WEBVTT

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[music]

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[sil.]

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I got scared and I ran.
Shots are fired at me.

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One shot hit my right arm.

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This is the story

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of Siphiwo Mthimkhulu. A prominent student
activist, who was repeatedly tortured,

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poisoned and finally abducted and killed
by South Africa’s security police.

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Just before he died, Siphiwo made
out two separate affidavits,

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claiming torture and poisoning in
which he named some of the men

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who later killed him. If I can say anything

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in front of the Truth
commission, I am pleading to it

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to ask this Jebs to tell me or us

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what they did to Siphiwo
and why they did it?

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How? Where, as Siphiwo was burnt(ph)?
What are they going to do now?

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This is also the place
where I’m standing now.

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Where, Mr. Late Sir, Mr. Mtimkulu

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and Mr. Madaka abducted
and place to be they’re…

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where they were shot and
place on the firewood

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and diesel were thrown on them.

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[music]

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[sil.]

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May 1996, and the crowd at the Truth
Commission hearing on Siphiwo Mthimkhulu

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is extremely angry as his killers her are
branded Siphiwo’s mother Joyce is liar

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and have used the courts to block the
Truth Commission from preceding.

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[sil.]

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The crowd chanted

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kill Nieuwoudt as they identified
him as the chief culprits.

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It was Nieuwoudt who added to their anger by
preventing witnesses from mentioning him by name

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in numerous other cases. The men implicated

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in Siphiwo Mthimkhulu killing were.
General Gerrit Nicholas Erasmus,

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Head of Security Police Operations in the
province, who says, \"He ordered the elimination

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of Siphiwo Mthimkhulu

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.\"General Nicholas Jacobus Janse van
Rensburg who pulled the trigger.

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Colonel Hermanus du Plessis
who recommend Nieuwoudt

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and Colonel Gideon Nieuwoudt
then a Warrant Officer.

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They sought amnesty just two days before the
original deadline on amnesty applications expired.

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Siphiwo Maxwell Mthimkhulu

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and Topsy Madaka, Stephen Bantu
Biko, the Motherwell car bomb,

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the Pebco Three, killings 10
murders for which Gideon Nieuwoudt

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applied for amnesty. However, in the case of Siphiwo
Mthimkhulu, Nieuwoudt and the others denied

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any knowledge of torture or poison.

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We’re at (inaudible) building

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uh… offices off the old security process.

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It was quite notorious building,

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(inaudible) building,

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the activist feared us to name somehow.

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[sil.]

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I’ve tried to recruit
Siphiwo Mthimkhulu and uh…

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he wasn’t prepared to.

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Extracts from the Siphiwo’s affidavits

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from the form the basis for the
reconstruction that followed.

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[non-English narration]

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[sil.]

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They applied the rings
to one toe of each foot.

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I felt bursts of electricity

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for periods of a few seconds, I was
shocked till I could not resist

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or stand it any longer,
and I lost consciousness

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They call me in there

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\"Notorious Nieuwoudt.\"

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that was name given by their activist
due to the fact that I was loyal to my…

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to my country, to my people
and to… to the government.

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Nieuwoudt left office with
a towel, he returned,

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the towel was wet and dipping with water.
He tied it over my nose and mouth

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as I inhaled the water
entered my nasal passage,

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breathing was difficult, I
lost consciousness and fell.

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You know, If the walls could speak at this,

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at this moment, would like there’s no
words to explain the situation of…

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of what effect did it, the special
bronze were in that state,

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how effective we were. Nieuwoudt
with the help of Mbalala(ph)

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and Dansta(ph) would take me to
the bath filled with cold water.

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They would keep my head under water and
hold it there. They would repeat this,

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a number of times until I had swallowed
enough water to make my stomach protrude.

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[sil.]

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It’s true that we had dollars and

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but we were the cream of the crop.
Nothing could

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actually transpire here. Uh…
Without me knowing about

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uh… the detainee because
my office was next door.

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The pain started when I was
required to stand for 12 days.

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I also had stomach pains which were
continuous and aggravated by hunger.

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Is a total of 18 and a half
hours of interrogation,

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within a space of four days is that human?

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Which one looks back at this,
then I must agree with you.

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It’s possibly not human. So at that
stage you didn’t think it inhuman?

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It’s only now that you apply for… apply for
uh… from amnesty, you think it’s inhuman?

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Is that what you’re saying?

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That is, so your honor.

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When he was released, Siphiwo was in
severe pain. His hair had receded

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and he was confused and
barely able to walk.

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I was head to see my son in this condition.

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And he also mentioned that
he now ill treated severely.

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He even said, \"The ghosts(ph)
have finished me. I am

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totally finished. There is nothing
that you care do about me.

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He was groaning from these pains
in the body. The stomach,

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the stomach pains and fits.
Then in the morning

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we took him to Livingston Hospital.

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That’s where we thought Siphiwo

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was going to die.

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I got a chance and told him that
\"Siphiwo, I’m pregnant.\" And then,

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he was paused and say,
\"Pity me, I cannot walk.\"

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Siphiwo was immediately
transferred from Port Elizabeth

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to Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
If somebody has

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uh… severe neurological
damage and abdominal pain

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and they’ve been in
prison, then one suspect

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some toxin has been administered.

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We then uh… asked the nursing staff to

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get us some hair out by the roots.

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And the patient said, \" but you don’t need to pull
it out. Look at this. It’s lying on the pillow.

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It’s falling out and that was the clue

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to the poison being thallium. This is,

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is Siphiwo’s hair. This is the scalp

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attached to the hair. I want the commission

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to witness the effect of the
poison which was used to my son.

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Thallium is a murderous green drug.

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It’s tasteless, odorless,

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it’s colorless. It’s a
miracle that he didn’t die.

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The security police tried to
visit Siphiwo in hospital.

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But were turned away by staff who said he was
too sick to be seen. You can hear the effects

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of the poison on his vocal chords.
In this unique recording

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made at his hospital bed.

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[music]

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After three months in hospital, Siphiwo
insisted on returning to Port Elizabeth.

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Where, he issued a claim of poisoning
against the minister of police.

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I asked him why don’t you
stop these involvement

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with the struggle? He
said, \"He cannot stop.\"

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The time for him to stop has passed.

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He stated that you rather die.
Vulnerable as he was,

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and aware of the danger to his life.
Siphiwo made sure that he was never alone.

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When we normally go out with Siphiwo,

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himself in the wheelchair, and I
would carrying the baby in a prime

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and met the security police and
he waved to them said, \"Hello\"

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and then they also greeted him back, they even
stopped at times and asked how do you doing?

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He just said, \"Fine,\" nothing
else, they just talk as friends.

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Less than two weeks after
suing the Minister of Police

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and only shortly before his claims were to be heard
by the courts. Siphiwo together with his friend

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Topsy Madaka disappeared.

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He now gets dragged off
at night into the wilds,

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and you say there was no lone.
That’s great journal.

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And what happened when you got there?

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You just let him go to bed, did you?

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No, your honor.

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As we’re going nearer to… to this place now

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there’s old farm, Post Chalmers.
I think by the team was

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very heavy by now. Because,
they were going to do their job

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and the devil was pushing
them to do the job, perfect.

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Siphiwo and Topsy would driven nearly
300 kilometers to Posh Chalmers.

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A former police station with the same
team also later killed the (inaudible).

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After brutally torturing them.

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Serious questions remain about what
transpired in the 18 hours or so

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that he elapsed before their shots, Siphiwo
and Topsy did, and then, burnt them.

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Perhaps, what did take
place was so horrific

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that the team fear to admit these acts.
In case, they were then denied

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Amnesty on the grounds that
they had exceeded their orders.

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What happened when you got there?

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I let him be astounded I believe.

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They show, they often notice the distance
was server that I can draw shoe.

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They were actually quite relaxed. I don’t
know what went through their minds.

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I cannot know that. What did they do

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while you went outside and collect the
firewood you were going to use to burn them.

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General van Rensburg and I

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collected firewood and then

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Colonel Duplessis would look after them.

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Oh. Oh, this is the place

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where the fire was made. Hey, boy.

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Can you see that?

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And as they were burning there. By the
way you said, for how long was it?

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6 hours. About… I think approximately

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six hours that’s what I said.

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Although he had never met his father, it was
all too much for Siphiwo’s teenage son,

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Sikhumbuzo whose name in
English means remembrance.

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I played a lot that when I come here,

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I don’t get emotional
and the anger must go.

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I must not be angry because

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all these years I was angry, I hid in anger

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I don’t know where this place is,
I don’t know how it looks like,

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I don’t know where you
could be buried possibly,

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he was buried… possibly they dug deep
holes here the whole night here feasting,

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they could have also buried
them here among these trees.

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Nobody could believe to what
they see that they their bones

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to the fish river. Siphiwo
died in this place.

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May, God bless his soul.

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That is all I can say.

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After killing Siphiwo,

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the security police maintained the
cover that he had fled the country,

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and the family were told to declare his
whereabouts. A few years later, newspapers reported

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that Siphiwo had returned
as a trained terrorist.

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The Mtimkhulu was raided.

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[sil.]

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Following 15 years of sadistic
behavior towards Mtimkhulu family.

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The perpetrators were finally faced with
the consequences. Either take a chance

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with the truth commission or risk jail.
I reconciled

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with Christ. I do believe in the
objectives of the Truth Commission

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because even God commands that.
I’ve committed a sin

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If I done my play the wrong and I was
asked god forgiveness for the sin,

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and then go to my say to him, listen here,

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of… often you were wrong.

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[sil.]

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I welcome.

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Mtimkhulu and mama, thank
you for the opportunity

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that I could meet you people
today, the family. I’m…

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I’m greatful and thankful and why I’m here

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is to seek forgiveness

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from, from the family. For what
hardship that I’ve caused in the past.

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As a result off

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of the Apartheid regime.

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[sil.]

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Uh… I didn’t even know the (inaudible)

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or who I’m.

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We’re also pleased and happy

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my heart is full of joy that you
have come to sit here today,

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facing each other in eye to an eye.

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But at… at first I want to thank my Lord.
Because, this is the time

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that I have been praying for all these
years, ever… ever since that child

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left this house

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on the 14 of April, 1982.
With truth and sincerity

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I come here today. This is where,

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reconciliation started where
the Lord has been honored

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and his name be glorified.
And, and we seek wisdom

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and knowledge from him.
According to your Apartheid,

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the Truth Commission, you
claim that Siphiwo got sick

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once he was here at… at, at his home. That’s I suppose
I felt… I don’t… I don’t know what to, what sleekness…

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When, when we’re asking about
the question of poison you.

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Oh, the question of poisoning you, it’s… the poisoning, the poison I
don’t know. … And it’s Siphiwo food to be smelling. It was the poison.

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And what means Siphiwo hair

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to get out of his head, it was the poison.
Is he what… what the poison con… concern?

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That I can state with clear conscience.
I know nothing about him.

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I wasn’t even the last person
to… to do release him.

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Uh… So. But it is being said that

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there was poison. During
that time of yours,

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they, you even wanted to poison Mandela.

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Yeah, you see but it is… You know
that is that thallium was poison now.

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Which means nobody outside could
have that thallium poison

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that you used to poison Siphiwo.

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To us, nobody were supposed to have it.
It’s only the system who had it.

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I can only speculate now. It’s even,
what about the military intelligence?

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What about INC? What about
the national intelligence?

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All the intelligence organizations,
that easy for them to,

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uh… to do things somebody to,
to poison umm… Mr. Mtimkhulu.

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It’s easy but I was unaware that fact.

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The system wanted Siphiwo
to die in our hands

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and say \"You got nothing to with that.\"
We put all this thing on to you because,

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you’re the, very, very person you were

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uh… monitoring Siphiwo.
Yeah, now I accept that.

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But you’re on the end. Yeah, I… I accept
that but again I wasn’t in a position

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to release team. I think you’re
the one who gave an approval

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to those other men because they give
you a chance to interrogate Siphiwo.

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But I… What was… what,

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after all what was your motivation because you
as well, it was you who was giving the report.

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My job was to job, to get information
and… and which I did for…

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for my country in which, well I’m saying.
What’s wrong? Is wrong what we’ve did.

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:59.999
I’ve interrogated a lot of people

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.999
that you saw and I know, who to,

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:09.999
and what physical or
psychological method to use.

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:14.999
But I never used no physical
uh… method on Siphiwo

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.999
that I can tell you with, with
the truth you have to know.

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.999
And, and the matter of fact,
I never eliminated Siphiwo.

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:29.999
Yeah, but here, I’m here and
asking you people forgiveness.

00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.999
You never eliminated him?
No, I never eliminated him.

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:39.999
Who eliminated him? But you
know, I’m supposed to it?

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.999
Why you’re not together in the mission?
Yes. But I was… All in all,

00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:49.999
you and Rensburg others eliminated Siphiwo.
That is true.

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:54.999
I didn’t actually eliminated
although I was, I was accomplices

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:59.999
that you saw, I was accomplice.

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:04.999
Who shot them? I shot!

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:09.999
Uh… Topsy. Who shot at them?
I don’t know who shot who.

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.999
Who shot them? Oh, you were doing dance.
Just like when I’m shooting birds,

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:19.999
one shot is and one shot is.
Were you doing that?

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.999
Yeah. That is.

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:29.999
Were you Christian before you, when
did you start being a Christian?

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:34.999
That was in ‘72. I gave my heart.
You also failed as a Christian.

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:39.999
Uh… You are coming now at sunset.

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:44.999
You’re a Christian I’m also a Christian

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:49.999
uh… but the doings were not Christians.
What I’m trying to say is now,

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.999
you came late,

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:59.999
it is not too late for God, under line
that one. That’s right. But to me,

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.999
you came late. I was suffering,

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:09.999
crying all over. Shouting
all over the townships,

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:14.999
writing letters, doing this, doing that

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:19.999
having no money, we are sick in
this house, my husband is suffering

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.999
from heart attack, there is no
body working in this house.

00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:29.999
Siphiwo was kids as suffer as.
We are the suffers

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:34.999
I had or I have got or we have got no price

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:39.999
to be paid for Siphiwo soul. Nobody ever

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.999
can pay my sons so I’ve got

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:49.999
no price for him. I don’t
care for any body’s money.

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:54.999
My son’s body or soul will never come back

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:59.999
to this world. Oh, okay. Then now

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.999
I think I have come out with ever I had in me.
I’ll answer And, you’ve possible answered

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:09.999
the questions I’ve been asking you.
That’s true.

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.999
I’ve done my duty and I know it’s
difficult for you as a family, I know it.

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:19.999
You know, it… it is difficult for me to place
yourself, myself in your shoes, I know it.

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.999
You know, uh… so it’s not easy.
It’s not easy.

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:29.999
I know. But I thank you
for the opportunity.

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.999
Thank you just for the opportunity that I could
meet with father and mom. That’s all I want to ask.

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:39.999
Thank you for that. I Appreciate it.
I’m sorry!

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.999
Did you call at me?

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:49.999
Mr. Nieuwoudt. My wife has
said to you, you’re too late

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:54.999
and may I say so, you’re too late,

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:59.999
15 years. No sorry about you, this family,

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:04.999
but Siphiwo Mtimkulu, our son.

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:09.999
Very story, thank you to come. Thank
you, thank you for the opportunity.

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.999
Thank you to come. But it’s no sorry here.
The family is no sorry about you

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:19.999
and your company, and your lawyers.

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:24.999
Thank you very much.

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:29.999
I think, we might we… we made you.

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:34.999
[sil.]

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:39.999
Oh, no. Oh, just sit down, just sit down.
Don’t come.

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:44.999
[sil.]

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:49.999
Events took an unexpected turn, Sikhumbuzo
attacked the man who killed his father.

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:54.999
Smashing a vase over Gideon Nieuwoudt
head and fracturing his skull.

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:59.999
Sit down. That one. Sit down. Sit down.
He keep on lying to us,

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.999
lying to us, that’s why I do
something to show that I’m angry

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:09.999
and I don’t think that I will forgive him.
He’s sitting there by his house

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:14.999
and showing himself with his kids.

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:19.999
You see what about us here?

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.999
The commission did open our wounds

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:29.999
because it was while we were testifying,

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:34.999
it was like \"a new thing that
happened yesterday. But still

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:39.999
as time goes on, we’re really feeling that

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.999
it was good to have it. After all,
who was going to tell us about

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.999
all these things that we knew now.
Even if they are not

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:54.999
uh… true. The Mtimkhulu family

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:59.999
and thousands like them throughout South Africa
have been involved with the Truth Commissions,

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.999
three year investigation into
past human rights violations.

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:09.999
Their hope was that the truth would emerge
in exchange for amnesty and lead to healing.

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.999
Although painful, the Truth Commission
did provide Joyce and Sipho Mtimkhulu

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:19.999
as a platform to commemorate their son.
And some of the questions

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:24.999
were answered at least. But it
is the predicament of Sikhumbuzo

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:29.999
who has no memory of his father that shows
both, how difficult and unnecessary

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:34.999
is to deal with the past. And that the work of
the Truth Commission needs to be taken further

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:39.999
to help prevent human rights abuses
from occurring in the future.

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:45.000
[music]