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Content
A listing of transcripts of the dialogue and narrative of this section.
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Structure
The list provides the transcript, info about the text, and links to references contained in the text.
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Special Report
Transcripts for Section 5 of Episode 18
| Time | Summary | | | 26:12 | After the clampdown of the 1986 state of emergency the battle in KaNyamazane continued. This time however the security forces employed a new ally, a band of collaborators from within the community. The Kabasa gang became the handmaiden of terror in the Mpumalanga region. Today apartheid is dead, but Kabasa’s shady presence lingers. | Full Transcript and References | | 26:39 | In 1986 the hills of KaNyamazane became powerful symbols in the new struggle emerging under the state of emergency. From these watchtowers above the valleys comrades could watch the movements of the soldiers and the police down below. Up there surprise raids were less likely and groups could quickly disperse if danger was spotted. But it was during this time that an enemy with a new face emerged, a powerful gang from within the community started a reign of terror. They were called Kabasa. | Full Transcript | | 27:12 | Kabasa was formed by the police when they saw the youth and the people around this township so united behind the UDF, behind LOYOMO [Lowveld Youth Movement], behind the ANC. And the system thought of a way to destabilise… It really terrorised this township. It brought about divisions where people never knew or understood what the whole struggle is all about because it would seem as black on black, you know. But we managed to identify that, and it was identified easily. These acts are actually coming from the police. | Full Transcript | | 27:55 | But once the comrades left the relative safety of the hills the realities of the deepening political conflict of the time closed in around them. Kabasa’s terror often came in the dark. // Round about half past two in the morning we were awaken by a huge sound, a huge bang, and when I woke up with my brothers I saw the house was on fire. We tried our way out. There were flames in all the windows. // Well, fortunately some of the petrol bombs didn’t explode but the majority, there are about 11, when we counted them I think there were eleven petrol bombs that were thrown inside the house. The intention of that, it is clear, is to kill. They had guns and we had only stones. Sometimes we used to use petrol bombs but they were ineffective to those guns, because they had big guns. | Full Transcript and References | | 29:08 | By the 15th of June, 1986 many of the experienced activists were in detention or in the underground. But across the valley a group of young comrades had gathered on a hill to prepare for the next day’s June 16 commemoration. Again the enemy came in the night. When they had finished their job six young people were dead and many wounded. | Full Transcript and References | | 29:31 | Before we could reach any further there were a Kabasa group and some soldiers and they started shooting at us. As I was shot at I did not feel anything where I was injured. I only felt something cold because I was shot by bullets. // No, there were rumours that the Kabasa group did kill my brother, together with the police. The way in which he was wounded he was even shot while he was already dead. The stomach was totally destroyed with many holes of wounds. And this person wanted to make sure that he’s dead. They kicked him even if he was dead, they continued kicking him. | Full Transcript and References | | 30:26 | Many of those shot seemed to have been attacked while running down the hill towards the house of Stefelina Mabunda. // I never saw anything but I heard guns shooting. Firstly I heard boys singing. After that I heard guns shooting in the vicinity. We were very scared. After the guns stopped I peeped out of the window. I saw a white man kicking a body in the street. | Full Transcript | | 31:05 | Although the comrades were no match for the gang, retaliation was on the cards. // I think the community realised that this was only a few people. At least if we faced the police then it’s better than facing many people who are coming from different sides. They decided this people should go, and they really went one by one. After the death of the third one, the second one we were no longer hearing things from Kabasa. | Full Transcript | | 31:39 | The Kabasa of the eighties might no longer exist, but many say a new Kabasa has emerged, a mafia that looks after and kills for business interests. // In the mean time we can say that we have evidence of Kabasa activities which include members of the security forces. And evidence of Kabasa’s continued activities in this area. | Full Transcript |
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