hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HEARINGS 1996-10-16 WINELANDS 3 CT/00685 ROBERT MCCLUNE ROBERT MCCLUNE SHOOTING https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=56140&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/wineland/ct00685.htm MS GOBODO DR ORR ROBERT EDWARD McCLUNE Duly sworn states DR ORR Thank you very much, Adv Potgieter? ADV POTGIETER Thank you very much Dr Orr, Mr McClune once again we would like to welcome you. It is so nice to have quite a few McClune from Wolseley here. Are you related to the Mayor? MR MCCLUNE Yes sir. ADV POTGIETER Fortunately, okay you were injured on the 24th of November 1990. In the incident which we were listening up to now, but you were shot later - shot and injured later the day, not immediately after the demonstration. Is that correct? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER Could you just tell us what happened in your case. MR MCCLUNE Mummy, mummy. This is what we call each other parents because we - we grew up together, we were at school together. His mother opened the door and said: Robert what is wrong And I said: ADV POTGIETER Thank you Mr McClune, are you working at the butchery at the moment? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER But your in - your - you say your injuries bother you, that you cannot for fill your duties properly? MR MCCLUNE ADV POTGIETER Is that the region where you were shot? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER In your left side? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER So - on that particular day you were not involved in the protest demonstration at all? MR MCCLUNE No, I was working. ADV POTGIETER MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER MR MCCLUNE When I took the corner in Petunia Street I was struck. ADV POTGIETER MR MCCLUNE No. ADV POTGIETER Do you - thought it was safe to go home? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER And how were you shot - were you shot from behind? MR MCCLUNE ADV POTGIETER Were you walking alone when you were shot? MR MCCLUNE Yes, my friend took me as far as the Lane and I said to him I was safe then. ADV POTGIETER And there was nobody else in the street apart from you? MR MCCLUNE No. ADV POTGIETER There was also nothing happening? MR MCCLUNE No, I did not see any body there. ADV POTGIETER There was no unrest in the area where you were? MR MCCLUNE No. ADV POTGIETER Why do you think why did the police still shoot then? MR MCCLUNE I just felt that if - if I had walked home I would be safe but just as I took the corner into Petunia Street I was shot right there. ADV POTGIETER So you say it was a - totally unnecessary to shoot? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER And it was more malicious that any thing else? MR MCCLUNE ADV POTGIETER So the police who came to shoot there are not from Wolseley? MR MCCLUNE Wolseley police and other police. ADV POTGIETER So they did this job together? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER Did you institute a claim against them? MR MCCLUNE ADV POTGIETER MR MCCLUNE No nothing. ADV POTGIETER You say you are married and you have how many children? MR MCCLUNE Two. ADV POTGIETER Does your wife work? MR MCCLUNE She is a seasonal worker at SEPCO in Tulbagh. ADV POTGIETER How old are your children? MR MCCLUNE One is five not at school yet and the other one is still very young. ADV POTGIETER Mr McClune thank you very much, is there anything else that you would like to say. Is this your evidence? MR MCCLUNE Yes. ADV POTGIETER Thank you very much for having come. MS GOBODO Thank you Denzil, Robert what is most shocking about this testimony that you and others before you had given is the senselessness of it all. Just the senseless shooting of people who are unarmed and who were obviously causing no danger and were no danger to the police themselves. What is unbelievable is the extent to which the forces were brought in from all over as you have indicated yourself. And for people who were obviously causing no danger - no life threats to the policemen themselves. It really is very shocking the kinds of things that happen in these places and what happened in the past. That people will carry all these wounds around for nothing. You know for - for nothing, there is no explanation, no sensible reason. Nothing that can be touched, nothing that can be said moved them to shoot so many people and cause so much harm. We thank you for coming and we are very sad - saddened by just the state of affairs not only in Wolseley but generally in the country as depicted in the stories that people have brought to us. Thank you very much. MR MCCLUNE Thank you.