hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION HEARINGS 1996-06-26 WORCESTER 3 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=56182&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/worcest/ct08100.htm CASE NO: CT/08100 VICTIM: PIETERSE AFRIKA VIOLATION: SHOT DEAD BY POLICE TESTIMONY FROM: LYA MAURISE DR ORR Good morning Mrs Maurise thank you for being present here today. Would you please rise to take the oath. LYA MAURISE (sworn states) DR ORR Mrs Maurise and I spoke earlier and she said to me that she was not present when her son was shot and asked me to read the report by our investigating team and she will then tell the remainder of the story. I will read it in English but maybe Mrs Maurise can use the headphones to hear it in Afrikaans. The witness was sitting in the back of the vehicle next to the victim as the car passed the Montagu police station the witness saw a policeman by the name of Mouton standing in front of the charge office. This policeman apparently shot at the car with a pistol. They continued on their way home. When they stopped near one of the passengers houses, they witness saw blood on the victims right shoulder, they took him to hospital and he died on the same day. The witness told the investigators that the car they were driving was covered with anti Government slogans and that they were under the influence of alcohol, but were not drunk. The following day the witness and thirteen others were detained by the police for a period of three weeks at Robertson Prison. Investigators were informed by the Montagu court that the inquest report had been destroyed. You may take the earphones off. Mrs Maurise can you tell us the story how you heard it from the day the policeman came to your home. MRS MAURISE DR ORR Did he say why he wanted to shoot the driver? MRS MAURISE DR ORR Were you at the court for the inquest? MRS MAURISE Yes I was but I was never called in. DR ORR MRS MAURISE Yes that is correct. DR ORR Please tell us about your son and his age. MRS MAURISE He was 25 years old, he was not married and he had no children. He lived in my home and he worked for me. DR ORR Was he politically active? MRS MAURISE No he was not involved in any politics at all. DR ORR What were the consequences on your life after the death of your son, how did this affect you? MRS MAURISE DR ORR Are you married, is your husband still alive? MRS MAURISE No my son maintained us. I received his income on Fridays and it was only his income that made a contribution to my household as all my other children are married. DR ORR How many children do you have altogether ? MRS MAURISE I have seven children. I had seven children including him. DR ORR What do you want the Truth Commission to do for you and your family? MRS MAURISE I would appreciate the Truth Commission to give me a lump sum of money if it was possible. DR ORR Do you want to say anything else to us? MRS MAURISE No. DR ORR So there is nothing else that you would like to say? MRS MAURISE No nothing else. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Does anybody want to ask any questions? Glenda Wildschut? GLENDA WILDSCHUT Mrs Maurise you mentioned someone by the name of Mouton, do you know this person, is this person known to you? MRS MAURISE This person was the Commanding Officer at the Montagu police station. GLENDA WILDSCHUT Is it true that this person came back to you? MRS MAURISE Yes on the Monday morning of the 13th and he then said to me that he did not aim at my child, he wanted to shoot the driver of the vehicle. GLENDA WILDSCHUT The driver of this vehicle Appolis Hanson is since deceased but not due to this incident. GLENDA WILDSCHUT Thank you very much. MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA Mary Burton? MS BURTON MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA