hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SUBMISSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1997-05-14 KING WILLIAM’S TOWN 3 TEMBEGA GLADYS BATA https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55493&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/kwtown/kwtbata.htm CHAIRPERSON We request that Tembega Gladys Bata come forward please. TEMBEGA GLADYS BATA: (sworn states) CHAIRPERSON We request that Ntsikii Sandi lead you in evidence on behalf of the Commission. Thank you Mr Chairperson. MR SANDI Mrs Bata, I also welcome you. You are going to talk about Lizo Desmond Bata, is that so ?. MRS BATA Yes. MR SANDI The late Mr Bata was your husband, is that so ?. MRS BATA Yes, Sir. MR SANDI Could you tell us fully what happened to him. MRS BATA It was in 1992, on a Monday that, at about, before 9 o’clock, we were watching TV and we heard a sound. Something was being thrown, we thought. My husband got up to peep He opened the door, the front door, he did not see anything. He closed the door but there was a funny smell, like smoke. He then went towards the back to see what was happening. As we were running towards the bedroom. We went towards the bedroom, running from the smoke. We got into the bedrooms then one of the children shouted that we should go outside because we are going to suffocate from the smoke. We ran over the fence and we went to our next-door neighbour’s house. We did not know what was going on. An ambulance was called and I was taken to hospital. I heard at the hospital the next day that my husband had passed away. MR SANDI Were there people Mrs Bata, who were arrested for this ?. MRS BATA No. MR SANDI Before this happened, were there incidents at home like this ?. MRS BATA No. MR SANDI Were there people perhaps from the Ciskeian Defence Force or Ciskeian Police Force who would come to your house looking for a particular person ?. MRS BATA The Ciskeian soldiers would come looking for Xembisi Bata but they would not go to home, but to the other house. MR SANDI Who was Xembisi Bata?. MRS BATA That is our Nephew. MR SANDI Therefore its a member of the family ?. MRS BATA Yes. MR SANDI According to your statement you suspect the perpetrators, you have an idea. MRS BATA Yes, I do. MR SANDI Would you tell us about these people? MRS BATA I suspect the Ciskeian soldiers. MR SANDI Do you have reason to suspect the Ciskeian soldiers ? MRS BATA Yes, I do. MR SANDI Could you give us these reasons ?. MRS BATA First of all, when the bomb was exploding, this, when the bomb, after the bomb exploded the soldiers were there in the yard. MR SANDI Did you get any treatment from the doctor ? MRS BATA I used to go to the doctor in 1992 and 93. MR SANDI Did you have children with Mr Bata ?. MRS BATA Yes. MR SANDI How old are the children ? MRS BATA My eldest was born in 1973, the second born 1976 and the, and, and my third 1977, my last one 1985. MR SANDI Are they all at school ? MRS BATA Yes, they are. MR SANDI Could you tell us how the children were affected by this incident. Surely they were affected cause they were quite young when the father passed away. MRS BATA I did not notice anything. MR SANDI How do they feel about the way their father died ? MRS BATA They were very hurt. MR SANDI What was your father doing, your husband doing ?. MRS BATA He was a taxi man. MR SANDI How long had he been a taxi man ? MRS BATA Quite a while. More than 11 years. MR SANDI Why do you think that the Ciskeian Defence Force killed Lizo Desmond Bata ? MRS BATA I think that it was a mistaken, they were looking for Xembisi. MR SANDI Are these house, are their houses next to each other ? MRS BATA Yes. MR SANDI Where were you staying at the time ? MRS BATA At Xue Xue. Xue Xue township. MR SANDI Next to Bisho ? MRS BATA Yes. MR. SANDI Is that all the evidence that you have, Mrs Bata ? MRS BATA Yes. MR SANDI Do you have a request in connection with this incident ? MRS BATA I would like to know the perpetrators. Who they are. MR SANDI You have a request according to your statement, about your children. MRS BATA If I could be helped with the children, so that they can be educated. MR SANDI Was Mr Bata politically active. Did he belong to any political organization ? MRS BATA No, he did not belong to any political organization. MR SANDI Thank you Mrs Bata. If, perhaps there’s something you have left out, maybe it will be revealed as the other panelists ask questions. CHAIRPERSON Calls June Crichton. MRS CRICHTON Can you hear me, Mrs Bata ? MRS BATA Yes, I can hear you. MRS CRICHTON Just one question. Did you get any legal advice about this at all, make a statement to the police or approach an attorney ? MRS BATA I gave a statement to the police. MRS CRICHTON Did anything happen as a result of that ?. MRS BATA There was a investigation, but no results came of it. MRS CRICHTON Your husband was a member, well not a member, but he was a taxi driver for 11 years. He belonged to Bata. Was there any assistance from them when this happened ? MRS BATA We were not helped at all. MR SANDI Mrs Bata I just need clarity. What was the taxi association that your husband was a member of ? MRS BATA It was Begita. MR SANDI At the time of the incident, Mrs Bata, was there perhaps unrest with, especially the taxi men. Were they fighting at the time ?. MRS BATA No. MR SANDI You said you reported this at the police. Who as a policeman was leading the investigation ?. MRS BATA I do not know, but it was at Zwelitsha police station. MR SANDI Did the police come to you to take a statement ?. MRS BATA Yes, they did. CHAIRPERSON Are there any questions ?. Mrs Bata, we thank you very much. We’ll remember this day that you’re talking about when your husband Lizo was shot. The Commission will look into your request that we’ve investigate what the contribution of the police was in investigating this matter. As you say according to your statement, you say you would like to know who the perpetrators are, so that you can forgive them. We trust that our investigative unit will be able to fulfill this need. Thank you for having forward with this statement. If there’s more details we need, we will come to you Mrs Bata. Thank you for now.