hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HEARINGS 1996-04-22 HEIDERVELD 1 CT/00602 JOHANNES TITUS [son] MARGARET ELIZABETH TITUS, MARILYN TITUS SHOOTING https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55178&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/heide/ct00602.htm DR BORAINE MS TITUS Yes. DR BORAINE If that is so, then I would be grateful if you would take the oath. MARGARET ELIZABETH ANNE TITUS Duly sworn states DR BORAINE Thank you very much will you take your seat please. Ms Titus you have come with your son and your son is the one who was so very badly injured - shot and you will tell us that story. It goes back to 1976. It obviously totally transformed your life, your family and particularly your son. ADV POTGIETER Thank you Chairperson. Ms Titus prefers to give her testimony in Afrikaans. MS TITUS Afrikaans. ADV POTGIETER You are very welcome here, you brought along with you today on your left your son, Johannes. And next to him is his wife, Marilyn Titus, is that correct? MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER And your testimony will deal with the shooting incident in which Johannes was injured is that correct? MS TITUS Right. ADV POTGIETER Johannes is your eldest son is that correct? MS TITUS Yes that is correct. ADV POTGIETER MS TITUS But in Hanover Park Avenue is a Catholic Church and the priest stood there and he was also praying. And the priest offered me a lift to the hospital. He first said where are you taking the child and they said to Victoria Hospital. And he stayed in Victoria Hospital for a whole year, he underwent eight operations. ADV POTGIETER We lived in Hanorver Park. ADV POTGIETER MS TITUS It was I think in September. ADV POTGIETER What - what were the conditions in Hanover Park like, were their riots, what happened? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER But generally speaking what were conditions like in Hanover Park in September. MS TITUS Yes there were riots during - this as during the time of the riots. ADV POTGIETER How old was Johannes at the time? MS TITUS And the doctors helped me to look for him, they phoned the various police stations and eventually they found him at Victor Verster prison and he was there for 14 days and he was sick because he still had a colostomy bag and he was there for 14 days. And then after 14 days I just saw that here was my son. ADV POTGIETER MS TITUS Maybe he can show the public how badly he was shot. ADV POTGIETER Yes, but perhaps you should rather just explain to us where he was shot, which part of his body, in his stomach. MS TITUS Yes and he a lot of plastic tubes and he still has some plastic tubing in his stomach. ADV POTGIETER When you arrived on the scene, in Hanover Park where he was shot, was he still there on the scene? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER Are you talking about his intestines? MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER And you say that he spent a year in hospital? MS TITUS Yes he was in hospital for a whole year. He was on a life support machine and a heart machine. ADV POTGIETER Now as a result of the wound that he sustained, how has it affected him, what is his condition now? MS TITUS Actually he suffers a lot he is more ill than healthy, he is really suffering. And the problem with his legs, that is why he has to use a stick, is not enough support in his abdomen. ADV POTGIETER The operations you mentioned, there were nine altogether. MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER Now were these operations all to his stomach? MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER Has he ever worked - has he ever had a fixed employment? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER Apart from the shooting, the wound to his stomach, anything else that was wrong with him after the incident? MS TITUS No. ADV POTGIETER And mentally? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER Now you say that after the incident, a policeman came to visit you. MS TITUS The policeman came to our house to apologise, he said that he was very sorry for having shot the child, because he also has a wife and children. ADV POTGIETER: Do you know this policeman? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER And you say that he was from the Philippi police station. MS TITUS Yes, but I must just tell you, his wife has a lot of trouble with him and I am really sorry because he is my oldest child, he has a wife and three children. ADV POTGIETER You say that after the incident he was taken to Court. MS TITUS Yes he was taken to Court. And the Magistrate said that he finds him guilty, but that he has already served his sentence. He is already been punished. ADV POTGIETER What was alleged in Court - what was the charge? MS TITUS MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER And was he locked up again? MS TITUS Yes he was picked up one morning on his way to the shop and they picked him up. They said it was the State of Emergency, but that time of the morning it was 8:30 when they picked him up and they refused to tell me where he was. They told me I must go and look for him myself. ADV POTGIETER So they told you - he was picked up under the State of Emergency. MS TITUS Yes but it was 8:30 in the morning, and it was just because he went to the shop. ADV POTGIETER You say he spent 14 days in Victor Verster Prison? MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER And he was then released? MS TITUS Yes after 14 days. ADV POTGIETER He was never charged? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER What is his situation now? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER How do you feel about the shooting incident in which your son was involved? MS TITUS Oh! sir the child is still - still suffering as a result of it, he is really still suffering. ADV POTGIETER Is there anything else that would like to add or something, a request that you would like to make to the Commission. MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER How old are they? MS TITUS 8, 7 and 3. ADV POTGIETER MS TITUS I really just want to ask for assistance for them because financially really they suffering. They waited for ten years for a house, but he is still under medical treatment at the day hospital. He still receives treatment at the hospital. ADV POTGIETER Until this day? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER Thank you very much - is your daughter-in-law is there anything she would like to add? Oh! I just wanted to ask if there is anybody who wants to put a question - do you want to put a question. UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER When Johannes was shot, was anybody present, any eyewitness to this incident? MS TITUS Well my one little son went to look for him, because they wanted to eat the fish and he was 10 years old the other son and he just mommy, the only thing I could do - I just had to run because the boere they aimed the gun at him. UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER Was he the only child shot on that particular day? MS TITUS Yes he was the only child walking down the road. UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER MS TITUS UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER Did you ever go to an attorney? MS TITUS Yes, I went to Mr Ebrahim and he represented him at Court. UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER And what was the charge when he appeared in Court? MS TITUS UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER And the name of the priest who took you to the hospital? MS TITUS UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER Thank you. CHAIRPERSON Thank you very much, we very grateful that you came here today to pour out your grief. To reveal it to us all. We hope that we will be able to assist you in answering your questions and giving you some assistance. May I just ask that he shows the public where and how he was shot? DR BORAINE You are Ms Marilyn Titus? MS TITUS Yes. DR BORAINE [indistinct] to add something to the story, are you prepared to take the oath. MS TITUS Yes. DR BORAINE Would you stand please. MARILYN TITUS Duly sworn states DR BORAINE Thank you very much. ADV POTGIETER Thank you Mr Chairman, madam you wanted to add something to the testimony already given by your mother-in-law regarding the circumstances - your own circumstances and those of your family is that correct? MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER You could go ahead and tell us. MS TITUS He receives R410-00 a month and I receive R991-00 a month, but the money which he receives he has to use to pay the rent ,water and electricity and I have to use my money to pay for food, clothes and so forth for the children. ADV POTGIETER Do you work? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER Do you receive a grant? MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER And also some maintenance for the children. How long did you have to wait for the house? MS TITUS 10 Years. ADV POTGIETER Your children Ms Titus refers to their ages, could you just mention them again, how old are they? MS TITUS One is 8. ADV POTGIETER Are they girls or boys? MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER So you have two girls and a boy? MS TITUS Yes. ADV POTGIETER MS TITUS ADV POTGIETER Thank you very much. UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER Thank you very much, I just want to ask, madam does your husband any special aids or do you look after him during the day? MS TITUS Yes I look after him but he is so often ill, he can hardly sleep. UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER How do you think the shooting affected him? MS TITUS UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER Does he visit the doctor? MS TITUS Yes every month he goes to the doctor. UNKNOWN COMMISSIONER Any other questions - thank you very much.