MEMORANDUM ON EVENTS OF THE BOIPATONG MASSACRE ON 17 JUNE 1992

AD PARAGRAPH 2 - POLICE ACTIONS IN BOIPATONG PROCEEDING THE MASSACRE

2.1 Name of witness: Joseph Mphomelo Address: 204 Sinqu Avenue, Boipatong

2.2 Name of witness: Esther Malindi Address:

2.3 Name of witness: Diamond Lata Address: 56 Slovo Park, Boipatong

2.4 Name of witness: Meshack Jabulani Ramokonopi Address:

2.5 Name of witness: John Buwa Address: 807 Bafokeng Street, Boipatong This happened at approximately 21H00.

2.6 Name of witness: Johannes Rahantlhane Address:Time: Between 19H00 and 20H30

2.7 The witnesses who gave evidence at the Goldstone Commission were two policemen, namely Mostert Xaba (Mother was present) and Diau Monare, who subsequently died under mysterious circumstances.

PRIOR WARNING OF THE MASSACRE

3.3 Meshack now works at CWI. Contact person Simon Moloi.

ARRIVAL OF ATTACKERS AT THE SOUTHERN END OF BOIPATONG

5.3 At 660 Moshoeshoe Street, Boipatong, Eliza Mosoetsa is the witness, her brother Samuel and her uncle Banjamin were killed by the attackers. At 1110 Lekoa Street Fiorina Dlamini is the witness, her mother Paulina and daughter Maria were killed.

5.4 At 660 Moshoshoe Street, Boipatong, a white man was heard saying "Maak oop die deur" The witness could hear from the accent that it was a white man. Mrs Mokoena (Jeremia's Mother) heard white people saying "Shoot the Bugger".

5.7 Name of witness: Eliza Mosoetsa

THE RAMPAGE ALONG MOSHOESHOE, MAJOLA AND BAPEDI STREETS TO SLOVO PARK

6.3 Name of witness: Paul SebolaiAddress: 666 Moshoeshoe Street, Boipatong

6.4 Name of witness: Solomon KubuAddress: 1183 Moshoeshoe Street, Boipatong Nelly Kubu was his mother and Dorothy was his sister.

6.5 Name of witness: Betty Lerobane Address: 45 Majola Street, Boipatong Beilina was her mother.

6.6 Name of witness: Phillip Msibi Address: 625 Bapedi Street, BoipatongViolet was the wife, Michael was the son, Sibusiso was the son and Ronnica was the daughter.

6.7 Name of witness: Maria Letsoko Address: 194 Senqu, Boipatong Richard Jim was a friend.

6.8 Joseph Mphomela did not see police but saw attackers coming out of a casper. Address: 204 Senqu Street, Boipatong.

6.10 Emily Mashinini stays at 242 Thababosiu Street, Boipatong.

6.11 Diau Monare reported the attack to the police. He was later killed after giving evidence at the Goldstone Commission.

THE SLOVO PARK MASSACRE

7.1 Mrs Elizabeth Monare - son who saw the police vehicles has been killed. Johannes Mbatha - he gave evidence at the Goldstone Commission that he saw the police and hippos. His address is 8 Slovo Park, Boipatong. His wife Mrs Paulina Mbatha had been attacked and her spinal cord was injured and she is now paralysed.

r v Kei'i — I (TUjo— &"c«ou p^'VA,. •, ^ *w \i v T^' jc o r 1< ^ * - 'A m s ^

— ^wvJ Uv/)/tSl i H / C ^ j .-n k \ * J c uJlc7.2 Name of witness: Mr Wilson Baloyi

Saw two hippos and one Nyala in Amatolo Street. These vehicles were driving behind the attackers. Two other vehicles moved into Umzivumbu Street. The first three vehicles parked in one place and shots were fired into the air. All along the vehicles gave the Impi light to move through. They were working together.

7.3.1 Husband Mr Klaas Mathope, his nine month old son died as well as his wife Rebecca.

7.3.2 Husband Mr Simon Moloi, his pregnant wife was killed and her unborn child did not survive.

7.3.3 Mirriam Molete's husband, Pule Lekabe was killed and her daughter is paralysed. Her address is 17 Slovo Park, Boipatong.

7.3.4 See 7.3.1, Rebecca's other name is Mantshidi.

7.3.5 Solomon Malindi is not dead.

7.3.6 Name of witness: Jane Mbongo.Address: 21 Slovo Park, Boipatong.

7.3.7 Name of witness: Evelyn Ramoeletsi daughter to Maria and sister to Simon who died.

7.3.8 Samuel Lata's daughter Julia and his cousin Samuel Ncokoto were killed. His other daughter Jamina died the following day of her wounds.

WHITES IN SLOVO PARK

1. Name of witness: Rebecca Motaung Address: 105 Slovo Park, Boipatong.A tall white man speaking Afrikaans accompanied the attackers, he had a gun. Rebecca heard him ask the attackers after they had stabbed her whether she was finished in Afrikaans. One of the attackers replied in Zulu that "When you hear her calling out for her mother you must know that she is dead". The white man was wearing blue Iscor overalls. Rebecca can identify him. Rebecca's husband was being attacked outside. He works at Iscor and the attackers said we know him leave him. His name is Petrus Motaung. The white man spoke in Afrikaans and the other attackers answered in Zulu.

2. Name of witness: Mirriam Molete Address: 17 Slovo Park, BoipatongMirriam fought with a white man. He was wearing a Balaclava, his eyes and nose were visible, his eyes were blue. He stabbed me and stabbed my child on the head and I begged him to stop in Sesotho. When they left they used the word Usuthu to call each other. I could see clearly because the light was coming

from the Apollos. My sister was fighting with the other attackers outside. The white man never said anything he was quite all the time.

3. Name of witness: Florence Molete Address: 17 Slovo Park, BoipatongShe heard a noise, when peeped through the window she saw a group of men. She could see clearly because of the light coming from the Apollos. I saw a white man wearing camouflage clothing and a balaclava. He had a gun. The white men together with the other attacker came into the shack and said give guns in Zulu. She said they do not have guns. Pule was outside, she shouted for Pule and the man answered in Afrikaans this dog is dead lets go.

4. Name of witness: Anna Mbatha Address: 93 Slovo Park, BoipatongShe saw two Black men and one white man. She also saw Rebecca Mathope who was holding her child being stabbed in the back. She was running towards my shack and shouted "Mamthandi please open for me i am dying" Anna heard the white man saying "Is this Mamthandi7' Anna did not hear her response. The men entered the shack, they saw a roll of toilet paper and tried to set it alight but it did not catch on fire. The white man had a torch on him but the light was dim which made it clear that the torch was used for a long time. Anna and her mother were hiding underneath a table, a Zulu man with a spear wanted to stab Anna and she screamed. The man said in Zulu "Anna and her mother must get out because they are Mandela’s dogs". Anna heard gun shots outside, the men left and went towards the shots. The deceased Rebecca then asked me to get the baby. Anna took the child and put her in bed where she later died of injuries.

THE RAMPAGE FROM SLOVO PARK ALONG BAFOKENG, TUGELA AND HLUBI STREETS

8.2 Name of witness: Hilda Monokoane Address: 544 Bafokeng Street, BoipatongMany people entered her house and stabbed her daughter-in-law and husband. Prince Fanana Zulu was one of the attackers. Hilda's husband said "Zulu is this you doing this". The attackers then left Mr Monokoane who works at Iscor.

8.3 Name of witness: Joseph Mngcina Address: 696 Bafokeng Street, Boipatong

8.4 Name of witness: Diana Manyika Address: 734 Bafokeng Street, Boipatong Her mother and father ( 50 years) were killed.

8.5 Name of witness: Maria Hlubi Address: 722 Bafokeng Street, Boipatong Popo the nephew to Maria died.

8.8 Name of witness: Maria MashopeAddress: 761 Lekoa Street, BoipatongFlora Mashope (mother) and Flora Nkala (mother’s friend) died.

At 765 Hlubi Street Fani Nonjoli is the witness. Martha Nonjoli was his grandmother who died in the attack. Alice Mogorosi is Martha's daughter-in-law who is also one of the witnesses. Henry Nonjoli, Martha's son, was not there at the time of the attack.

8.11 Name of witness: Jemima MazibukoShe saw police vehicles together with the attackers.

THE RETURN OF ATTACKERS TO KWA-MADALA

9.1 Refer to 8.1.

boipatonAn

AXBOIPATONG MASSACRE - MEETING HELD ON 25 JULY 1998

QUESTIONS ASKED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY

(Q) At the TRC hearing held from 6-14 July the advocate representing the South African Defence Force asked whether there were rocks or trenches in the streets of Boipatong. He suggested that this was true and as a result it is not possible that army hippos would have been able to drive through the township.

(A) The community said there had been ambulances driving through the township. How was it possible that ambulances were able to drive through the streets and hippos/caspirs were not able to drive through. It must be remembered that before the attack the police cleared the streets by shooting at Self Defence Unitmembers and they (the police) had been able to drive through the streets ofBoipatong in their vehicles.

Diamond said that there were some streets which had rocks but these were only small Small,rocks. ^ ^ ^

J -frb} U , . (\\[ y 5

vrQUESTIONS BY DANNY BERGER ! I ^

(Q) He asked how soon after the attack did the ambulance arrive ?

(A) Diamond said approximately thirty minutes after the attack.The members of the community said in certain areas they arrived after a long time.

(Q) Evidence was led at the criminal trial of a counter attack by Boipatong residents aimed at Kwa-Madala residents. On the day after the attack, on 18 June 1992, a large group of people was seen leaving Boipatong in the direction of Kwa-

- 2-

Madala. Is this true ?

(A) The above cannot be denied. We had met at the stadium and went to Kwa- Madala. We were stopped at the robots by the leadership - COSATU, SACP, ANC and Civic leadership.

(Q) How many people were in that group that went to Kwa-Madala?

(A) It was a big group - there were approximately 2000 people.

(Q) Was the group armed ?

(A) There were no visible arms but we were carrying guns. The group included workers and residents of Boipatong. The leadership stopped the group at Blue Armour, before the garage. The police were in between the

Boipatong group and the group from Kwa-Madala. The group from Kwa- Madala turned back after the group from Boipatong turned back towards Boipatong.

(Q) Newspaper article of the Saturday Star of 26 June 1992 - about people killed and houses burnt before and after the attack. The article refers to 3 people killed in Boipatong.

(1) Nomvula |- she was accused of consorting with an IFP boyfriend. She was killed on 13 June 1992 - the Saturday before the attack.

(A) Nomvula was killed - She was also known as Daisy. Her full nameNomvula Daisy Maseko. She was suspected of taking information

from the township to the hostel. Her sister was staying at Kwa- Madala Hostel.

(Q) (2) David Mbele - The article says he was a Boipatong resident anda school teacher. It states that he had no structural connections with the IFP.

(A) David Mbele was not a school teacher, he worked for Nampak. Hewas an IFP member although when asked he said known IFP members going to his house were his in-laws (his sister was married in Kwazulu). One day whilst he was dancing at a Tavernknown as Checkers in Baralong, his IFP membership card fell. Itis true that his house was burnt by a group of approximately 300 400 people. It is not true that a fire engine was sent away by the group. David was shot lying on the ground at the corner of Siqcau Street. The group that attacked his house was led by comrades but they were joined by the residents who were angry.

(Q) (3) B.L. Khumalo

He was killed, his car was burnt on Sunday afternoon. He was proud of being an IFP member and bragged about it. He was not a leader of IFP, just a member. He threatened and intimidated the community at large. David Mbele had pointed out Khumalo as an IFP member.

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

A house was burnt in Siqcau Street.

- 4 -

2. A house was burnt in Bophelong Street. The son at the housef George Khumalo,) was an IFP member and was in the military wing of IFP. Mrs Khumalo, George's mother regularly took food to the hostel. She was asked by members of the community to stop doing so. George kept company with Khetisi and In 1990 George killed Amos 'sondela'

Chonco.

(Q)

___ _ and ran away to stay in Kwa-Madalahostel. He was arrested and given a suspended sentence. After his release^h©^)joined with Shabanguj <

NO.

The article continues that in February 1992, a crippled youth had gone to meet his mother in Boipatong and was attacked.

f e .

(A) No one in the community knows anything about the above.

(Q) In January 1992, Bongani Mbatha who wore an IFP T-shirt was stoned to death.

(A) He was killed at Umzimvubu Street. We, as the community did not know hisname. He was carrying an|AK47. This was found hidden in a shack nearby behind a door after he fired a shot into the crowd. He then ran into Umzimvubu Street where he was stoned to death. The above incident did not take place in January it happened after the attack on 17 June 1992. 1

O

(Q) In May Thapelo was abducted and attacked in Vereeniging whilst shopping.

(A) The above was not done by the people of Boipatong. Most residents of Boipatong shop in Vanderbijlpark and not Vereeniging.

ABOUT NANA MHLUPHEKI SHABANGtJHe will be the second to give evidence at the hearing. He says he joined the police in 1987 and was a leader of COSAS at school.

- 5-

(A) The above is true.

(Q) He says he was accused of instigating people to burn a certain policeman's house.

(A) Nana Shabangu was part of those people who attacked that house. He was a comrade at that stage.

(Q) Nana continues to say Self Defence Unit members regularly came to ask for money for guns from the residents of Boipatong. He complained of the above to Samuel Ndala and as a result the community began not to trust him. i T|

The above is not true. Residents were only asked once to contribute money for / the purchasing of guns. Nana fled to Kwa-Madala hostel after he had killed

[Zwanejin 1991. He had started to misuse his power as a policeman. When he killed Zwane he dragged him with his car - between Boipatong and Sharpeville.He had also chopped off Zwane's private parts. Zwane was approximately 20 years. Nana and Zwane had fought over a girlfriend.

V S —

(Q)- f ‘*VOL V

Nana says that comrades)had shot at his house with AK47's. Members of his family were attacked. He was attacked at a shebeen and was stabbed with aknife by two comrades. He kidnapped one of his attackers and assaulted him.

2 ^ This (person later died. He (Nana) was arrested and sentenced to 6 yearsimprisonment.

(A) Nana shot at his parents' house himself and not members of the community. His attack at the shebeen may be linked to his fight with Zwane. Nana was arrested but he did not stay in prison. At his hearing, he together with|Khetisi,(threatened to assaulte r MigaTj \J.UNr

IW slu tU

. l* | fN lr^ CL

- 6-

(Q) Nana says that people dug up bodies and then burnt those bodies. ^

(A) That never happened in Boipatong. There is one incident where the people of Sebokeng did that but not in Boipatong.

(Q) Nana states that a month before the attack there was a march by ANC supporters to Kwa-Madala.

(A) No true. There was a march on 18 June 1992.

(Q) Is there anybody who knows what Nana Shabangu did on the day of the massacre. He says that he only was armed with a kierie and had only hit someone with a kierie.

(A) We cannot say what he did. He has confessed to us that he was there on that day. At the TRC hearing he said to members of the community that he will tell the truth and that Mthembu is telling lies. Mthembu is afraid and he (Nana) is not. When he sees Mita (child in wheelchair), he feels sorry and regrets joining the IFP.

(Q) Does anybody know Vincent Khanyile - he is one of the applicants ?

(A) No.

QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY

ROLE OF ISKOR

(Q) What about the whites of Iskor? The IFP at Kwa-Madala were given gunsand orders by the whites at Iskor.

- 7-

(Q)

Crystal(Q)

(A)

There were four whites who were hivolved1. Basson - Manager2. Hoffman - Senior Manager3. Carstence - Manager4. Van Rensburg - Manager

It must also be known who gave permission for IFP to stay in Kwa-Madala (The answer will be Iskor but who at Iskor).

How was the security at Iskor staffed?

During the day the security guards would be mixed, there would be IFP as well as Boipatong residents who worked as security guards. At night only IFP members worked as security guards.

Satellite police station - It was put there after the attack and it was there to protect SPAR not the residents of Kwa-Madala.

boimeeMn

Collection Number: AK2672 Goldstone Commission BOIPATONG ENQUIRY Records 1990-1999 PUBLISHER: Publisher:- Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand Location:- Johannesburg ©2012

LEGAL NOTICES:

Copyright Notice: All materials on the Historical Papers website are protected by South African copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published in any format, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Disclaimer and Terms of Use: Provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein, you may download material (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal and/or educational non-commercial use only.

People using these records relating to the archives of Historical Papers, The Library, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, are reminded that such records sometimes contain material which is uncorroborated, inaccurate, distorted or untrue. While these digital records are true facsimiles of the collection records and the information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable, Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand has not independently verified their content. Consequently, the University is not responsible for any errors or omissions and excludes any and all liability for any errors in or omissions from the information on the website or any related information on third party websites accessible from this website.

This document is part of a private collection deposited with Historical Papers at The University of the Witwatersrand.