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Special Report Transcript Episode 22, Section 3, Time 14:54

In 1976 Simon Farisani became the first black dean of Beuster House, established by white Lutheran missionaries a century before. // The message was simple, that apartheid was seen … it came from the devil and all serious people must pull their resources to support the freedom struggle of our people. This place used to be the heartbeat of that mobilization. // For churchmen like Farisani and his friend Tshifhiwa Muofhe mobilization involved more than hearts and minds. // Now, one time I had gone to Johannesburg to attend a church council meeting. When I came back from that church council meeting, past Phosiwa- who was then director of the church centre, I was dean and director of this church centre - informed me that two or three freedom fighters came here and asked for help. He called pastor Mahamba and they came and discuss with the freedom fighters. The freedom fighters had hidden equipment and ammunition somewhere on the mountains. And they wanted the pastors here to use the van to go and collect that. And the pastors were saying, look we can help you as much as we can, but if we carry these weapons the police may be waiting, there are lots of roadblocks. They’ll arrest us, take the church van and then they may even close down the centre, but we can give you whatever help we should give you.

Notes: Simon Farisani (MP); Photo: Farisani and Tshifhiwa; Simon Farisani

References select each tab to search for references

Hearing Transcripts TRC Final Report TRC Victims
An ANC supporter who died in the custody of Venda Police at Sibasa, Venda, on 12 November 1981. He was arrested two days earlier on suspicion of involvement in an explosion at Sibasa police station. Mr Muofhe sustained serious injuries when police alleged that he jumped off a moving police vehicle. ...
Was arrested by Venda Police and SAP Special Branch officers on 14 March 1977 and taken to Howick, Natal, where he was tortured. Mr Farisani, an ordained minister at the time, was suspected of helping activists flee into exile.
 
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