N’WA-MUKANSI, (first names not given)

There have been many women before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Till now they have been in the background speaking mainly about human rights violations against loved ones. This week, a special session in Cape Town was dedicated to hearing the stories of women who have been directly ...

The full story has not been told. All records of police communication that evening have been destroyed. The names of the 17 men who had been convicted were kept secret to protect their families. The Goldstone Commission’s report on Boipatong was never publicly released. Former Vlakplaas commander ...

Reference book, pass book, dompas, stinker, different names for the same thing. The hated document that determined the life of every black South African for decades, where they could sleep, live, work, visit and for how long. The main aim of the pass laws was to control the movement of black South ...

One of the central issues in the complicated story dished out to the Amnesty Committee is that of a so-called hit list. The list contained the names of many prominent people, including that of Chris Hani. The list have been obtained from Derby-Lewis’ wife and given to Janusz Walus. The Committee ...

Nzimeni Bosman was arrested for handing out pamphlets in 1991 in Kimberley. // Then I went into the police station. There were two white guys, I don’t know their names and a police man called Petrus wanted to take my finger prints and he put my head into the toilet seat. When I pulled my head ...

The Truth Commission has got a mission to unearth the truth, whether the truth be in the offices of Government or in the graveyard. They have a responsibility to unearth that truth and the families which are here today are very happy that they know the truth about what happened to their sons. And ...

Gideon Niewoudt is now on trial in the Port Elizabeth Supreme Court for murder. // The Motherwell bombing case. The state alleges that he was involved in the murder of other policemen. // At the Truth Commission hearing this week Niewoudt was once again implicated in torture. Because of the court ...

I’ve told you that inside the country we have got about 425 names to go, which was being given here, to investigate. All those files here are deceased who have been killed inside the country and outside the country. And even outside the country we still have more than 1000 and something, like ...

It is often assumed that a religious person will be a man of peace. In that case something went horribly wrong with Zionist bishop Mbekezeni Khumalo of Tokoza after his daughter was raped in 1992. Khumalo formed a vigilante group in revenge, as well as for profit. As the Khumalo gang was soon side ...

When Chris was abducted at Zone 12 the people I had mentioned were Hunter, Zandi as well as Themba. And when the people saw those people, these names were mentioned – three people – but Khetisi was not mentioned.

Van Zyl’s gangsters were supposed to murder Justice Minister Dullah Omar, then an activist lawyer outside his house in Athlone. The job proved too much for the combined efforts of two gangsters, Van Zyl and Ferdi Barnard and they gave up. This week Van Zyl agreed with prosecutor Anton ...

By the time of Mr. Hani’s death, more than three months had passed since you wrote that list of 19 names. // Yes. // Did you write a letter to anyone of the 19 asking for an appointment? // No. // Wouldn’t a simple telephone call to them, whether they would be prepared to give an interview ...

In 1988 Durban policemen led by Col Andy Taylor blew up three members of the Umkhonto we Sizwe unit known as ‘The Swimmers’ here at Phoenix Railway Station. The dead were all KwaMashu student activists. Their names were Vusi Mtshali, Sibusiso Ndlovu and Mazwi Vilakazi. But the MK unit had ...

‘The Violated’ // On the 15th of April 1996, almost exactly two years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission took its seat for the first time in the East London City Hall. The road ahead was an unknown one. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu symbolically opened proceedings a solemn hymn swept ...

‘Mndeni ka Bheki Tekere Mkwanazi, mndeni ka Mbovane Dion Cele Mzimela, mndeni ka Mbuso Tshabalala, mndeni ka Charles Ndaba, sinithwesa izimphahla zegwalagwala.’ To the families our message is, we share your sorrow, we share your rage and we share your pride. Know that South Africans for ...

The full story has not been told. All records of police communication that evening have been destroyed. The names of the 17 men who had been convicted were kept secret to protect their families. The Goldstone Commission’s report on Boipatong was never publicly released. Former Vlakplaas commander ...

These are the names of the dead. The questions unanswered for four years now are why did the different actors act as they did and who is really to blame. Crucial to any understanding of the Bisho massacre is the one man who did not come to the Truth Commission this week, Brigadier Oupa Gqozo. At ...

Three good friends get together once or twice a year to talk about the old times. They go way back these guys. They were once cops together at Brixton Murder and Robbery. About 10 years ago all 3 suddenly quit the force for a new career on the other side of the law. Between them they have been ...

This is the Vaal Triangle, home of Eskom, Sasol and many other big industries. Also home to millions of people who work at these industries and their families. They live in grim townships such as Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Bophelong and Boipatong. For some, mostly men from KwaZulu-Natal, this is only a ...

We know what unbelievable mechanisms of repression, of forgetting, of distortion perpetrators use of justification in order not to remember what they have done. When the victims come and tell their stories it reminds, it can remind the perpetrators of what they have done and it is a very difficult ...