hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HEARINGS 1996-06-19 GEORGE 2 CT/06108 PATRICK MZATHI PATRICK MZATHI TORTURED BY POLICE https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55107&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/george/ct06108.htm PATRICK MZATHI Duly sworn states DR RAMASHALA Chairperson Professor Russel Ally will facilitate the witness, thank you. DR ALLY MR MZATHI This is my aunt - my aunt. DR ALLY Your case is a very similar one to the two cases which we have just heard - the cases of Claasen and Mthamzeli also allegations of torture and severe ill treatment and the same names again come up. MR MZATHI After they put us, they beat me with their hand gun at the back of my head, they put me in the dog cell, I think there were nine of us. When I gained consciousness we were in George, they told us that we are going to be there for 14 days and then after that we would be released. I denied all these things and they beat me up, clapped me, they kicked me and I denied all the time they forced me - there was a drawer - they put my penis and my testicles into a drawer, it was the first time I experienced a pain of my private parts. I went unconscious, I woke - until I woke up in the cell. this office, truly this time I was not involved and now they press my testicles against that drawer, that showed hatred against me. DR ALLY Patrick how old were you when these things happened to you? MR MZATHI I was 14 years old. DR ALLY To your mind why were they - why were they doing this, I know you say that they were wanting information about your father, but other than that, was there any other information that they wanted from you? MR MZATHI DR ALLY Can you tell us what was happening in the township at that time, politically was there a lot of political activity, were a lot of things happening? MR MZATHI Yes there were things that were politically affiliated - the community was fighting against the boers. After 1985 up until 1986 they declared a State of Emergency that was when I was detained. DR ALLY And do you know of other cases of people, you said that 20 were detained at the same time that you were detained, do you know if they were also tortured, did they discuss any of what happened to them with you? MR MZATHI DR ALLY [indistinct] was he also tortured in the same ways did he also have his genitals pushed into a draw and the door closed on him? MR MZATHI DR ALLY [indistinct] were you kept in detention? MR MZATHI DR ALLY And after that period did the police leave you alone or did they still continue to harass you - after you were released? MR MZATHI After my release there was - the policemen had nothing up until the death of Chris Hani where they said I was involved in the burnt down of the post office. It was the same detective who detained me for the state of - for the burnt down of the police station. DR ALLY [indistinct] you again that time, this - after they picked you up. MR MZATHI DR ALLY [indistinct] us what are you doing presently? MR MZATHI I am doing a part-time job here in Mossel Bay in a sub. DR RAMASHALA Yes Chairperson I would like to know if there are any long term effects on the - at special [indistinct] torture? MR MZATHI DR RAMASHALA Mr Mzathi have you been to a doctor? MR MZATHI DR RAMASHALA Do you have any children? MR MZATHI DR RAMASHALA In addition to making sure that your story is documented by the Truth Commission is there anything else that you would like the Truth Commission to do? MR MZATHI Something like what? DR RAMASHALA MR MZATHI DR RAMASHALA MR MZATHI What I can tell them is this, I would like them to tell to the people out of the torture what was the reason for them to torture me like this. To beat me up like this, to insert my testicles into the drawer and tell the people so that the people can know if they are here of if they are available. MS BURTON Thank you Mr Mzathi for coming to tell us about what happened to you, we too hope that the people who did these things, will come forward and explain what they did and why they did it, and if they are sorry that they should say so, so that you will be satisfied in that way that we can begin to forgive one another for the things that have happened. And we are really grateful to you for coming to tell us your story today, thank you very much. MR MZATHI Okay. MS BURTON You can come down now, thank you.