Special Report Transcript Episode 1, Section 4, Time 17:25

On the 27th of June 1985 he left for Port Elizabeth in the company of his friends: Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkhonto and that was the last time we saw them. They were due back on the same night and when they did not come back we knew that something serious had happened. Early in the morning of the next day I telephoned the UDF offices in Port Elizabeth. I also phoned Derrick Swarts and Maoli Blackburn to establish their whereabouts. Derrick Swarts informed me that Matthew left with his friends for Cradock the previous night, the 27th of June, 1985 at about 9 pm. You can imagine the shock, and I shivered to think what might had happened to these comrades. I kept the news secret for a while, from all the family, except for one person, my brother-in-law who was planning what to do next. On arrival at home we were informed that police had phoned, they left a message with a child, my brother-in-law’s son, to inform the family that Matthew’s burnt car had been found near the Scribante racing course outside Port Elizabeth. Immediately we knew that something serious had happened. We had pointers because in May, as you know, the Pebco Three disappeared without a trace. Relatives in the community were informed and some members of the family had to go to Port Elizabeth to establish what had happened. It was this group that also assisted the families to identify the bodies later on. On Saturday, the 29th June 1985, the bodies of Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli were found first, and that of Matthew and Fort were found on the 2nd of July 1985. All the bodies had markedly wounds and were badly burnt.

Notes: TRC testimony: Nyameka Goniwe

References: there are no references for this transcript