hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SUBMISSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1997-05-14 3 LUVUYO SIYO EC0417/96CCK https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55497&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/kwtown/kwtsiyo.htm CHAIRPERSON Calls Luvuyo Siyo. LUVUYO SIYO (sworn states). CHAIRPERSON MS MAYA Luvuyo, you are here to-day, to talk about Nombulelo Lizzi Siyo, who died on the 6th of September 1992. What is the relationship between Nombulelo and you ?. MR SIYO Nombulelo was my mother. MS MAYA How old was she ?. Do you remember ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA In your statement, you say that she was a member of ANC and SACAWU. What was happening at that time ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA MR SIYO The youth, together with parents because the parents joined us in our struggle. They were worried because we were not sleeping at home. The soldiers would beat us up if they saw us up in the village. MS MAYA Why were they beating you up ?. MR SIYO The soldiers were beating us because we are members of the ANC and they beat us because we were against the Headman. The Headman went to report to Bisho. The soldiers then were sent in our village to assault us. They did not want us to have ANC meetings. MS MAYA In which organization was the Headman ?. MR SIYO He was an ADM member. MS MAYA Your mother, did she get injured on that same day ?. MR SIYO She got injured on the 6th. We held a meeting at school. The soldiers came to that meeting. They asked us what we were doing there. We told them, we told them that we called the Headman to attend the meeting because we wanted peace in our area. We wanted him to tell the soldiers to leave our area because they were assaulting people. The soldiers told us to disperse. We asked them to join us, because we were not violent in that meeting. We were just talking about peaceful events. On other soldier by the name of Vazi teargassed us. Others joined him. They assaulted us with sjamboks. We told them not to assault old people, because they know nothing. They just attended the meeting to come and listen to what we were saying. We told them to assault and beat us and to stop beating old people. They then stopped beating old people. They came to us, we ran away, they shot at us. They chased me, together with my friend Undelagulashe, and the late Zondani Jimulongo. MS MAYA Was Sondani Jimulongo, did he die on that day ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA When did you manage to get your mother, to find her ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA Luvuyo, do you know the people who did this to your mother ?. MR SIYO They were soldiers who were based in Bulembu Airport. MS MAYA Do you know who, where these people are now ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA MR SIYO MS MAYA MR SIYO MS MAYA But in the village where the Headman is? MR SIYO Yes. MS MAYA Your mother, did she attend a meeting on the 6th ?. MR SIYO Yes, she did, because everybody was there. MS MAYA Are there any people who got injured on that same day ?. MR SIYO Yes, there are. MS MAYA At home, who is supporting you, as your mother passed away ?. You mentioned that you have a younger sister and a younger brother. MR SIYO MS MAYA Are you the eldest ?. MR SIYO Yes. MS MAYA Are you working ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA How old are you Luvuyo ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA Thank you, Luvuyo. Do you have any requests to the Commission ?. MR SIYO Yes, I do. MS MAYA What are your requests ? MR SIYO First of all, as I was still at school at that time, I was forced to leave school so that I can support my younger sister and my younger brother. I wanted to go and look for work, so that I can support them. I would like the Commission to help me so that I can further my studies. Secondly, my mother was trying to build us a home. When she died we cannot, we could not finish the house. I would like the Commission to help us and to talk with the Department of housing, so that we can be able to finish this house. MS MAYA How old is your younger sister and your younger brother ?. MR SIYO My younger sister is 17 years old. His name, her name is Viogazi. The other on is 7 years old. MS MAYA Are they still at school ?. MR SIYO Yes, they are still at school. MS MAYA Are you the one paying for the school fees ?. MR SIYO Yes. MS MAYA Do you get assistance from the Government ?. MR SIYO No. MS MAYA Was there a courtcase because of this incident ?. MR SIYO Yes, in Thimbaza Police Station, but it did not continue. I also went to Thabata to lay a charge. MS MAYA What happened to that case ?. MR SIYO MS MAYA Do you get money from them ?. MR SIYO No. MS MAYA MR SIYO No. MS MAYA CHAIRPERSON