hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SUBMISSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1997-06-05 WITBANK 1 MRS STAFNURSE MZWAKALI JB2148 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=56154&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/witbank/6witmzw.htm DR RANDERA Can I please call StafNurse Mzwakali. If the technicians are listening, wherever you are, is it possible to switch off the air-conditioning in this place? Mrs Mzwakali, good afternoon. Can you first of all introduce the people who are with you? MRS MZWAKALI DR RANDERA DR RANDERA Mrs Mzwakali, you are taking us to Witbank in 1985. You were shot in the left hand. We have you statement in front of us. Mr Malan is going to be helping you as you tell your story but before we do that, can you please stand to take the oath. Mr Lewin will help you. MR LEWIN Ma, if you could just stand please and swear that the evidence you give the Commission with be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God. MRS STAFNURSE MZWAKALI (sworn states) MR LEWIN Thank you. MR MALAN INTERPRETER MR MALAN Can you turn up the volume for her and see if that helps? INTERPRETER MR MALAN We are experience difficulties with these gadgets this morning. Something is clearly interfering. Can you hear us now and follow? INTERPRETER She can hear no. MR MALAN MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN Can you tell us a little about the nature of the injury to your hand? It was only your left hand that you were treated for. Were you shot anywhere else on the body? MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN MRS MZWAKALI I was admitted full time at the General Hospital, then I was transferred to Kalafong where I slept for those given months. Thereafter I was undergoing treatment and training. MR MALAN And the nature? Can you describe the nature of the injury for us? MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN Can you use your hand to any extent to-day? MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN MRS MZWAKALI I was not part of the group, I was just coming from work. When I alighted from the bus I could see those people from a distance. Most of those people were White policemen who had guns. Within no time the gunshots started making a noise and then people started running away. MR MALAN Do you have knowledge of any other people who were shot on that day? MRS MZWAKALI I heard at the hospital that there were some people that were shot. There was quite a number of them. MR MALAN Do you know what kind of ammunition were they using? Was this a bullet that hit you or was it some other kind of ammunition? MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN Was it a single bullet or was it a pellet from a shotgun or something? You have no specific knowledge of that? MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN Can you just lastly tell me, the circumstances on that day .............. (end of tape) MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN You have no recollection what it was about? Do you have some memories of their dissatisfaction? MRS MZWAKALI MR MALAN Sorry, I have no further direct questions. The Chairperson will take it over from here. Thank you very much. DR RANDERA Miss Mkhize? MISS MKHIZE Maybe if I can relate what the Commissioner has just asked, after you were shot, did you get any explanation? What type of explanation did you get from the community? MRS MZWAKALI The people told us that they were going to the park because they were informed that there was a meeting, a community meeting. That I heard after the whole incident. MISS MKHIZE Another think I want to ask is concerning your hand. You explained that it is already paralysed. Can you explain to the Commission whether you are able to dress yourself by using your hand or are you being assisted when getting dressed? MRS MZWAKALI MISS MKHIZE Is there any medication that you are taking with regard to the harassment you experienced? MRS MZWAKALI MISS MKHIZE The Commission would like you to help them by showing them where the bullet is. MRS MZWAKALI MISS MKHIZE As a person who was employed by the Government, did you receive anything after you got injured? MRS MZWAKALI MISS MKHIZE How long have you been working at the hospital? How long have you been working as a nurse? MRS MZWAKALI DR RANDERA MRS MZWAKALI DR RANDERA Thank you. Is there anything else you wish to say? MRS MZWAKALI No, nothing else. DR RANDERA MRS MZWAKALI Thank you. DR RANDERA I would like suggest that we break for lunch. Can you please leave your little boxes and headphones behind as you go for lunch. Thank you very much. We come back at two thirty. HEARING ADJOURNS