hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HEARINGS 1996-06-26 WORCESTER 3 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=56164&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/worcest/ct00244.htm CASE NO: CT/00244 VICTIM: NOWOWO EMILY TSENZE VIOLATION: BEATEN BY POLICE TESTIMONY FROM: NOWOWO TSENZE DR ORR Do you swear - I will read the oath - Ms Tsenze I will read the oath and then you will say so help me God. NOWOWO EMILY TSENZE Duly sworn states DR ORR Thank you, Pumla Gobodo is now going to help you tell your story. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Thank you Wendy. Thank you Mama Tsenze, you may take your earphones off. We would like you to give us your opinion of the events that happened that time when you were beaten by the police. Can you first tell us where you come from? MS TSENZE I come from Robertson. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Where did you stay in Robertson? MS TSENZE In Qubello. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Can you tell us what happened at that time in Qubello? MS TSENZE When we got to the court to see the lawyers we saw the lawyers by the vans and we went back again without meeting with the lawyers. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA You are telling me that you were beaten because of the rubbish that was scattered, was that the reason the police gave you? MS TSENZE Yes it was. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA You are also saying that it was not only you who was severely beaten, can you tell us why the others were beaten? MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA When you say we, are you meaning those that were beaten with you? MS TSENZE All the people in the location were told to go in to take the papers in. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA MS TSENZE In the first place I was hit on my head and also on my buttocks and my head was swollen through that beating as well as my buttocks. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Were you beaten with a whip by the police? MS TSENZE I was beaten with a whip by the police. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Were they in a police van or what? MS TSENZE They came on foot, they came into my house on foot. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA How were you injured, was it only that you were swollen or were there any wounds? MS TSENZE My head is still hurting at this point where I was beaten on the back of my head, it still hurts even today. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Did you go and see the doctor because of the wounds? MS TSENZE Yes I did go to the doctor. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA What did the doctor say? MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Whom do you still remember of those who were beaten as well? MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Which year was this? MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA In you statement you said it was in June 1985. MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Thank you Mamma Tsenze you told us about a court case, can you tell us about it. MS TSENZE Apart from the fact that we were called there to see the lawyers. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA MS TSENZE It was the ANC lawyers. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Which case was it for? MS TSENZE We never actually appeared in court, we were just called to see the lawyers to show them how we had been injured by this assault but nothing happened after that. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Do you still remember the names of the lawyers? MS TSENZE I do not know their names. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Were they in Robertson? MS TSENZE No they were here in the court at Worcester. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA You said there was no case. MS TSENZE No there was no case, we were just called by the lawyers. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA MS TSENZE MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Was it that day? MS TSENZE Yes it was that day. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA And that day it was not only you who was asked to clean the place? MS TSENZE Other people who came out early were told that they should also be cleaning up the rubbish around the camp at the same time otherwise they would be beaten as we were. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Can you tell us your wish and the reason for your coming here today? MS TSENZE The thing that I want is to get some help with the injury to my head which is still troubling me. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Is there anything that you would like to say before I hand over to my colleagues? MS TSENZE No there is nothing further. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Does anybody wish to ask questions - Mary Burton. MS BURTON Yes Ms Tsenze our investigators did talk to some of the other woman - I just want to check that you can hear me and understand in is it Xhosa. Thank you - I just wanted to let you know that our investigators did check with some of the other woman who were involved in the cleaning up that day and so they have confirmed your story. MS TSENZE They were there but are you asking or telling me that they are confirming my story or asking? MS BURTON MS TSENZE Yes that is so. MS BURTON And I wanted to ask you if that kind of thing happened in [indistinct] at the time, was that just one day or did you have that kind of experience on other days? MS TSENZE No it was simply on that day. MS BURTON Do you have any idea why the police came that day and acted in that way? MS TSENZE No I have no idea why they came and treated us like that. MS BURTON And can you tell me also if in [indistinct] at the time there was other political activity going on, meetings and protests? MS TSENZE Yes there were. MS BURTON That was just before this, was it? MS TSENZE Yes before we were beaten. MS BURTON What I am really trying to find out is why the police should have been so angry as to behave in that way, do you think it was because of that? MS TSENZE I cannot say. They could be angry with meetings but I cannot say. MS BURTON So from your experience it was just - it came as a complete surprise that this happened to you. MS TSENZE Yes we were taken by surprise with this assault as we were not prepared for it at all. MS BURTON Thank you very much. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Mamma you can take off your earphones again. Thank you very much for coming and telling us how people have been bullied in these ways that you have described. As Mrs Burton has asked you, was this thing done to you out of anger by the police that they should have treated you this way and that I think is the truth of it.