CCHAIRPERSON: Can we now ask Mr Fundile Lawrence Gqubule to
take over. Thank you Mr Nkobese. We are going to ask the
next witness to come forward.
FUNDILE LAWRENCE GQUBULE: (sworn states)
CHAIRPERSON: Let me start off by making sure about some
details. Do you stay in number 26 Sedidi, Khayelitsha?
MR GQUBULE: Yes, it is like that.
CHAIRPERSON: At the time there was a shooting in Uitenhage
in 1985, were you a resident here?
MR GQUBULE: Yes, it is like that.
CHAIRPERSON: What street were you staying?
MR GQUBULE: It was number 14 at Gunsi Street.
CHAIRPERSON: Is this Gunsi Street near this spot of
shooting in Maduna Street?
MR GQUBULE: No, it's not near.
CHAIRPERSON: I observe that you are in a wheelchair. Is
this as a result of an injury when there was a shooting?
MR GQUBULE: Yes, it's like that.
CHAIRPERSON: Could you explain, Mr Gqubule. Where were you
on this particular day, and what actually happened?
MR GQUBULE: On this day, on a Tuesday morning, I just had a
bath and I heard some freedom songs and I went out and I saw
a crowd moving toward Maduna. Then I stood on the roof of
the house because I couldn't see clearly. At the time I
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
2 G GQUBULE
was looking at Maduna, I saw a hippo that was driving
amongst the people as the people were standing waiting for
the bus. So I saw this hippo dispersing the people. Then
there were some South African Defence Force next to Maduna,
so I stood there watching the people who were being chased
and the hippo trying to disperse the people. Then I saw a
group of people moving down Maduna and so I went down the
road and I went up Gonchi Street and next to the hall I
joined the crowd and we were chanting freedom songs. There
was a hippo just in front of us, and it drove past and
stopped next to the John Wesley Church. They were chasing
us. Then that is the last I can remember because I just
heard some bullet sounds.
CHAIRPERSON: At what stage were you hit by a bullet?
MR GQUBULE: It was at Khlamthini when I was hit by a bullet
and I heard some shooting sounds and I felt something on my
right ankle and people were turning around and running and I
don't know what happened. Then I lay there on the ground.
I was the first person to be taken and I could see some
people were being shot and I could see these people lying
down there on the ground, they had some bottles placed on
their hands.
CHAIRPERSON: When you were lying there on the ground, what
did you see?
MR GQUBULE: I saw a helicopter.
CHAIRPERSON: Were there any policemen that were moving up
and down next to you as you were lying there on the ground?
MR GQUBULE: Yes there were.
CHAIRPERSON: What were they doing?
MR GQUBULE: People were being kicked and they were being
shot. Some were being pulled out of the bridge.
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
3 G GQUBULE
CHAIRPERSON: In your statement you said there was a boy who
was riding a BMX bicycle, do you see that boy here now?
MR GQUBULE: Yes I do see him.
CHAIRPERSON: What is his name?
MR GQUBULE: His name is Kwanele Bucwa.
CHAIRPERSON: You fell down and you were shot, then how did
you get to the hospital?
MR GQUBULE: As I was lying there in pain, I decided not to
scream because most people were being killed and were
screaming. I was then put into the first ambulance together
with Nlungi Simclagahle and some other people.
CHAIRPERSON: Now would you say how long did this shooting
take place?
MR GQUBULE: I would say for about an hour.
CHAIRPERSON: As you were lying there, were they still
shooting?
MR GQUBULE: Yes, they were still shooting and people were
coming from shacks in Nimkhi who were coming to join some
people from section 15 and they were being shot.
CHAIRPERSON: Was there anything that was said by these
policemen at the time that there was shooting? What were
they saying?
MR GQUBULE: I didn't hear anything because I was really in
deep pain at the time.
CHAIRPERSON: How did this affect this shooting? How did it
affect your body, how did it affect your health? Is there
any medical treatment you are getting?
MR GQUBULE: There is none. What happens is when it is
overcast my body becomes stiff.
CHAIRPERSON: Is that all you have to say Mr Gqubule, as to
what you saw on this particular day?
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
4 G GQUBULE
MR GQUBULE: I was transferred from the Uitenhage hospital
to a hospital in Port Elizabeth were I met Lungi Sinlagashe.
CHAIRPERSON: Were they also shot?
MR GQUBULE: Yes they were.
CHAIRPERSON: Would you explain what you saw in hospital,
what did you see in hospital?
MR GQUBULE: I saw a lot of policemen, they were all over
the place, inside and outside, and some people were sneaking
out of the hospital.
CHAIRPERSON: Were there any policemen in the hospital?
MR GQUBULE: Yes there were.
CHAIRPERSON: Dr Khaan you say is the one who examined you
in hospital, what did he say was the cause of the injuries
you had?
MR GQUBULE: He said they had shot me on the spinal cord and
he said they could not take out the bullet because if they
had to do that I would be completely paralysed.
CHAIRPERSON: Now you say, as you are sitting there, there
is a bullet that is embedded here in your body?
MR GQUBULE: Yes it is there.
CHAIRPERSON: Is this the cause of it that when it is
overcast you feel some pain and your body becomes stiff?
MR GQUBULE: Yes I would say that is the cause.
CHAIRPERSON: Have you ever briefed any lawyer about this
matter?
MR GQUBULE: No.
CHAIRPERSON: When you were called which in Jubilee Hall,
what was happening?
MR GQUBULE: I was in hospital at the time.
CHAIRPERSON: So you actually did not go to Jubilee Hall?
MR GQUBULE: No, I didn't go, it is only my parents who went
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
5 G GQUBULE
there.
CHAIRPERSON: What did they say to you when they came back
from Jubilee Hall?
MR GQUBULE: They said to me, there were discussions with
the White people and they had been promised that some tax
would be sent to them.
CHAIRPERSON: Is there any cheque that your parents
received?
MR GQUBULE: No.
CHAIRPERSON: Is there any money that was given to you for
this shooting?
MR GQUBULE: There is some money I got. Some people from
the bank came to me whilst I was in hospital and so I
signed, I was still in hospital at the time.
CHAIRPERSON: Is that all you have to say?
MR GQUBULE: On my way from 27, I was forced to go back to
Cape Town because after I had been shot I had abscess and
some fluid coming out of my knees, so I had to go back to
Conradie Hospital because this left leg was giving me
problems and it was to be amputated.
CHAIRPERSON: By being here, Mr Gqubule, what is your actual
wish, or your request to this Commission?
MR GQUBULE: My request to this Commission is that they
should see to it that we should have some sports fields for
the paraplegics. I used to be a soccer player.
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Gqubule for your explanation, I
can now hand over to the Chairperson so that if any of my
colleagues here have got any questions they should pose them
to you.
PANEL MEMBER: Thank you Mr Gqubule, can you hear me?
MR GQUBULE: Yes, I can hear you.
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
6 G GQUBULE
PANEL MEMBER: How old were you when you were shot?
MR GQUBULE: Round about 20 something.
PANEL MEMBER: Mr Gqubule, we want to be able to determine
the impact of your injuries. Would you please describe a
day in your life starting when you get up, to determine how
you cope on a day to day basis?
MR GQUBULE: When I wake up in the morning, I just try to
exercise a little bit and I take a bath. My wife usually
dresses me and I have breakfast, and visit friends, nothing
else.
PANEL MEMBER: So it means that without the assistance and
support of your wife, it would be difficult for you to
function on a day to day basis, is that correct?
MR GQUBULE: That is correct.
PANEL MEMBER: You say that you were an athlete before your
injuries?
MR GQUBULE: That is correct.
PANEL MEMBER: Before your injuries, what were your dreams
and your plans for your future?
MR GQUBULE: I was dreaming of being a sportsman and an
educated person, but because of the fact that we were very
poor and my parents and I did not have a lot of facilities.
PANEL MEMBER: Mr Gqubule, this is a very difficult question
but I need to ask you. On a day to day basis when you think
about what could have been, and what is now, what goes
through your mind, and what emotions are surfaced in you?
MR GQUBULE: It is very painful to see myself in this
condition. When I see other people I just think that if I
was not in this condition I was going to be somewhere else
just like a certain person.
PANEL MEMBER: Thank you, my last question. I know you
UITENHAGE HEARING TRC/EASTERN CAPE
7 G GQUBULE
haven't really asked for anything, but you also say you are
not receiving treatment. I ask again, is there anything you
would like the commission to take care of?
MR GQUBULE: I would like to have a better wheelchair than
the one I have right now.
PANEL MEMBER: And continued medical care?
MR GQUBULE: I don't think I need any special treatment
medication, besides the fact that sometimes I'm trembling.
I think it is because of this bullet that is in my body.
PANEL MEMBER: Thank you Mr Chairperson, I might want to
come back to Mr Gqubule when we summarise at the end. Thank
you.
CHAIRPERSON: Ms Maya is going to lead the next witness.
MS MAYA: Just before we leave Mr Gqubule. Your life is in
this condition today, I want to get clarity, when you think
back, who is responsible for this?
MR GQUBULE: I can say it is Boers, I only know that I'm
here today, I am like this because of the Boers.
MS MAYA: Thank you.
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Gqubule.
