TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

AMNESTY HEARING

DATE: 2 AUGUST 1999

NAME: SAKHAMUZI HORALI ELVIS NDABA

APPLICATION NO: AM6387/97

HELD AT: MARIAN CENTRE, LOOP STREET, PIETERMARITZBURG

DAY: 1

______________________________________________________

CHAIRPERSON: Alright are we ready to proceed? ...(inaudible) and Mr J B Sibanyoni, I would ask them please to speak into their microphones as well as the applicant and the victims' representatives for the sake of the record.

ADV DE JAGER: Chris De Jager.

MR SIBANYONI: I am J B Sibanyoni, a member of the Amnesty Committee.

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson, John Wills, an attorney of Pietermartizburg, representing both the applicants in this matter.

MR MAPOMA: Mr Chairperson, I am Zuko Mapoma, I will take care of the interests of the victims in this matter. I am Evidence Leader for the Committee.

CHAIRPERSON: Could you perhaps tell us who the victims are or at some stage, you needn't do it now, at some stage could you let us have a list of the names of the alleged victims?

MR MAPOMA: Yes Chairperson, the matter I'm calling is amnesty application of Tobias Ronnie Mbanjwa and Sakhamuzi Horali Elvis Ndaba. The mother of the deceased person is here, Chairperson, the application is for the murder of Wani Kinsele Derick Khanyile. His mother is Dombi Jeanette Khinisa. She is present attending the hearing together with her daughters, Gugu, Lynette, Sinclair and Khosi. I can just confirm, Chairperson, that they have given me a mandate to take care of their interests in this matter to the extent that they may require assistance. Thank you Sir.

MR SIBANYONI: Mr Mapoma, can you repeat the name of the mother?

MR MAPOMA: The mother is Dombi Jeanette Khinisa, K-H-I-N-I-S-A, that's the surname.

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson, I call applicant S H E Ndaba.

SAKHAMUZI HORALI ELVIS NDABA: (sworn states)

EXAMINATION BY MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

Mr Ndaba, you completed ...(indistinct)

CHAIRPERSON: Before we commence, is there another set of earphones for the other applicant?

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

Mr Ndaba, you applied for amnesty by completing the required or the prescribed form on the 10th May 1997, is that correct?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: And you confirm the contents of that form?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: You then at a later stage, in fact the day proceeding the first hearing of this matter and that being the 23rd June 1999, you supplied further details by means of an affidavit. For the record this affidavit appears on pages 8 to 11 in the papers, is that correct?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: And you confirm the contents of that affidavit?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: Now as regards the form, is it not so that you completed the form together with your co-applicant, that is Mr Mbanjwa, the prescribed form?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: They're remarkably similar, is that not correct, you collaborated with each other when you filled in the form?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: Mr Ndaba, you tell us in your affidavit that you were a member of the security department of the ANC and that you'd received external training, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: And that you were actually tasked to investigate complaints that the community had been lodging with the ANC structures in Dambuza concerning the activity of the deceased, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: It appears on page - the bottom of page 9, paragraph 9 to 13 or 14 of the affidavit.

ADV DE JAGER: Page 8 - paragraph 8.

MR WILLS: Yes, page 8 it commences - paragraph 8 it commences on page 9.

CHAIRPERSON: Before you go on ...(inaudible)

INTERPRETER: The speaker's mike is not on.

CHAIRPERSON: ...(inaudible)

INTERPRETER: The speaker's mike is not activated.

CHAIRPERSON: ...(inaudible)

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

Can you, for the sake of those who have not seen your papers and haven't seen your affidavit, can you tell us about the complaints that the ANC structures were receiving in respect of the deceased?

MR NDABA: What happened was we would receive reports from area committees to the effect that they had been traumatised in the area. Some victims that used to come to the ANC office used to give us these reports.

MR WILLS: And what were the substance of these reports, I mean what was alleged that the deceased was doing?

MR NDABA: They alleged that the deceased and his gang harassed them. For instance a bottle store was robbed and the owner of that bottle store was shot and the deceased and his gang also took someone's home by force. Those were the kind of reports.

MR WILLS: And what, I mean what effect did this have on the ANC?

MR NDABA: It made our work very difficult because committee members were threatened, that is ANC members who were living in the area. They were harassed and threatened by the gang members.

CHAIRPERSON: Did they harass and threaten all the people who lived there?

MR NDABA: It was area committees who reported that people were being harassed and business people as well were targeted, those were the reports that we received from area committees.

MR WILLS: Now you say that, in your affidavit, that because, in paragraph 10 at page 9, that because the ANC was against it's criminal activities, the gang's criminal activities, that ANC members were actually targeted by this gang. Is that correct?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: What did you do as a result of receiving these complaints?

MR NDABA: After receiving these reports we investigated and enquired from the people who had been effected and explained to us what had been going on.

MR WILLS: And what did you find out about these complaints in the sense of their veracity?

MR NDABA: We discovered that the deceased and his gang were indeed harassing the community.

MR WILLS: Now why didn't you just go and report this to the South African Police for them to go and sort the problem out?

MR NDABA: At that time it was common knowledge that the police were collaborating in harassing the ANC. There had been many instances where people, that is ANC people, had been killed, shot at. At one time a house was attacked, that is the Midlands Chairperson, Mr Harry Gwala, which had been attacked by these gang members. We then felt that these gang members were being used by the police as part of their counter-revolutionary strategy.

MR WILLS: Now you say you did investigations. Did anybody task you to do any investigations or did you do that on your own accord?

MR NDABA: Because of the reports that had been received at the ANC office, we as the security in the ANC area and we were close to these areas, Comrade Entelas Skosane then tasked us to go and investigate these claims.

MR WILLS: Now who was Entelas Skosane? Who was he in the organisation?

MR NDABA: He was the commander in the security section in the ANC security section in Natal Midlands.

MR WILLS: And he was subsequently also integrated into the SANDF, is that right? Or he was integrated into the SANDF at a later stage, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: And prior to his death he was a major in the South African National Defence Force?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: You then said that you found out that these complaints were true and what did you do, did you go and speak to anybody about them? Anyone in the ANC?

MR NDABA: We reported back to our commander.

MR WILLS: And who was that?

MR NDABA: Mr Entelas Skosane.

MR WILLS: And what did he say?

MR NDABA: He said we should do something about the situation.

MR WILLS: What do you mean by that? Do you know what he meant by that?

MR NDABA: As trained people we felt that he gave us authority to act which may include killing but he did not specifically say that we should go out and kill somebody, he said we should do something about it.

MR WILLS: And so what did you decide to do?

MR NDABA: We decided to kill the leader of the gang who was

Kinsele.

MR WILLS: Now just to be clear, you've been talking about "we doing investigations" and "we reporting to Entelas Skosane", by the "we" are you referring to you and your co-applicant, Mr Mbanjwa?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: Was there anybody else involved at this stage?

MR NDABA: I don't really understand that question, at what stage? When we went to report?

MR WILLS: Was it only you and your co-applicant that conducted these investigations or was there another person who was with you?

MR NDABA: No it was just the two of us.

MR WILLS: And it was just the two of you that were tasked by Skosane to do the investigations, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: How many people were there in this gang?

MR NDABA: Although I'm not sure of the correct number but there were many.

CHAIRPERSON: There were many in the gang and just the two of you were told to do something about it?

MR NDABA: That is correct. What happened was we were going to investigate the killings made by these victims and then we would report back to the commander.

MR WILLS: Yes, now what - you've said to the Committee is that it was you who decided to kill the leader of the gang, is that right, this Kinsele?

MR NDABA: Please repeat the question?

MR WILLS: You've indicated to the Committee that your leader Skosane didn't tell you what to do, he just said you must do something but it was you who decided to kill the leader of the gang?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: And when you say "you" I presume you're using that in the plural sense in that it was you and your co-applicant that made that decision together, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: So once you'd made that decision what did you do?

MR NDABA: We started following him. After a few days we got our opportunity to kill him. He at that stage was - at that time he had a wheelbarrow on which was a car battery and that is when we decided to kill him.

MR WILLS: Tell us what you did?

MR NDABA: As he was still walking along we just appeared in front of him. He recognised us and tried to escape. I took out my firearm and fired a shot. He continued fleeing and my co-applicant chased after him and shot at him which eventually killed him.

MR WILLS: And what did you do after that?

MR NDABA: On the next day we went to report back to Mr Entela.

MR WILLS: And did you find Mr Entela?

MR NDABA: Yes we did.

MR WILLS: And what did you say to him?

MR NDABA: We reported about everything that happened.

MR WILLS: And what did he say to you?

MR NDABA: He said that's fine.

MR WILLS: Now I see that at no stage had either you or your co-applicant been arrested or charged with this incident, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: And after this act, what happened, did the activities of the gang still continue or what was the position?

MR NDABA: There was peace in the area which had been effected before. When we enquired from committee members they informed us that things were smoother, there was peace.

MR WILLS: Now you say in your affidavit that no other persons other than those mentioned were involved in this incident. By that I refer basically to - you're referring yourselves, the two applicants and Major or should I say Entelas Skosane, the leader in the security department, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: There are others, I believe, who in the ANC leadership who were aware of that situation, is that right?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: And some of those might be called to testify?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: Now ...(indistinct)

ADV DE JAGER: Mr Wills, the only problem may be that I'm not too sure whether in fact Mr Skosane himself has been notified about this hearing. Could you tell us whether he is aware of the hearing and that he is being implicated and that ...(indistinct)

CHAIRPERSON: Did you say he is dead?

MR WILLS: Yes, I did say so, yes. He died of an illness last year.

ADV DE JAGER: And the other people, you haven't mentioned names now, so we couldn't give them notice?

MR WILLS: Yes, I have been in touch with certain other members of the local ANC leadership at the time and they had arranged to come and testify on Wednesday when this matter was already scheduled but the will if necessary be available to testify.

ADV DE JAGER: Ja, but we won't run into trouble because we haven't notified them. You're happy that they know about this and that you would call them if necessary?

MR WILLS: Yes, they're not implicated parties as such, they're just witnesses. Thank you Mr Chairperson.

Now I just want you to expand a bit, Mr Ndaba, you say in paragraph 11 and I quote that on page 10 that people were afraid to become members of the ANC or to show their support for the ANC in public as they were afraid of becoming the target of the gang. The effect of the activities of this gang that it was very difficult for the community to be organised. People were scared to attend ANC meetings and other political activities. I just want you to expand on those, the type of problems that the ANC was facing as a result of the activities of this gang?

MR NDABA: What I can explain is that there was confrontation between ANC members and gang members. This was the result of the ANC's stand which was fighting crime. This lead to the death of several comrades including an MK commander, Nee Radebe who was shot at by these gang members as well as other many comrades. What happened at that time was that the criminals were being used as one tool of counteracting the ANC at the time.

MR WILLS: Now you refer to this Nee Radebe as being killed by gang members. Was this the same Nee Radebe who you mention in paragraph 5 on page 8 of your application, this was the same person who recruited you into the underground structures of the ANC?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: You say in paragraph 1 that you're a member of the South African Police Protection Services, VIP Protection Services or the Provincial Protection Services? How did it come about that you became a member of those services?

MR NDABA: As a former MK member in the protection units I was integrated into the SAPS.

MR WILLS: And who are some of the VIP's that you have guarded since being in this position, who you have protected?

ADV DE JAGER: Can you kindly tell us before that when were you recruited into the SAPS?

MR NDABA: In 1994.

MR WILLS: And who are the leaders that you protect, can you just describe your job briefly?

MR NDABA: I have worked with different leader including the former president. At the moment I am protecting Mr Zweli Mkhize who is the Minister of Health provincially. There are many other VIPs even from international countries that I have worked with.

MR WILLS: When you refer to the former president you're obviously referring to Nelson Mandela?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: Now just finally, the deceased, was he a member of any political party to your knowledge?

MR NDABA: No. What I know is that he was a criminal.

MR WILLS: Did you ever see him attending ANC meetings or branch meetings?

MR NDABA: No.

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson, that's the evidence of the first applicant.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR WILLS

CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR MAPOMA: Thank you Chairperson.

Mr Ndaba, I take it that you are not able to dispute that Kinsele was a member of the African National Congress at the time that you killed him? Am I correct?

MR NDABA: I would dispute that because he would have not terrorised ANC members if he was one of them.

MR MAPOMA: But I understand he was terrorising so to say the community in general, not necessarily members of the ANC?

Is it not correct, in your own words?

MR NDABA: That is correct but that community was supporting and they were also members of the ANC.

MR MAPOMA: The next-of-kin of the deceased are saying that the deceased was a member of the African National Congress. What do you say to that?

MR NDABA: Well they could say that and I will not dispute if they say so but if he was he was doing something very contrary to what you would expect of an ANC member because he was terrorising ANC people.

MR MAPOMA: So would it be fair to say he was not a disciplined member of the ANC?

MR NDABA: I would not agree with you. It is common knowledge that the ANC is against the terrorising of communities and it's also against criminality.

MR MAPOMA: Yes but you will agree with me that during those years before the elections there were some categories of people within the ANC who were referred to as comrade Tsotsi, is it not the case?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: And those were members of the ANC who were having a problem with discipline? Was it not the case then with the deceased?

MR NDABA: From the evidence that we gathered during our investigation we discovered that he was not a member of the ANC and he did not have any role, he did not play any part in the political activities of the ANC.

ADV DE JAGER: And from the investigations you gathered too that he wasn't a member of the IFP?

MR NDABA: The area in which I resided there were no IFP members who resided there.

ADV DE JAGER: Well were there only ANC members residing there?

MR NDABA: Yes that was so unless they were members of other political organisations who did not reveal that but the main political party there was the ANC.

ADV DE JAGER: And he was also staying in that area?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: Thank you.

Some of the friends of the deceased are going to say that they were friends of the deceased and they were members of the ANC as well in the area. Will you be able to dispute that?

MR NDABA: I will dispute that because even those people are going to testify here will show very clearly that the deceased and his gang were not politically affiliated, they were just criminals.

CHAIRPERSON: They weren't politically affiliated at all, you say? They were just criminals?

MR NDABA: As far as I am concerned, as far as I know they were just criminals.

MR MAPOMA: Is it not correct that the Dambuza area was the ANC dominated area?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: And during your investigation did you find out, did you come up with anything which linked the deceased with the police then as an informer for instance?

MR NDABA: What we found out was that in all their activities that they were doing they were never arrested. Another thing the police did not play any active role in ANC dominated areas, they were seen as supporters of criminal activities because they did not do anything about crime, they did not arrest them.

ADV DE JAGER: Yes, but the police did not arrest you either?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: According to your evidence the two of you committed a cold blooded murder in public and you were never questioned, never arrested. Can you explain why?

MR NDABA: From the way we were clothed it was difficult for anybody to recognise us. I think that was why we never questioned and it is just our initiative that we revealed this information.

CHAIRPERSON: But as soon as the deceased saw you he was frightened and tried to run away, do you now say people couldn't recognise you?

MR NDABA: Please repeat the question?

CHAIRPERSON: You have told us in your evidence that when the deceased saw you, when you appeared in front of them he became frightened and tried to run away but you have now just told us that people couldn't recognise you, so why did the deceased run away when he saw you?

MR NDABA: He saw us withdrawing our firearms.

CHAIRPERSON: But you tell us you drew your gun after that, didn't you? Yes? Your evidence was:

"We decided to kill him. We had appeared in front of him, he recognised us and tried to flee. I took out my firearm and shot him."

MR NDABA: We drew our firearms as we approached. It is not that we only drew our weapons after he had run away.

CHAIRPERSON: Well that is not what you said when you gave your evidence in chief, it would appear on the record? Carry on.

MR MAPOMA: Thank you Sir.

So Mr Ndaba, I want to clarify these two with you. Firstly in your investigations you came with nothing which said that Kinsele was a police spy. Is that correct?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: And in your investigation you came with nothing that says that Kinsele was a member of the ANC, is that correct?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: But you are not able to dispute that Kinsele was a member of the ANC? Is that not so?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: The family of the deceased together with his colleagues or his friends will say that you are a member of the ANC? You won't be able to dispute that will you?

MR NDABA: I would dispute it because there were people who resided in this area who were ANC members and who were also members of the area committee.

MR MAPOMA: Which area did he reside in?

MR NDABA: In area A in Dambuza. I mean area B.

MR MAPOMA: And where did you reside?

MR NDABA: Area C in Dambuza.

MR MAPOMA: Is it not correct that after the deceased was killed Area B youth were dissatisfied with that and a war erupted between yourselves and the youth of area B?

MR NDABA: That is a lie.

MR MAPOMA: Is it your evidence that after you killed Kinsele you never attacked any other person or youth who stayed at area B?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: Do you know Siphiwe Mkhize?

MR NDABA: Yes.

MR MAPOMA: Do you know where he is now?

MR NDABA: Yes.

MR MAPOMA: Did you not attack him at some point?

MR NDABA: No, I've never attacked him.

MR MAPOMA: Do you know Doctor Dlamini?

MR NDABA: Yes I do.

MR MAPOMA: Did you not attack him?

MR NDABA: I've never attacked him.

MR MAPOMA: He will say that you did attack him after the death of the deceased. What will you say to that?

MR NDABA: I will say that is a lie.

MR MAPOMA: Why did you see or perceive the deceased as the leader of what you refer to as a gang?

MR NDABA: We found that out after having spoken to the people who had been effected by their activities.

MR MAPOMA: Are you able to tell the Committee what activities that the deceased is said to have been involved in?

MR NDABA: Criminal activities such as attacking business people as well as robbing delivery vehicles as well as terrorising area committee members in the area as well as many other incidents which I cannot recall.

MR MAPOMA: Now the deceased in particular, what is it that he was alleged to have done?

MR NDABA: It was alleged that he was the leader of all these activities and with regards to the shop owner who was attacked and his store robbed, he himself said it was the deceased who shot at him.

MR MAPOMA: Who is that store owner?

MR NDABA: I know him as Bozo.

MR MAPOMA: Where does he reside?

MR NDABA: At Imbali, Unit 13.

MR MAPOMA: Is that part of Dambuza area, Imbali?

MR NDABA: No.

CHAIRPERSON: Is his shop in Imbali or Dambuza?

MR MAPOMA: He had a shop in Dambuza and that is where he was shot.

CHAIRPERSON: Is this the gentleman you've already referred to as a bottle store owner?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: Was he a member of the ANC, do you know perhaps?

MR NDABA: I cannot be certain about that but I knew him as a business man.

MR MAPOMA: Amongst those you have questioned in your investigation, do you know specific ones who were members of the ANC, by their names?

MR NDABA: That is correct. Those are the people who are going to come and testify.

MR MAPOMA: Thank you. You have said that the late Endela Skosane said you must do something and he never said you must kill. Then why did you kill then?

MR NDABA: We felt that there was no other solution except to kill him.

MR MAPOMA: You did not even take him to the leadership of the ANC to let him answer for the activities that were alleged?

MR NDABA: It would have not been easy because the war was between ANC leaders and the criminals. That war was ongoing therefore that sort of communication or the sort of relationship did not exist.

MR MAPOMA: Chairperson, I have no further questions at this stage.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MAPOMA

MR SIBANYONI: Did the deceased know you the two of you?

MR NDABA: I think he used to see me.

MR SIBANYONI: What made the deceased to run away when you approached him?

MR NDABA: He was aware of his activities and when he saw people with firearms in their hands I think he must have concluded or decided that maybe we were after him for his activities.

MR SIBANYONI: Thank you, no further questions Mr Chairperson.

ADV DE JAGER: Did he have a firearm?

MR NDABA: Please repeat the question?

ADV DE JAGER: Did the deceased, did he have a firearm?

MR NDABA: I am not certain because we did not search his body but we knew that he did have a firearm which he used to shoot at the bottle store owner as well as when he used to harass people in the area.

ADV DE JAGER: Weren't you keen at that stage to get firearms to protect the community?

MR NDABA: As I mentioned before that I used to work in the protection unit we did have firearms in the organisation.

CHAIRPERSON: But we have heard evidence again and again of how political parties were seeking to obtain firearms to use for protection purposes. Was that not general policy?

MR NDABA: What I can say is that we already had firearms so we did not have a need to seek out more.

MR SIBANYONI: Excuse me Mr Chairperson, I forgot one question. You said the way in which you were clothed it was not easy for people to know who you are. How were you clothed?

MR NDABA: We were hearing hats and our faced were covered.

MR SIBANYONI: What type of hats?

MR NDABA: Wool hats.

MR SIBANYONI: Are you referring to copper hats? The hats known as copper hats or balaclavas?

MR NDABA: Yes balaclavas.

MR SIBANYONI: No further questions, Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: I'm interested in this firearm. Here was a man you say you knew was a leader of a gang who harassed people all over the place, you knew he owned a firearm, you had now shot him but you didn't feel it necessary to take any steps to remove the firearm to prevent it falling back into the members of his gang?

MR NDABA: Our mission was to kill him.

CHAIRPERSON: So your only interest was to kill him, not to ensure that there was less violence in the area later?

MR NDABA: We were certain that if the leader was killed the subordinates would call us and that is exactly what happened.

CHAIRPERSON: How old was he?

MR NDABA: I cannot say but I should think he was about my age because we were about the same height.

CHAIRPERSON: Well, we'll no doubt find out from his family but can you tell us what you age is now?

MR NDABA: I am 29.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.

RE-EXAMINATION BY MR WILLS: Thank you, just one issue in re-examination if I may, Mr Chairperson?

Mr Ndaba, you mention that Mr Ensela your leader indicated that you must take action. Now what do you think he meant by that?

MR NDABA: As people who were trained who understood the language that is used, military language, we thought that he meant that we should take steps which included even killing.

MR WILLS: Are you saying that he bestowed upon you a discretion to take whatever action you thought was necessary including killing? Is that what you mean?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR WILLS: Yes, thank you Mr Chairperson.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR WILLS

MR WILLS: I call the second applicant. ...(intervention)

MR MAPOMA: Sorry Chairperson, just before that I would like to ask some questions in follow up to what has been asked in re-examination. Pursuant, I take it because I was pursuant to the questions that I ...(indistinct) from the bench, Chairperson.

FURTHER CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR MAPOMA: Mr Ndaba, I take it that you knew that the ANC never had a policy to kill people perceived as criminals? Isn't that so?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: And naturally when you were given a mandate to do something, that something surely would be something within the policies of the movement, is it not so?

MR NDABA: That is correct.

MR MAPOMA: Thank you, no further questions.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MAPOMA

WITNESS EXCUSED

NAME: TOBIAS RONNIE MBANJWA

APPLICATION NO: AM5967/97

______________________________________________________CHAIRPERSON: You are now calling Mr Mbanjwa?

MR WILLS: Yes.

TOBIAS RONNIE MBANJWA: (sworn states)

EXAMINATION BY MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

Mr Mbanjwa, you also filled out an amnesty application on the prescribed form with your colleague and you dated that on the 10th May 1997 at Durban, is that right?

Sorry, Mr Chairperson, I place on record that for some reason the applicant isn't hearing his headphones.

Sorry, can I repeat? You filled out an application for amnesty on the prescribed form on the 10th May 1997, is that correct?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: Would you confirm the contents contained in that form?

MR MBANJWA: Yes I do.

MR WILLS: You filled out the form together with and in the presence of your co-applicant, Mr Ndaba?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: You then, like your co-applicant, gave further details in an affidavit that appears before the Committee on page 15 and 16 of the bundle, is that right?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: And that affidavit is largely a confirmatory affidavit confirming the facts contained in the evidence of -or in the affidavit of Mr Ndaba, is that right?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: Now would you confirm the contents of that affidavit?

MR MBANJWA: Yes I do.

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, before you go on, did somebody fill this form in for you, this amnesty application form?

MR MBANJWA: Mr Ndaba was helping me.

CHAIRPERSON: Were you together?

MR MBANJWA: Yes we were.

CHAIRPERSON: Because I notice you filled in different forms and Mr Ndaba's form which is dated the 10th May appears to have been stamped with a date stamp by the South African Police on the - sorry it is the 10th - blank - oh, because you have no such date stamp on yours, at the end of your form?

MR WILLS: There is, Mr Chairperson, it's very faint on my copy but for the record on page 14 at the bottom right hand corner I can definitely see that there is ...(indistinct)

CHAIRPERSON: Oh, sorry, I see there is something there but it is a different person signing it.

MR WILLS: Yes indeed.

CHAIRPERSON: Now carry on?

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

Now you've heard the evidence of Mr Ndaba?

MR MBANJWA: Yes I did.

MR WILLS: And do you confirm what he said in relation to this incident?

MR MBANJWA: Yes I do.

MR WILLS: Do you confirm what he says in relation to your involvement in the incident in that after he had shot you fired shots at the deceased and after which he fell, is that correct?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: And do you confirm what he says in relation to the fact that you were the only two involved in committing this murder?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: Is there anything in his evidence which you want to dispute?

MR MBANJWA: No, nothing.

MR WILLS: You too were a member of the underground structures having been recruited by the first applicant, is that right?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: And you too were integrated into the protection services department of the Department of Safety and Security, is that right?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: And I take it this must have been after the elections sometime in 1994, is that right?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: Is there anything you wish to add to this application that might be of assistance? Is there anything you wish to say to the Committee?

MR MBANJWA: In my knowledge I think he said everything and there is nothing that I would like to add on top of what he has already said.

MR WILLS: Now it's also so that you have come forward and disclosed this to the Committee and you have not been the subject of any police investigation, to your knowledge, in regard to this, neither have you been sentenced or tried?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR WILLS

ADV DE JAGER: Do you know the mother of the deceased?

MR MBANJWA: Yes I do know her only by seeing her.

ADV DE JAGER: For a long time before the incident before you killed the son?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

ADV DE JAGER: And the sisters, did you know them?

MR MBANJWA: No I didn't know them.

CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR MAPOMA: You have just confirmed that it's only the two of you who killed the deceased. Is it only the two of you who made a decision to kill him?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

MR MAPOMA: You did not even consult with the ANC before killing him, is that so?

MR MBANJWA: We didn't consult with anyone about killing him or about the decision of killing him.

MR MAPOMA: After your commander said you must do something and when you thought of killing him, you did not even go back to him and find out if it is in order to kill him, is that so?

MR MBANJWA: Yes it is so, we didn't go back to him.

MR MAPOMA: For the record the deceased's family deny that their son was involved in the criminal activities which you allege. What do you say to that?

MR MBANJWA: I wouldn't dispute that but our investigations and the reports we received it is true that he was a criminal.

CHAIRPERSON: But then surely you must dispute it. If you had concrete information that he was a criminal then surely you dispute it when the family say he was not? Was you information of such a certain nature?

MR MBANJWA: He was a criminal.

ADV DE JAGER: Did he kill Mr Mbali? Or not Mbali, Mr Radebe?

MR MBANJWA: No he didn't.

ADV DE JAGER: Well who did he kill or didn't he kill anybody, only robbed them?

MR MBANJWA: In short I will say we didn't receive any report that say he killed someone but we received numerous reports that he had injured people.

CHAIRPERSON: You've told us of one incident or your colleague has where he allegedly shot the owner of a bottle store. Can you tell us of any other?

MR MBANJWA: No I wouldn't be able to give you names but what I know is that he was harassing and torturing people but there was no single person who came to the offices and said he was shot by him except for the bottle store owner.

MR MAPOMA: Thank you Sir, I've no further questions.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MAPOMA

MR SIBANYONI: Mr Mbanjwa, did you also know that the ANC did not have policy of killing criminals?

MR MBANJWA: Yes.

MR SIBANYONI: When Entela said you should do something about the deceased, what did you understand him to mean about doing something?

MR MBANJWA: In my knowledge or our knowledge, me and my co-applicant, we thought that it included even killing the deceased.

MR SIBANYONI: After killing the deceased your co-applicant says you reported back to Entela, is that so?

MR MBANJWA: Yes, it is so.

MR SIBANYONI: What was his reaction, was he surprised that you killed the deceased, did he do anything? Did he show anything that he was against the action you have taken?

MR MBANJWA: No, he was not surprised and he didn't show any signs that he was against the action we'd taken and we took that he understood and we were according to the order or the instruction that we had to do something because people had already reported about the deceased many times.

MR SIBANYONI: I heard your co-applicant saying that these complaints were received at an ANC office, which office was that?

MR MBANJWA: ANC office, the one in Maritzburg, the original office in other words.

MR SIBANYONI: Did the regional office know that you took some steps of killing the deceased? Was it reported to the office?

MR MBANJWA: We reported this to Comrade Entela Skosane because we had already discussed this issue with him before or prior to the killing therefore he was the only one we reported to after the incident.

MR SIBANYONI: Apart from being a commander of your unit, did Entela hold any position in the ANC office or in ANC structures?

MR MBANJWA: He used to be a member of the REC in the ANC office, executive.

MR SIBANYONI: At what stage was that, was it before this killing or during the killing or after that?

MR MBANJWA: I wouldn't be very sure because the positions were continuously changing. I don't remember very well whether it was prior to the incident or after the incident but he was the member of the REC.

MR SIBANYONI: Now if you knew that the ANC policy was against killing criminals, why do you say when Entelas said you must take action you thought it included killing the deceased?

MR MBANJWA: The truth is more especially if I'm referring to the ANC, they don't allow killings but the situation at the time was forcing people to do so.

MR SIBANYONI: In your mind did you believe that what you were doing was in line with what the ANC would approve?

MR MBANJWA: Yes it is so.

MR SIBANYONI: Thank you, no further questions Mr Chairperson.

ADV DE JAGER: Do you know whether the mother of the deceased was an ANC member?

MR MBANJWA: No I do not know her political affiliation.

ADV DE JAGER: Did she stay in an ANC area?

MR MBANJWA: Yes it is so.

ADV DE JAGER: Where there any IFP members staying in that area?

MR MBANJWA: No.

ADV DE JAGER: So why did you not - didn't it cross your mind that the deceased may be an ANC member?

MR MBANJWA: It wasn't possible for us to think along those lines because his actions were far away from the ANC actions because for one, he used to harass and torture ANC people, sympathisers and supporters.

ADV DE JAGER: But you see, every political party in this country has the bad apples so to say, there are criminals in I would say every political party existing in South Africa? So the fact that he had been a criminal wouldn't necessarily mean that he's not an ANC member? Isn't that so?

MR MBANJWA: That is so.

ADV DE JAGER: So you don't know whether you've killed a bad ANC member, one that could even be a criminal, but he could have been a member of your own party or a supporter of your own party?

MR MBANJWA: I grew up in that area and I was an active member. I can tell if someone is an ANC member and he believes in the ANC as an organisation or the objectives of that organisation but what the deceased did, it was clear to us that he was not a member of the ANC because if he was he wouldn't have tortured and harassed ANC members.

ADV DE JAGER: Well can you tell us who did he torture?

MR MBANJWA: Committee members who were residing in the area were being harassed by ...(intervention)

ADV DE JAGER: No but what's their names? Give me the names of those people who had been tortured, let's leave the part of harassment now. Torture, you've said he tortured people?

MR MBANJWA: We used to hold meetings after we had received reports and later we would meet as members or committee members and discuss about issues and they will report everything when everyone is there and then later we will discuss.

ADV DE JAGER: Yes, but you've told us now that he'd tortured people. Can you give us the name of one of the people that he had tortured?

MR MBANJWA: If I remember very well I think there was Comrade Vuyesili.

ADV DE JAGER: What did he do to him?

MR MBANJWA: Vuyesili used to receive reports because he was a member of the committee and he as well was harassed by this gang and therefore he couldn't go out and get reports and he used to come to the office and tell us that now he can't conduct his job because these people are harassing him, he cannot get the reports from the community.

ADV DE JAGER: Well what did he say, what did they do to him? Did they attack him, did they assault him, did they throw stones at him? What did they do?

MR MBANJWA: Sometimes they will just threaten him.

ADV DE JAGER: Alright, thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: And the two of you decided to kill him, so you went looking for him, is that correct?

MR MBANJWA: Yes that is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Where did you go?

MR MBANJWA: In Dambuza, he was carrying a battery or the battery was in a wheelbarrow. We saw him leaving his house and then we kept on looking at him and we followed him. We found in a road between the houses.

CHAIRPERSON: In the middle of Dambuza?

MR MBANJWA: Yes, in the middle of Dambuza.

CHAIRPERSON: Or the area you lived in yourselves?

MR MBANJWA: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: And you were walking around this - with balaclava hats on in the middle of the morning? You must have drawn a great deal of attention to yourselves? Didn't you?

MR MBANJWA: No it is not so.

CHAIRPERSON: Why not? People didn't think it odd that you were walking around, the two of you with balaclavas over your heads in the middle of the morning?

MR MBANJWA: We didn't walk a distance so as to attract attention from people.

CHAIRPERSON: I thought you told us you followed him along the road?

MR MBANJWA: We watched him as he was leaving home and we looked at him as to see which route he was taking and then that's when we followed him.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you. Any re-examination?

RE-EXAMINATION BY MR WILLS: Yes thank you Mr Chairperson, if you would just bear with me, I'm trying to think of a way to phrase my question without it being too leading.

At what stage - sorry, when you were following the deceased did you have your balaclavas on all the time?

MR MBANJWA: Yes, they were on our heads.

ADV DE JAGER: Sorry, didn't he say he put it on at his house or something to that effect?

MR WILLS: I honestly can't remember that.

CHAIRPERSON: No, now, now, now, I thought I heard the word house?

ADV DE JAGER: Ja, "khaya".

MR WILLS: In the interpretation?

ADV DE JAGER: Yes.

INTERPRETER: No, not from me.

MR MAPOMA: I'm sorry, the word was "kanda"

INTERPRETER: Head, not home.

ADV DE JAGER: Thank you.

MR WILLS: At all stages was this balaclava pulled down or what was the position?

MR MBANJWA: At that time the balaclava was just on our heads, not covering the face.

CHAIRPERSON: So anybody who knew you and passed you would have been able to recognise you, you were not concealed so people could not recognise you? Is that the position?

MR MBANJWA: Yes it is so.

MR WILLS: And at what stage did you pull the balaclava down or if you did, did you pull the balaclava down at any stage prior to killing the deceased?

MR MBANJWA: Yes we did pull the balaclavas just before we arrived to the deceased.

MR WILLS: Were there other people around that you could notice?

MR MBANJWA: Yes there were.

MR WILLS: And where were they when you - in relation to the place when you shot at the deceased, I'm talking about the time you shot the deceased at that moment?

MR MBANJWA: The only people I saw, I saw them after the deceased was running away, it was after the gun had been shot or fired.

MR WILLS: Thank you Mr Chairperson.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR WILLS

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you. Now what are we going to do now, we've now come up against the problem, it's half past 3, I understand you have other witnesses whom you had arranged to be here on Wednesday which was the date you understood the hearing was to be held?

MR WILLS: That's indeed so, Chairperson, I would request an adjournment until such time as I can lead those witnesses on Wednesday.

CHAIRPERSON: I think it would probably be in the interests of clarity that we should do that rather than invite the victims witnesses to give evidence now before you have completed your case, I think it would be better, do you agree?

MR WILLS: Yes, thank you Mr Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: So if we could adjourn till 9 o'clock Wednesday morning.

MR WILLS: Yes Chairperson.

CHAIRPERSON: The applicants are not in custody as I understand it from the evidence so you will arrange that they will be here?

MR WILLS: Yes Mr Chairperson, thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: We cannot conclude the hearing today because Mr Wills was told that the hearing would only be on Wednesday and it is arranged for his other witnesses to be here on that day. We are accordingly now going to adjourn this hearing till 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning when we would ask all of you who are interested, who are potential witnesses, to be present as perhaps from half past 8 so people who want to talk to you can have a chance to consult with you before the hearing commences at 9. So that is the deceased's mother and the other witnesses who are going to give evidence on her behalf, if they could please try to be here at half past 8 on Wednesday morning. Would that suit you?

Very well, we will now adjourn this hearing till 9 o'clock on Wednesday and we will resume tomorrow with a fresh hearing. We will be sitting at 9 o'clock.

WITNESS EXCUSED

COMMITTEE ADJOURNS