic and give me another date of the next consultation that was the Day Hospital in NY3. DR ALLY Your case is your are saying that you were severally tortured and you mentioned two incidents actually you say the first was in February of 1988 is that correct, the first time that you were taken in and tortured. Did you....[intervention] MR VENA Can you repeat the question please - do you want to understand whether that was the first time - what are you trying to ask him? DR ALLY You mention now in your testimony - it seems as if you are speaking about two separate incidences, the first happened in February of 1988 and the second later that same year, September 1988, is that correct? MR VENA DR ALLY And in February 1988 you said they took you to the Geelhuis. MR VENA DR ALLY Yes. MR VENA DR ALLY [indistinct] when they took you in February did they use electric shock as well? MR VENA DR ALLY [indistinct] for the charge. MR VENA It was interfering with the police in carrying out their work, the other one was - it was alleged that I escaped - the other one to refuse arrest. DR ALLY [indistinct] incident in February you say they next picked you up in September again, did anything happen between February and September did - did any contact between you and the police, or Security Police, did they harass you, what happened between February and September if you can tell us quite briefly. MR VENA DR ALLY [indistinct] took you in September, what was the reason this time, what dit they say? MR VENA DR ALLY [indistinct] take you to Volmoed farm, is that right in September they took you to a different place - in September. MR VENA In September I was taken about 29 - 30 kilometres from Oudtshoorn to a place called Volmoed, that was in September, on the 14th of September - Wednesday it was Wednesday. DR ALLY And [indistinct] where the electrocution took place, where they - where they shocked you. MR VENA DR ALLY [indistinct] any medical records - any doctor certificates, anything relating to what - what happened to you? MR VENA Dr Hendricks and the Dr Combrinck are the ones who can - who can help you there, they may have record, even the lawyers demanded those reports, I went their several times and all in vain. But the lawyer would ask me not to worry, because the case was being handled. DR ALLY Okay, thank you very much. CHAIRPERSON Thank you - any questions - Joyce Seroke. MS SEROKE Mr Vena when you say when you were arrested you escaped from the police station, and then went to - how did you escape when you went to the [indistinct] MR VENA MS SEROKE MR VENA Yes I did. MS SEROKE Did they never chase you. MR VENA MS SEROKE Now what do you do now, do you work. MR VENA MS SEROKE [indistinct] injuries, as a result of this torture. MR VENA MS SEROKE And what is it exactly that you would like the Commission to help you with. MR VENA When I gave the letter to the commanding officer, I asked the detectives to give me my possessions, but they - and I also told them that there was money that was missing and my other things were missing and they had confiscated, but they said no I said go back to my lawyer. CHAIRPERSON MR VENA Thank you. CHAIRPERSON MS BURTON Thank you Your Grace, two things, if there are people in the hall who wish to make a statement still to our statement takers, there are people standing at the back of the hall Zine [indistinct] and Iona [indistinct] please give your names to them and we will contact you and make arrangements to take statements from people who still wish to make statements. We who have been involved in working in this area, in preparation for the day believe that this is a very important day for the Truth Commission because it is an example in many ways of the strength of the resistance against apartheid which was being organised in country towns all over the country and from Oudtshoorn particularly which led and stimulated resistance in other towns in this area. And we have heard about the pain and the loss that, that caused, the response from the State and the suffering also of people who were part of the efforts of the State to deal with the resistance. So we have heard a very important picture of what happened in a very important part of the country. CHAIRPERSON Thank you very much, I gather I got to remind you please the headsets, are lethal, if you take them home, they - there is a little man inside who jumps out, please stand - let the witnesses please leave first.