hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SUBMISSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1997-05-06 ZEERUST SISINYANA L RANTAO JB3685 https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=56194&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/zeerust/zeeranta.htm CHAIRPERSON May I ask if Sisinyana Rantao has arrived ? Mrs Rantao, good afternoon. MRS RANTAO Good afternoon, Sir. CHAIRPERSON Mrs Rantao, Professor Piet Meiring is going to assist you in telling your story, but before he does that, can I ask Miss Seroke to assist you in taking the oath please. MISS SEROKE I would ask you to stand up please. You swear that the story you are about to tell is the truth, and nothing else but the truth, so help me God. SISINYANE RANTAO (sworn states) CHAIRPERSON Professor Meiring. PROF. MEIRING Mrs Rantao, can you hear me ? MRS RANTAO I hear you well, Sir. PROF. MEIRING Thank you for coming. You want to tell us about your son, Elliot Mokoena. Eight years ago, when he was twenty eight years old, something happened in your family. Something happened to him. Please tell us about that. MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING So, it was just a horrible mistake? MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING He was twenty years old. Did he work at that stage ? MRS RANTAO Yes, he was working in Rustenberg. PROF. MEIRING Rustenberg. MRS RANTAO He was working at Swartklip mine. PROF. MEIRING Was he already married ? MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING Were there any children, were there any children that he had to look after ? MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING So, he had to take care of his mother ? MRS RANTAO Yes, he was looking after me. PROF. MEIRING So he was sent then to prison and he was released and there, they, his left ... (interrupted) MRS RANTAO Yes, he was released. PROF. MEIRING And on that day he came home with his leg bandaged and he said he had enough. He wanted to leave. Did you have, do you have any ... (interrupted) MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING And you have no idea where he went? And that was not the only bad thing that happened to you. Your mother, Pauline, that her house was also burnt. Was that related to this incident or was that completely another ... (interrupted) MRS RANTAO After that, the house was burnt. We fled, we were no more at that place. I think in 1991. They took my property inside the house but I cannot tell who took them. PROF. MEIRING MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING Are you working at the moment ? MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING At the moment are you working, are you employed ? MRS RANTAO PROF. MEIRING How many children do you have to look after ? MRS RANTAO I have three children and the other one is a cripple. PROF. MEIRING MISS SEROKE Ma Sisinyana, was you son working in Rustenberg in the mines ? MRS RANTAO Yes. MISS SEROKE MRS RANTAO MISS SEROKE At home when, at the time when he was picked up, what was happening in the village ? MRS RANTAO MISS SEROKE What was .... (interrupted) MRS RANTAO They were people were fighting in the village. MISS SEROKE What kind of a fight ? MRS RANTAO We were fighting with the police. MISS SEROKE What was the problem ? MRS RANTAO I would, I would not understand what was the problem. MISS SEROKE He arrived at a time when you were taken by the police or maybe was it quiet at that time ? MRS RANTAO MISS SEROKE Were the police going house to house or they came to your house ? MRS RANTAO MISS SEROKE In your statements, you say you are staying in a shack. MRS RANTAO MISS SEROKE Is that the same village ...... MRS RANTAO MISS SEROKE MRS RANTAO MISS SEROKE CHAIRPERSON