~t\ 1A'J ~~ I~. Independent Boord of Inquiry Into Informal Repression

Phone (011) 403-3256/7 Fox [011) 403-1366

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT BOARD OF INQUIRY INTO INFORMAL REPRESSION FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 1991 - I. INTRODUCTION:

The government sponsored peace summit held in Pretoria on May

24 and 25 seems to have had little impact on the current

violence wracking the Reef. On the eve of the summit two

gunmen wearing masks and balaclavas opened fire on patrons at

a beer hall in Sebokeng killing 13 people. Despite this and

further attacks on residents in Pimville on Friday May 24,

there is hope that a "bridging initiative" by the former

moderator Professor Johan Heyns of the Nederduitse

Gereformde Kerk (NGK) and South African Council of Churches

(SACC) general secretary the Reverend Frank Chikane will

bring all parties to a second summit. The two men received

the go-ahead from president FW de Klerk and ANC deputy

president to launch a broad-based cleric

initiative.

Information has corne to light which may lead to a further

breakthrough into the investigations surrounding the South

African Police (SAP) C1 unit based at . Ronald

Bezuidenhout , who claims to be an ex- security police

BOARD MEMBERS Prof L Ackermann, Dr Allan Boesak, Dr Alex Boraine, Rt Rev Dr Monos Buthelezi, Mrs Judy Chalmers. Dr Fronk Chlkane. Dr Max Coleman, Mr Bnan Currin, Mrs Sheena Duncan. Mr Peter Horns, Mr Enc Malob!. Br Jude Pieterse, Archbishop Desmond Tulu r ••

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sergeant has furnished the Board's attorneys and the Vrye

Weekblad with more information about this unit. Amongst

other allegations Bezuidenhout claims that he knows who built

and sent the walkman device which was originally aimed at

former police captain Dirk Coetzee, but which ultimately

killed Johannesburg attorney Bheki Mlangeni.

May has also seen the first public acknowledgement by an

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) official that certain members

have been responsible for attacks on train commuters

travelling on the -Johannesburg line. stezi Lamula ,

chairperson of the IFP's Mapetla, Soweto branch said in an

address to an IFP youth Brigade Rally at George Goch Stadium:

"Comrades, I wish to register the organisations displeasure

about the harassment of poor commuters on the trains

travelling between Johannesburg and Soweto. We are aware of

such members and they themselves know to well, that this is

causing disturbing undertones. We have been told that when

these members find that a commuter does not belong to Inkatha

or speaks any other language than Zulu, they become

unnecessary victims of attack - in some instances such

commuters were thrown through train windows." Lamula went on

to say that such actions were not offi c i a l I FP policy

particularly in light of the fact that the IFP is open to 1

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all people regardless of colour, religion, race or creed.

Lamula also promised that action would be taken against such people and that they will be dealt with "decisively" (Sunday

Times Extra 26/05/1991).

A warning by the African National Congress (ANC), the South

African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South

African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in late April that there would

be an escalation of violence in the period running up to the

May 9 ultimatum - the deadline the tri-partite alliance had

set the government to deal with the internecine violence or

face suspension of constitutional negotiations - proved valid. On April 28, only a day after the warning 10 people were killed in Soweto when mourners attending the funeral of

assassinated Diepkloof mayor and IFP member Moses Khumalo

attacked residents in the Meadowlands area.

After protracted negotiations with both the ANC and the IFP,

president FW de Klerk announced a ban on assegaais in unrest

areas where curfews have been implemented. However, official

exemptions can be granted to carry them at genuine cultural

gatherings. This fell short of the ANC's demand that r ,

-4-

spears be banned throughout the country. The "cultural"

"traditional" weapons issue and the ANC's claim that the

government has failed to stop the violence led to the ANC

suspending negotiations with the government on May 18 1991.

Hostels are once again in the news particularly in light of

the ANC's demand that hostels be dismantled. This demand has

been interpreted by many as being an open invitation for

conflict. A KwaZulu cabinet minister BV Ndlovu addressing a

large gathering of hostel dwellers in Natal said: "The ANC is

seeking confrontation with Zulu's through its demand that the

hostels be dismantled". Attorney Nicholas Haysom, one of the

13 attorneys mandated by the Congress of South African Trade

Unions (Cosatu) to accompany police on a raid of Inkatha

supporting hostels earlier this month said : "The incitement

to violence is cultivated by playing not only to ethnic

chauvinism but by a real sense of insecurity among hostel

dwellers." It is this insecurity and fears that their homes

would be demolished that led to some of the worst violence in

Alexandra in March (See March 1991 report).

Several surveys on the violence have been released in the

past month. A survey r eleased by the c ommunity Agency for

Social Enquiry (Case) said that in a total of 338 reported -5-

instances of violence, responsibility was attributed to a particular organisation by the media and monitoring organisations in 146 cases. Inkatha was held responsible for

66 percent of the attributed acts of aggression. The ANC in contrast was attributed with responsibility for 6 percent of acts of aggression. The statistics cover the Reef Violence

from July 22 1990 to May 1991. In 92 of the 146 actions which have been attributed to specific organisations by the media and monitoring groups, the use of particular weapons was attributed by the media to either IFP supporters or ANC

supporters. Fifty-one firearms which includes AK 47's or

explosives were attributed to Inkatha, two to the ANC. Twenty

one traditional weapons were attributed to Inkatha three to

the ANC. In 10 cases other weapons like pangas, axes petrol

bombs and necklaces were attributed to Inkatha and five to

the ANC.

The survey has however been criticised by the executive

director of the Inkatha Institute, Gavin Woods. He said that

Case had a politically partisan reputation and that the

"analysis was superficial and distorted. From a scientific

point of view it appears that no criterion, instrument or

analyst validity was carried out, therefore the inevitable

level of subjectivity -6-

associated with content analysis features strongly,". He said that empirical research done by the Inkatha Institute and independent observers had corroborated the claim that Inkatha supporters' status was incidental to the ethnic identity of the Zulu hostel dweller (Business Day 21/5/1991).

Research by the South African Institute of Race Relations

(SAIIR) clearly indicates as does the Case survey that knives and pangas are not the only weapons being used. "Attacks with petrol bombs and hand grenades are in fact more frequent, while firearms are top of the list. Indeed, firearms, explosives, and other incendiary devices account for 50 percent of weapons used in attacks, while knives and pangas and other sharp objects account for 18 percent". The Case survey goes one step further by attributing the use of firearms to particular actors in the conflict.

The Institute analysis is based on every violent incident reported by .the police and/or in the press over the last four months. The analysis did not reveal very much information about the type of firearms most frequently used, but the

Institute says "We do know that the single largest category of those which can be identified are AK47s with shotguns "

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second. We have also counted 24 necklace murders this year.

In fact, necklacing and other burning accounts for nearly 10

percent of all deaths -estimated at 10 000 since September

1984 and April 1991 - since the violence began six and a half

years ago."

II. STATE INSTITUTIONS:

1. (SAP)

Further dramatic revelations have emerged surrounding the

police anti-insurgency (Cl) unit based at Vlakplaas. This is

the unit to which Dirk Coetzee and Almond Nofomela belonged

and which came under close scrutiny during the Harms

Commission.

Ronald Bezuidenhout, allegedly an ex SAP sergeant, ~Jaims

that he was a member of this unit. The Board's attorneys have

interviewed Bezuidenhout.

Bezuidenhout, who spent two years at Vlakplaas, has made

several allegations about the unit including: -8-

* When the Harms Commission was appointed plans were made at

Vlakplaas to prevent the truth about their activities

emerging. Actions taken included the removal of weapons from the farm, the destruction of any incriminating documentation

and the warning of all potential witnesses to keep silent.

* A revenge attack on Dirk Coetzee was planned on the farm. Initially a case of poisoned wine was to be sent to Coetzee

but later it was decided to send an explosive device. This is

believed to be the bomb which eventually killed Bheki

Mlangeni. Bezuidenhout claims that the device was built by a

sergeant steve Bosch who was the resident explosives expert

at Vlakplaas.

The Board has established through consultation with Nofomela

and other sources that Bosch was indeed a member of the

Vlakplaas unit and was the explosives expert for Cl.

The police have denied all of Bezuidenhout's claims including

his claim to being an ex-member of the force. The SAP claim

that Bezuidenhout was nothing more than an informer although

he did spend time at Vlakplaas. Significantly even according

to the police version Bezuidenhout was at Vlakplaas during

the time he says he was. -9-

III. RIGHTWING:

Rightwing activities had t wo focuses in the month of May, the first was increased rightwing activity on university campuses and the second a clash between rightwing farmers and people reclaiming their land.

On April 29 ANC deputy president Nelson Mandela was forced to leave the stage at the University of Pretoria by rightwing elements. The trouble started when an elderly man approached the podium and attempted to address the audience. He was ushered away by Mandela's body guards and this led to a group of about 100 rightwing students storming the stage. It was subsequently established that the elderly man was well known Pretoria rightwinger Hendrik Claasens. Claasens is infamous as the man who assaulted Noble Peace prize winner Chief when he attempted to address a meeting in Pretoria approximately 30 years ago. Futhermore a number of prominent rightwing leaders were in the audience at the university including Gawie Volschenk leader of the newly formed Boere Commando (Citizen 30/04 1991). -10-

Rightwing reaction to the event was mostly favourable. The

AWB said Mandela only got what he deserved. The Conservative

Party said a fund would be established to support any student that faced charges as a result of the incident. The

Stellenbosch student's branch of the party "fully supported" the actions of their fellows in Pretoria (Citizen 1/5/1991).

The university and the students representative council gave

Mandela an unconditional apology. It was also announced that steps would be taken against student bodies involved (Citizen

1/5/1991) .

Mandela addressed the University of Stellenbosch on May 14 and another attempt was made by rightwingers to disrupt the meeting. In this instance however the hecklers were forcibly removed by ANC marshals and fellow students (Business Day

15/5/1991) .

Following threats of similar action by rightwingers at the

University of Potchefstroom, university authorities withdrew an invitation to SACP general secretary Joe S1.ovo to address the students (Beeld 16/5/1991). -11-

On May 11 approximately 2 000 farmers most of whom were carrying firearms attempted to remove "squatters" from the the Tshing township and the farm of Goedgevonden. In the process a number of shacks were broken down and people were assaulted with 14 injuries reported. South African Police and

South African Defence Force units were called to the scene.

In the ensuing mayhem members of the security forces opened fire and four farmers were injured (Rapport 12/5/1991).

As this was the first time that security forces had fired on white farmers widespread reaction followed. Ferdi

Hartzenberg, deputy leader, of the Conservative Party (CP) denied that the CP had in any way been involved in the attack, but that he personally saluted the farmers and their actions (Rapport 12/5/1991).

Robert van Tonder leader of the Boere Staat Party warned that further resistance to government land reform could be expected and that in the future farmers would return fire when fired upon. The AWB warned that if the squatters are not removed after May 28 the AWB themselves would remove them

(Business Day 14/5/1991). -12-

IV.PEACE INITIATIVES:

The two-day Pretoria peace summit hosted by the government

proposed that a code of conduct for the police is essential to the future peace in the country. The summit which was not

attended by the ANC - because the fact that the summit was

called by the state president had in it the implicit

inference that the state is an impartial body standing above

the violence and is calling all those connected with it plus

a broader section of the community to discuss it- the PAC,

Cosatu and the SACC as well as smaller extra-parliamentary

groups was not expected to be the last word on peace

initiatives.

The ANC said the convening of the peace summit by state

president FW de Klerk has implicit in it the inference that

the state is an impartial body standing above the

and is calling all those connected with it plus a br~~ _~

section of the community to discuss it. The ANC said for a

peace conference to be successful it had to be prepared for

by all the parties involved and not just the state.

Indeed the state president FW de Klerk has already given his

backing to a church initiative. The summit also sketched •

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guidelines for a political code of conduct to end strife between earring political groups. It was proposed that the work of the summit which ended on May 25 would be carried on by a continuation committee consisting of members of the government, the IFP and business and church leaders who a:tended the conference.

Along side the continuation committee another independent facilitating or consultative committee is to be set up. This committee will start dialogue with parties that boycotted the summit. The committee's task will be to negotiate a completely new fully representative forum with those who were not at the summit, to take over the peace task. Once this is achieved, the continuation committee will disband.

The second day of the summit saw the delegates divide up into various working committees. One committee suggestec t~at all weapons be prohibited at political rallies and marches. It also recommended that the SAP be reorganised and restructured in order to ensure police impartiality. The committee also proposed that an ombudsman or police board to the set up. It also opposed the establishment of private armies and defence units. -14-

Prior to the peace summit the government announced a 10-point plan of action to combat violence. FW de Klerk said • police force and the SADF would continue "firm and impartial" action, with special actions from time to time. other points included the establishing a standing Commission under a judge to investigate complaints of violence and advise the government; Programmes to create employment and deal with adverse social conditions; Giving aid to t h e victims of violence through a special aid fund; Upgrading or converting hostels; Divesting security laws of restrictions on democratic activity and continuing the process of negotiation and change. -15-

V.REEF VIOLENCE:

1. Soweto

The violence in Soweto seems to be characterised as it is in

many other townships as a battle between the most deprived

sectors of the community, namely the squatters and the hostel

dwellers. Violence flared in the area on April 28 1991

following the funeral of assassinated Diepmeadow mayor and

IFP member Moses Khumalo. Khumalo was one of several

councillors who failed to heed community calls for his

resignation. Residents living in the Meadowlands area of

Soweto claim they were attacked by mourners returning from

the Khumalo funeral. Most of the victims including an

off-duty policeman were hacked and stabbed to death. Five

people died in ~hc initial attack ~~ the squatter ca~

situated near the Avalon cemetery and a further five in

- Meadowlands itself. Themba Khoza a spokesperson for the IFP

Youth Brigade said that the mourners were only defending

themselves against an attack by residents. He claimed that

several of the buses ferrying mourners from the funeral were

stoned. -16-

News video footage shows however, red head-banded men singing and brandishing weapons streaming past police vehic~es from the funeral service before moving between houses and attacking residents. Police vans are seen driving past twice without taking action. The television crew alleged that despite the strong police presence in the area the police only arrived on the scene about three minutes after the five minute attack. Following this attack a further six people were killed at the Dlamini squatter camp and a further two people were hacked near Dube. At least 24 people were killed following the Khumalo funeral.

Further clashes broke out between hostel dwellers and residents in Dobsonville on April 30. Residents claim that the fighting started when Inkatha members allegedly killed six non-Zulu residents at the hostel. Residents then launched a revenge attack on the hostel just after midday. Police said the residents opened fire on the hostel injuring at least -17-

three people. Soon after the attack the police persuaded representatives of both sides to meet in the hostel for peace talks. During the talks residents wearing white head bands allegedly moved into the hostel via the back entrance and opened fire on the police and Inkatha members. The police then fired teargas and birdshot at the attackers.

Despite a large deployment of police in the Reef townships

for May Day Rallies, 29 people were killed. At least 17 people were killed in sporadic clashes between supporters of the ANC and Inkatha in Soweto. Hundreds of residents fled

Soweto and sought refuge at Baragwanath Hospital on the outskirts of the township. A peace pact concluded between

Inkatha and the ANC on May 2 failed to stop the carnage and a

further nine people were killed and the home of Inkatha

Central Committee member Musa Myeni was set alight in the area .

On the night of Friday May 3 and the early morning of

Saturday May 4 the police carried out huge raids on hostels

in Soweto and central Johannesburg at the request of Cosatu.

Cosatu's attorneys accompanied both groups. The targets of

Friday night's raids were Old Man's Hostel in Alexandra and

George Goch, Denver and Wolhuter h ostels i n the inner city. -~-

Wolhuter and Denver hostels could not be searched as the majority of inmates were drunk, armed and highly belligerent.

At Old Man's and George Goch hostels a number of pangas, battle axes and other sharpened weapons were seized. The police were under the impression that information about the raids had some how leaked to the hostel residents (Sunday

Star 5/5/1991).

In Soweto the Jabulani and Meadowlands hostels were raided at

Jabulani the inmates were again in a confrontational mood and insisted on all black policemen being withdrawn before the search could continue. A number of sharp weapons were confiscated. At Meadowlands the mood was much calmer and the police seized approximately three truck loads of dangerous weapons including home-made firearms and an AK 47.

Perhaps one of the most macabre incidents was reported by saturday Star reporter Jovial Rantao. He claims that he heard hostel dwellers at the Dube hostel who stood in a row at the gate calling to an old man who was walking past. They appealed to him to enter the hostel for his own safety. The old man entered the hostel and was led away by four panga wielding youths. Rantao notified the police who in turn -19-

volunteered to accompany the reporter into the hostel in an

attempt to save the old man. The old man had by this time disappeared into the hostel complex. While on his trail the group came across two bodies, their work identity cards were still visible and it was obvious they had been on their way home when they to had been lured into the hostel. The reporter never found the old man. It is not known what happened to him.

A number of sporadic attacks have occurred in the Pimville

area of Soweto over the past three weeks. Squatters at

Chicken Farm in Pimville Soweto claimed that on Sunday May 7

several mini-buses arrived at the camp around about midnight. The group entered the camp and opened fire

indiscriminately killing at least four people and injuring

many more. other attacks have emanated from the Nancefield

Hostel. Residents claim that whenever they walk past the

hostel they are fired upon.

Pimville was also the scene of another attack on Friday May

24. The attack followed no pattern and eight people were

killed. At least two were killed in an attack on shebeen in

the area. Residents claim that the attackers arrived in two -20-

trucks and then split into four groups. Two of the attackers

were caught and according to residents the attackers claimed

they had been paid to carry out the attack. The men are

allegedly in police custody.

2. Sebokeng

The nine accused in the Sebokeng night vigil massacre case

appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrates's Court on April 25.

The men are facing 38 charges of murder and 13 charges of

attempted murder. A Board researcher attended the hearing as

part of our continuing investigation into violence in the

area. Despite denials by the that the (

accused are in any way connected to the organisation a strong

Inkatha presence was noted in the court room including the

presence of IFP regional organiser Beulah Khubeka. After the matter was postponed and the accused were leaving the court

one of the accused threatened Mandla Nangalembe that if he

showed his face in court again he would be "sorted out".

Mandla Nangalembe is the brother of the late Christoffel

Nangalembe who's night vigil was the target of the attack. -21-

On Thursday May 23 two masked men entered a beerhall in

Sebokeng and opened fire with AK 47 rifles killing five people instantly. Eight people later died of wounds sustained during the attack. The Board researchers are at present investigating the matter.

3. Swanieville

At least 27 people were killed and scores injured in s wanieville squatter camp near Krugersdorp on May 12 1991 when hostel dwellers from Kagiso allegedly launched a pre dawn raid. Police say that at least 27 people died of stab and hack wounds and 82 shacks were set on fire and destroyed. Inkatha spokesperson Suzanne Vos confirmed the

attack by Inkatha members on the Swanieville squatter camp

saying that the attack was in response to the earlier abduction of two hostel residents by Swanieville squatters.

The Board along with Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and the

Centre for Applied Legal Studies (Cals) visited the

Azaadville civic Centre where Swanieville residents fled

after the attack. We obtained several statements. According to the statements the attack commenced between 05h30 and -22-

05h45 and there were about 1 000 men involved in the attack.

They were not uniformly dressed but all wore red head bands. six people allege that "hippo's" were seen in the area just before the shooting started. Several witnesses have alleged police involvement in the attack. Several statements allege that white men were escorting the attacking group prior to the retreat of the attacking impi. This contrary to a police statement which claims that they only escorted the impi back to the Kagiso hostel as they feared that they may attack the main township.

Many survivors claim that when they tried to run away from their attackers they were forced to return to the camp by members of the security forces. others claim that when they sought assistance from a police patrol in the area they were told that there was nothing the police could do as they were not members of the riot squad.

Investigations by the Board, LHR and Cals has raised a number of issues. Kagiso and Bekkersdal were both declared -23

unrest areas on Saturday, May 11 1991 a mere 24 hours before the Swanieville massacre. Residents have justly asked: Did the South African security forces have an idea of what was to corne? - The SAP themselves admitted at a press conference on

Monday following the attack that there was no sign of violence in the area at the time the township was declared an unrest area. A second major concern is how did the 1 000 strong group of attackers assemble without being seen? If the SAP are to be believed the men assembled in dribs and drabs under the cover of darkness. However, when one considers that the hostel is approximately 10 kilometres away from the squatter camp it seems highly unlikely that such a large body of heavily armed men could have gone undetected. A vast stretch of open veld surrounds Swanieville and for the attackers to have crossed this unannounced is hard to comprehend. By their own admission community patrols that night say they saw nothing. They stopped patrolling at OSh_ minutes before the attack.

The police claim that the attack on Swanieville took place while the local riot unit was busy changing shifts. This raises the question - When shifts change are all men pulled out and replaced - thus l eaving the township d uring that -24- critical shift change defenceless. Are we to believe that police stations are left empty if the replacements do not arrive on time. The police claim they went ahead with a routine shift change because there was no evidence of violence. This is despite the area being as newly declared unrest area.

Police further claim that they got the first warning of the attack at around 06h30 when they sent a casspir to the camp. All the statements in our possession clearly state that police vehicles were on the scene prior to the attack or they were seen shortly after the first shots were fired.

Further, why didn't the police immediately disarm the crowd before escorting them back to the hostel? Members of the security forces have proved on other occasions, the most recent being the May Day rally at Orlando Stadium, Soweto that they are quite capable of disarming people when the need arises. Why were there no mass arrests? considering the fact that the police have in the past used the common purpose doctrine to arrest and prosecute large numbers of political activists, the failure to use the same legal provisions against Inkatha members clearly shows the deliberate lack of an even handed approach by the police. , . ,

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One thousand men were involved in the attack on Swanieville

and yet only six people have been arrested. However, three

have subsequently been released because "they could not be

linked to the case". The remaining three are to be charged

with public violence. Almost 24 hours passed before the

hostels were searched for weapons. This would have given the

attackers ample time to rid themselves of damning evidence

linking them to the Swanieville massacre.

The Board along with the LHR and Cals have called on the

government to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry into

the events at Swanieville on May 12 1991.

4. Bekkersdal

A Board researcher was in Bekkersdal on the far west Rand on

May 5 when the Inkatha Freedom Party held a rally in the

area. Local people claim that the party only has the support

of 20 families in the area, despite this thousands upon

thousands of Inkatha members were bused into the township

from the surrounding areas. Some carne from a far a field as

Natal. This is not the first time that the IFP has bused in

supporters. I , ,

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Prior to the rally Bekkersdal had been lucky. It had escaped

the carnage of internecine war between the IFP and the ANC.

However on May 5 thousands of heavily armed men and women

many wearing Inkatha Freedom Party T-shirts descended on

Bekkersdal . The rally was held at the Bekkersdal stadium and

was addressed by Musa Myeni of the IFP's central committee.

During his address he threatened to send a 100 000 men into

Soweto to curb the violence - however, a day after this

threat, IFP president said the "threat"

was "a cry for help". Addressing the KwaZulu Legislative

Assembly in Ulundi, Buthelezi said: "No decision has been

made as yet to take such action" - The rally was scheduled to

end at 14hOO. It was only at 16h45 that the men and women

started streaming out of the stadium. There was a large

police and SADF contingent on the main road which passes

Bekkersdal's large squatter community.

The mood was tense as the Inkatha members started to march

towards the exit. Many were armed with large pangas, carving

knives spears and at least one man was carrying a gun which

he kept firing in the air in full view of members of the SAP. -27-

As Irl~atha past the squatter camp stones were thrown over the heads of the SAP and SADF who were between Inkatha and the squatters on the other side of the road. Inkatha members retaliated and threw stones back. Members of the SAP then opened fire without warning on the squatters. A young girl was killed instantly. Teboho Mahapi a 15 year old boy was shot in the head. He died a few hours later. As Inkatha continued its march, a taxi driver was attacked and killed as was another resident. As it grew dark residents claimed that the SAP escorted members of Inkatha into the township via a back road. Several shacks were then set ali ght.

5. East Rand

The pattern of violence is constantly changing on the East

Rand. Originally the conflict was characterised by mass impi attacks on squatter camps. Now the attacks have become far more sophisticated and isolated. There have been at least two attacks on commuters in the last month as well as an attack by armed men travelling in a mini-bus. At l east six people were killed at a taxi rank opposite the Natalspruit Hospital on May Day. Police liaison officer captain Henriette Bester, said a brown Peugeot with a false registration number stooped at the taxi-rank. A number of men armed with AK 47s got out , .

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and fired at people standing at the rank. One of the dead, a

woman was wearing ANC colours. The attackers also fired in

the direction of the hospital injuring many other people.

Police say they found spent AK47 and Tokarev cartridges at

the scene.

On May 7, 11 people were killed in Thembisa, six were killed

when gunmen opened fire on a bus and a further five people

died when men in a mini-bus opened fire on residents. In the

first incident a group of armed men ambushed a bus in front

of the Snowflake hostel in the vusimuzi section of the

township at about 16h30. There are claims that a man with a

firearm stood on the road and fired shots at the driver of

the bus. The driver then stopped the vehicle, jumped out and

ran away. Five to seven men then entered the bus and opened

fire. Inside the bus the police found six bodies and spent

AK47 , shotgun and 9mm pistol cartridges. In the later attack

armed men used a mini-bus which had been stolen earlier in

Thembisa. Four of the killings occurred in the Umtambeko

Section, while the fifth death took place at a shopping

centre near the Vusimuzi hostel. -29-

On May 10 at least six people were killed and four people seriously injured during a gun battle between members of the ANC and Inkatha. It is alleged that at least 3 000 ANC supporters marched out of Sethokga hostel through Ethafeni section in the direction of Vuzimusi hostel an Inkatha stronghold. Police claim they formed a human barrier between the two groups but were unable to keep them apart. In the ensuing battle six people were killed.

6.Alexandra

Isolated attacks continue in Alexandra township north of Johannesburg. Despite 30 people being killed during the last weekend of April all were killed in separate attacks. The police say all the bodies were found away from the township's hostels, flashpoints of previous violence. On April 29, schools in the township were vacated after rumours of an impending attack, allegedly by IFP members who live in hostels in the area.

Hostels in the area are however a focal point for residents. Township dwellers have accused the hostel inmates of , .

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abducting passers-by. Some have lived to tell the tale others

have not been so lucky. Alex Shibambo and his younger brother

Foster claim they were abducted by a a group of Zulu speaking

men and taken to the second floor of the Ml Hostel. With four

others they claim they were interrogated and accused of

hating Inkatha. Alex Shibambo claims that one of the men

calmly walked up to one of them, Dick Mhlanga, and stabbed

him in the neck and stomach. Mhlanga died instantly and Alex

claims he jumped through the second-floor window, followed by

Foster. Both broke their legs but managed to escape.

Mhlanga's body was apparently thrown out of the window and

picked up by police the following day (City Press 5/5/1991).

Much of the fighting in Alexandra relates to a geographical

struggle for control of certain areas. In January, Alexandra

was an ANC stronghold and had no or very little Inkatha

presence. Members of the IFP now control at least two hostels

in the area. From there they have moved into the community

gaining control of streets which are situated near the

hostels. Blocks which previously were crammed full of shacks

are now empty. New shacks are being erected with the word

"Zulu" daubed on them (Weekly Mail 3/5/1991). · . I t

-31-

In a sequel to the night vigil massacre in Alexandra on March

27 1991 which claimed the lives of 15 people, nine members of

the IFP appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court. They were

not asked to plead and the case was postponed until June 5

1991 (The star 21/5/1991).

A survivor of the March 27 massacre, 18 year-old Oupa Sehume

claims that he re-lived his near death experience when police

forced him inside one of the township's biggest hostels and

called for its Inkatha affiliated residents to "come and get

him" .

Sehume said he was taken inside the Old Men's Hostel in

Alexandra at about 21h30 on Sunday April 21 by white

policemen wearing camouflage uniforms. A panga was placed in

his hands and he was warned that he would be kicked if he put

it down. He said the police then started calling out "Here's

a member of the ANC, come and get him". Sehume was told that

he must fight Inkatha with the panga. Sehume is still seeing

a psychologist as a result of his experiences during the

night vigil massacre where 15 people including a close friend

were killed. Sehume was returned home after the hostel

dwellers refused to attack him for fear of a trap . The

police are investigating. (Sunday star 5/5/91. • J

-32-

A priest based in Alexandra, the Reverend Benjamin Mzamo

claims that he saw Inkatha supporters escorted by the police

shoot five people in the area. The incident apparently

happened on May Day when a group of red banded men started

attacking residents as they moved towards the M1 hostel, more

than 2km from where they left a long convoy of taxis. Mzamo

claims he was at home when he witnessed the men attack. He

says he immediately went outside. Mzamo claims that two white

ambulancemen arrived on the scene and said they were prepared

to verify that the attack was unprovoked (City Press

5/5/1991) .

A taxi driver in the area has also claimed that several

policemen "hijacked" his mini-bus and used it in a raid on an

Alexandra civic organisation (ACO) area chairperson's home.

Dumisani Dubaza said that he was on his last trip on April 17

with four passengers when he was stopped by a group of

camouflaged policemen. When he could not produce documents

for the vehicle his passengers were told to get off and he

was placed under arrest. He claims that nine white policemen

and a black man then got into his vehicle, one of the white

men drove. The blackman was pointing out houses where

comrades were staying. They knocked at the door and windows · (

-33-

of 21 17th Avenue but there was no answer. They then broke

the door and entered the home. The house belongs to Samson

Malinga, ACO's area chairperson. Malinga was a witness to the

first attacks in Alexandra in early March (City Press

5/5/1991).

VI. NATAL

Natal's uneasy peace continues to hold despite sporadic

violence throughout the area. The most hopeful event of the

month was a joint ANC- IFP meeting at Umgababa on the South

Coast on May 12. This area has been one of those hardest hit

by the violence of the past few years. ANC Natal chairperson

Jacob Zuma and IFP national chairperson Frank Mdalose both

addressed the meeting and both announced themselves to be

extremely pleased with the outcome (The Star 13/5/1991).

VII. CONCLUSION

Hopes for a representative peace summit are growing with

state President FW de Klerk giving sanction to a church

initiative. It is clear from this month's report that the

violence in the Reef townships shows n o sign of abating . · ..

-34-

Township residents rightly or wrongly believe that the state

has been actively involved in the violence. Hence it is

imperative that a body which is independent of the state be

set up to monitor the violence and to seek solutions to the

conflict.

Land re-occupations by people who were once dispossessed is

fast becoming a volatile issue with white rightwing farmers

threatening to take the law into their own hands. At

Goedgevonden near Ventersdorp rightwing farmers have already

flexed their muscles and have threatened more action of this

type. The powerful Transvaal Agricultural Union has indicated

that it is prepared to fight the governments proposed land

reforms to the hilt.

The recent claims by Ronald Bezuidenhout about hit squad

operations at Vlakplaas has once again showed that unless

there is a complete and total disbanding of the Cl unit, and

a comprehensive investigation into its past activities,

information of this nature will continue to come out

piecemeal. It is obviously in the interest of the public, the

SAP and the SADF that full confidence be restored in the

latter institutions. Collection Number: AG2543

INDEPENDENT BOARD OF INQUIRY (IBI) Records 1989-1996

PUBLISHER: Publisher:- Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand Location:- Johannesburg ©2012

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