hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SUBMISSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1997-05-14 3 JOHNSON NONGENA EC1986/97KMT https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55496&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/kwtown/kwtnonge.htm CHAIRPERSON JOHNSON NONGENA (sworn states) MASIXOLE SKIET (sworn states) L IZO NABO (sworn states) CHAIRPERSON We did call you your names before, but you were not here, so we would like you to be brief because we have to go to Cape Town to attend a meeting. I will start with you, Mr Johnson Nongena. You are a member of PAC? MR NONGENA Yes, that is so. CHAIRPERSON It was banned in 1960. MR NONGENA Yes. CHAIRPERSON In 1963, it started fighting against the Government ? MR NONGENA Yes. CHAIRPERSON On the 8th of April 1963, something happened, which led to your presence here to-day. MR NONGENA Yes. CHAIRPERSON Please tell us what happened Sir. MR NONGENA We were 17 people here in town who got arrested. We were going to attack boers in the charge office. I was one of the leaders of that group. The boers were treating us badly at the time. When we arrived in the charge office, the gate was too small. I was one of the people who entered first. CHAIRPERSON Were you armed ? MR NONGENA Yes, with axes. CHAIRPERSON Did you have any petrol bombs ? MR NONGENA No, we did not have any petrol bombs. When we entered the charge office, there was one young man Njopo. There were other leaders who were arrested before. They were in that charge office. I went straight to the charge office. We were to attack the charge office. The boers ran away when they saw us because we were armed. I recognized one of them. He had a gun in his hand. I had a petrol bomb and an assegai. I threw that assegai. He was, he was standing 15 metres away from me. The other men had ran away. Njopo was the only one, who was there with me. When I was about to leave, I got shot and I was struck in my leg. I then tried to run away. When we were about to reach a corner, I could not run any longer. There was blood, I tried to hide, in a rubbish bin. After a while I saw them with a torch, I hought it was in the morning. It was at about 1 in the morning. I thought that he did not see me. He passed me, he then came back. He said, come out Poqo. We were known as Poqo at the time. He talked Afrikaans, saying that, come out Poqo. CHAIRPERSON You were then arrested ? You were handcuffed and you were taken to prison. MR NONGENA They handcuffed me at that time. I then sat down. CHAIRPERSON And Joubert(?) was also assaulted. When you sent to Queenstown ? MR NONGENA CHAIRPERSON Twelve years. MR NONGENA 12 years. CHAIRMAN Judge Cloetze sentenced you.? J NONGENA Yes, Judge Cloetze. CHAIRPERSON Therefore, you went to Robben Island ? MR NONGENA Yes, but we went via Port Elizabeth. We stayed there for about two, three weeks and then to Robben Island. CHAIRPERSON Your health deteriorated at the island ? MR NONGENA CHAIRPERSON Did you see a doctor in prison ? MR NONGENA CHAIRPERSON So what eventually happened ? How were your released ? MR NONGENA These men, I was then told to go to ....(indistinct)... for the sick. It is on this day that I was sent through to Cape Town when a plaster of paris was put around me. After a month, it was removed. It was from my upper chest to my waist. They removed it because it was too painful. CHAIRPERSON Perhaps you can show us later. MR NONGENA I went here to other doctors who examined me. I wore another plaster of paris. CHAIRPERSON You were released in 1975 ? MR NONGENA Yes, I was released in 1975. CHAIRPERSON MR NONGENA Yes, that is correct. CHAIRPERSON You also would like a project to be started in your area, in order to encourage people ? MR NONGENA Yes. CHAIRPERSON Did I leave out something ? MR NONGENA Coetzee, I would like him to come forward to apologize, to ask for forgiveness, it you he is still alive. CHAIRPERSON MR NONGENA CHAIRPERSON Mr Sandi will lead Masixole with questions. MR SANDI MR NABO We moved from Bluerock, 1981 or 82. MR SANDI Mr Nabo, you were beaten up that day. MR NABO We got such problems, beaten with, by sjamboks but they were not severe. The problem was at Potsdam. We had to leave Potsdam as a result. When we left, we had a meeting. I then had to leave and stand outside because we thought they were going to destroy the venue. As I was outside, there were people who ran away and went to the travel police station. They had weapons. They said we must raise our hands. MR SANDI Is this the time you were beaten ? How did they torture you. MR NABO They tied me, my hands behind my back, they said I must divulge where the meeting was. MR SANDI Where you able to take them ? MR NABO MR SANDI As a result of this you got terribly injured. MR NABO Yes, on my head, also my one eye does not see well because I was beaten up. MRS SANDI Do you get any form of treatment ? MR NABO Yes. MR SANDI Are you still under treatment ? MR NABO Now and again. MR SANDI So, you lost some of your furniture. MR NABO Yes. My stuff was terribly damaged. MR SANDI MR NABO Yes, because I do not work. I lost my job at the Post Office in 1987. MR SANDI Where do you stay now ? MR NABO In Mount Ruth, in a shack. MR SANDI You have a request that the Government may perhaps build you a house. MR NABO Yes. MR SANDI Three children you have ? MR NABO The fourth one is very, very small. MR SANDI Is that all, Mr Nabo ? MR NABO Yes. MR SANDI Thank you. Masixole! Masixole, you are here to talk about yourself ? M SKIET Yes, that is correct Sir. MR SANDI MR SKIET Yes, that is correct. MR SANDI What happened in 1993 ? MR SKIET MR SANDI Are you talking about that day when a hand grenade was through in, was thrown in your home ? MR SKIET Yes. MR SANDI This happened during the conflict between ANC and ADM. MR SKIET Yes. MR SANDI Are you getting medical treatment now ? MR SKIET No. MR SANDI Is there a need for you to get a medical treatment ? MR SKIET When it is very cold, I do feel pains. MR SANDI Do you have any requests, Masixole, concerning this matter ? M SKIET I would like the Commission to help me to get some more medical treatment. MR SANDI At home, was there anyone who was politically active ? MR SKIET It was my grandfather. MR SANDI This all happened because your grandfather took part in politics. MR SKIET Yes. MR SANDI And there was this conflict between ANC and ADM ? MR SKIET Yes. MR SANDI Are you at school ? MR SKIET Yes. MR SANDI In which standard are you ? MR SKIET MR SANDI Is that all you wanted to say ? MR SKIET Yes, that is all. MR SANDI Thank you, Masixole. Thank you, Mr Chairperson. CHAIRPERSON our last hearing. MR SANDI Mr Chairperson, we would like to thank you because you led us in this hearing. Thank you very much for your leadership.