TRC Final Report

Volume 4

Chapter 10

Subsection 13

105 Ms Lita Nombango Mazibuko had a long tale of her suffering at the hands of ANC colleagues while in exile. Ms Mazibuko was responsible for assisting people to cross the border illegally. In 1988, after one of her comrades had been killed, she became “regarded as an enemy and as a spy”. She was kidnapped, tortured and interrogated. Torture included hitting and kicking, as well as being forced to stay in holes for long periods. Ms Mazibuko was confident that there “was no mistake in the job that I was doing, but there was some hatred because I did not want to get intimately involved with one of them…. They said I should have some men in my life who could sort out my problems.”

106 Ms Mazibuko acknowledged that “within the ANC there is no such rule that women should be violated in this manner. We used to be in camps and we would be told that men do not have a right to violate us. You could only get involved if you wanted to.” Nevertheless, she reported being raped by at least three comrades, one of whom “cut through my genitals and … he tied my hands, my legs, they were apart, he also tied my neck and he would also pour Dettol over my genitals.”

107 Attitudes towards women who played active roles in organisations engaged in violent conflict were illustrated in evidence given at the Children and Youth hearings by Mr George Ndlozi, who had been involved with self-defence units (SDUs).

Ms Seroke: George were there girl SDUs?

Mr Ndlozi: Yes.

Ms Seroke: And what was their role?

Mr Ndlozi: There were some of them who were, I wouldn't say brave enough because I consider all of them to be brave, there were some of them who used to say we also need to take part, I also need to carry an AK47 to defend, I should not be discriminated against because I am a female. And there were those who were very important, who played parts in cooking. Although it may look a bit sexist, but they decided that they better cook for people who will be going outside to actually defend the community. So they were all involved.

Ms Seroke: But there were those who also carried AK47s?

Mr Ndlozi: Definitely. Definitely, there were those.

108 Ms Beth Savage described how, in November 1992, she was severely injured in a “terrorist attack” on an annual Christmas party at which she was present. Savage told of the effects on herself and her family. Both she and her daughter suffered nervous breakdowns, and her son was also affected. Her father went into a deep depression that lasted until his death. Nevertheless, Savage felt that the experience had been an “enriching” one “and a growing curve”. She also expressed her appreciation to ANC members who visited her in hospital.

109 Ms Annamaria Landman spoke about a 1980 guerrilla attack on the bank in which she worked. She and her colleagues were held hostage for seven hours, during which as the senior employee she acted as spokesperson. After the attack, Ms Landman underwent twelve operations to her elbow, which had been shot. Ms Landman was a single parent at the time of the incident and endeavoured to remain strong so that she could retain her job. She succeeded to the extent that she earned the nickname “the iron lady”. She said that when she was approached to give evidence to the Commission, “this really brought sixteen years of pain and stress to the front”. She underwent shock therapy and was on sick leave at the time she spoke.

110 Most of the women who spoke at the special hearings were political leaders and activists in their own right. There were, however, also those who described how they, or their relatives, had suffered abuse, despite their lack of direct political engagement at the time. Ms Fatima Meer, in reflecting on her own suffering and that of her family, felt that they were perhaps fortunate compared to those who became involved unwittingly:

(P)eople in my position who are articulate, who had the comfort and support of friends, who knew exactly why we were opposing the government, we were far better placed to cope with these sorts of persecutions.

111 Ms Monica Daniels was shot by the police during the 1985 boycotts, on her way back from buying bread, coffee and a candle for her grandmother. As a result of her injuries, first half her arm, then the whole limb were amputated, and she was left with bullets in her leg and vagina. Monica related that she had been planning to go to a dance on the evening that the accident occurred. Now, however, “since my arm is off I don't go to dances any more”. Monica was not a “political person” at the time of the accident. The incident radicalised her. She was brutally treated – her screams for help when lying wounded were met with a kick and a “voetsek, shut up or I’ll shoot and kill you” from a policeman. Consequently, she then “joined the then UDF because I had already been shot”. Monica’s response to the question as to how the Commission could assist her, was for help with her eight-year-old child – “I cannot even peel a potato”.