hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HEARINGS 1996-06-10 KIMBERLEY 1 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55370&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/kimber/ct00139.htm CASE NO: CT/00139 VICTIM: PHINEUS ADONIS VIOLATION: SHOT WITH BIRDSHOT TESTIMONY BY: ELISA ADONIS [mother] DR BORAINE Elisa Adonis we ask her please to come to the witness stand. Good afternoon Ms Adonis, can you hear me in the earphones. Good, thank you very [indistinct] MS ADONIS Yes, I can hear you. DR BORAINE Before I ask Glenda Wildschut to help you tell your own story, would you please stand for the taking of the oath. ELISA ADONIS Duly sworn states DR BORAINE MS WILDSCHUT Good afternoon Ms Adonis. INTERPRETER MS WILDSCHUT Good afternoon Ms Adonis how are you? MS ADONIS MS WILDSCHUT [indistinct] a bit worried about talking today but we hope that and we will try to help you to tell your story in you own words. Are you hearing my voice through the earphones - she speaks Xhosa? Are you hearing a Xhosa translation in your ears? MS ADONIS Yes, I can. MS WILDSCHUT So we understand each other now? MS ADONIS Yes, I understand you very well. MS WILDSCHUT Could we start now, are you ready to start? MS ADONIS MS WILDSCHUT Okay, perhaps you can tell us a little about yourself, tell us who you are and where you stay and then could you also tell us about your son Phineus. How old was he at the time this happened and what he was doing at the time of the incident? MS ADONIS When this incident started it was through the struggle. On this day it was on the 16th of June everybody was struggling. Very early in the morning we started and I was also involved. We went around all over and then we came back home. During that period the children continued toi-toiing in the streets and we were at home at the time. At a later stage I went back to get involved again, on my way to the incident and the occasion I could see that everybody was going to a certain spot because the police had already started to cordon the areas which were affected. During that period on the same time I saw my son being shot at by the police, he ran away. When he went the other - to the other street I could see that he was trying to run towards my house. Then I went back to the victim who was already on the ground - tried to help him, dragged him along so that I can take him to my place. Then I went out again because my son was not yet inside, then when I went out I could see that some of the comrades were carrying him towards my place. I saw the police man on my way to the shop because I wanted to go and buy some paraffin. Some of the policemen were just moving in and out the house because they could see that there some people who were accommodated in my place. Some were outside and the others were inside, they were all armed. Although I was afraid I went out and bought the paraffin and I came back. The house was getting fuller and fuller and I requested some of the comrades to keep - to keep the others company and also to be on the alert of what was happening. They were also again - they were also afraid because they feared that the police might come and take them along. I tried to make them feel comfortable and reassured them that something - nothing would happen to them. We closed the door and then waited for the others to come and assist us. It was a bit late and it was during sunset and some of the people went back to their places. As we waited for some of the people there were some cars which was coming in to take the people and some to the victims were unable to walk. So they were assisted - transported to their places and my son was still unavailable. I tried to take care of the other victim that I picked up earlier. Whilst I was still surprised of what was happening and they were just getting into the house uninvited I was also afraid because everybody was asleep now and the - my boys were not in the house. God was with me because Michael came in during that period. When he came in Mzayitani was already in the house also. So they also stood next to the door of my room. When we were standing next to the dining room door we were guarding because we knew that Phineus was inside the room. And they also said to us you were just protecting him, him must then stand up. He asked where we are going to, we struggled with the police because we tried to save our son Phineus, and we succeeded, Phineus was left into - into the - inside the room. We tried to stand steadfastly - it was a terrible fight, it was the whole night and we were trying to force the police to go out of the house. We cannot remember what the time - they came in. We cannot ever estimate what time it was when they left but it was such a big fight that at the end they gave up. While we were still hitting him, Mzayitani shouted from the house and he said, mum can you please come and help me. We dropped everything and went to help Mzayitani in the house. They were dragging him, they wanted him to be in the back of the hippo. Me and Michael stood again, fighting Mzayitani. They grabbed by his hair and they pulled all his hair from his head. They managed to - to let him jump over the fence. His two feet were on the fence and he managed to grab on top of the hippo and he pulled himself - he pushed himself back and then we took him into the house and put him on the floor. MS WILDSCHUT Could you just tell us what has happened to Phineus since, what happened to Phineus? MS ADONIS They dragged Phineus, his whole body was damaged - even the head. The lips as well, I think those bullets are still in his body even now. Some of the bullets are on his head and his whole body was damaged. I left him during those struggle and I sent him home - that is in Mandibogo, I wanted him to go and rest. I thought I was helping myself when I let him run away, I only heard later that there is another gentleman who - who normally goes to Kuruman to - to stock for his shop and I asked this gentleman to give him lift together with Mzayitani. Mzayutani and Phineus went to him and they were on their way to Mandibogo because I wanted him to go and rest there because I thought he would be quickly healed. Just after they have left the owner of this car passes through his house and he parked the car very close to the road and he walked into his house. NO FURTHER TRANSCRIPTION FOUND