

&#9;1&#9;F GQUBULE

&#9;TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

&#9;HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

&#9;SUBMISSIONS - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

DATE: 27/08/96&#9;NAME: FUNDILE LAWRENCE GQUBULE

CASE: UITENHAGE 

DAY 2 

__________________________________________________________

CCHAIRPERSON: Can we now ask Mr Fundile Lawrence Gqubule to 

take over. Thank you Mr Nkobese. We are going to ask the 

next witness to come forward.

FUNDILE LAWRENCE GQUBULE: (sworn states)

CHAIRPERSON: Let me start off by making sure about some 

details. Do you stay in number 26 Sedidi, Khayelitsha?

MR GQUBULE: Yes, it is like that.

CHAIRPERSON: At the time there was a shooting in Uitenhage 

in 1985, were you a resident here?

MR GQUBULE: Yes, it is like that.

CHAIRPERSON: What street were you staying?

MR GQUBULE: It was number 14 at Gunsi Street.

CHAIRPERSON: Is this Gunsi Street near this spot of 

shooting in Maduna Street?

MR GQUBULE: No, it's not near.

CHAIRPERSON: I observe that you are in a wheelchair. Is 

this as a result of an injury when there was a shooting?

MR GQUBULE: Yes, it's like that.

CHAIRPERSON: Could you explain, Mr Gqubule. Where were you 

on this particular day, and what actually happened?

MR GQUBULE: On this day, on a Tuesday morning, I just had a 

bath and I heard some freedom songs and I went out and I saw 

a crowd moving toward Maduna. Then I stood on the roof of 

the house because I couldn't see clearly. At the time I 

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was looking at Maduna, I saw a hippo that was driving 

amongst the people as the people were standing waiting for 

the bus. So I saw this hippo dispersing the people. Then 

there were some South African Defence Force next to Maduna, 

so I stood there watching the people who were being chased 

and the hippo trying to disperse the people. Then I saw a 

group of people moving down Maduna and so I went down the 

road and I went up Gonchi Street and next to the hall I 

joined the crowd and we were chanting freedom songs. There 

was a hippo just in front of us, and it drove past and 

stopped next to the John Wesley Church. They were chasing 

us. Then that is the last I can remember because I just 

heard some bullet sounds.

CHAIRPERSON: At what stage were you hit by a bullet?

MR GQUBULE: It was at Khlamthini when I was hit by a bullet 

and I heard some shooting sounds and I felt something on my 

right ankle and people were turning around and running and I 

don't know what happened. Then I lay there on the ground. 

I was the first person to be taken and I could see some 

people were being shot and I could see these people lying 

down there on the ground, they had some bottles placed on 

their hands.

CHAIRPERSON: When you were lying there on the ground, what 

did you see?

MR GQUBULE: I saw a helicopter.

CHAIRPERSON: Were there any policemen that were moving up 

and down next to you as you were lying there on the ground?

MR GQUBULE: Yes there were.

CHAIRPERSON: What were they doing?

MR GQUBULE: People were being kicked and they were being 

shot. Some were being pulled out of the bridge.

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CHAIRPERSON: In your statement you said there was a boy who 

was riding a BMX bicycle, do you see that boy here now?

MR GQUBULE: Yes I do see him.

CHAIRPERSON: What is his name?

MR GQUBULE: His name is Kwanele Bucwa.

CHAIRPERSON: You fell down and you were shot, then how did 

you get to the hospital?

MR GQUBULE: As I was lying there in pain, I decided not to 

scream because most people were being killed and were 

screaming. I was then put into the first ambulance together 

with Nlungi Simclagahle and some other people.

CHAIRPERSON: Now would you say how long did this shooting 

take place?

MR GQUBULE: I would say for about an hour.

CHAIRPERSON: As you were lying there, were they still 

shooting?

MR GQUBULE: Yes, they were still shooting and people were 

coming from shacks in Nimkhi who were coming to join some 

people from section 15 and they were being shot.

CHAIRPERSON: Was there anything that was said by these 

policemen at the time that there was shooting? What were 

they saying?

MR GQUBULE: I didn't hear anything because I was really in 

deep pain at the time.

CHAIRPERSON: How did this affect this shooting? How did it 

affect your body, how did it affect your health? Is there 

any medical treatment you are getting?

MR GQUBULE: There is none. What happens is when it is 

overcast my body becomes stiff.

CHAIRPERSON: Is that all you have to say Mr Gqubule, as to 

what you saw on this particular day?

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MR GQUBULE: I was transferred from the Uitenhage hospital 

to a hospital in Port Elizabeth were I met Lungi Sinlagashe.

CHAIRPERSON: Were they also shot?

MR GQUBULE: Yes they were.

CHAIRPERSON: Would you explain what you saw in hospital, 

what did you see in hospital?

MR GQUBULE: I saw a lot of policemen, they were all over 

the place, inside and outside, and some people were sneaking 

out of the hospital.

CHAIRPERSON: Were there any policemen in the hospital?

MR GQUBULE: Yes there were.

CHAIRPERSON: Dr Khaan you say is the one who examined you 

in hospital, what did he say was the cause of the injuries 

you had?

MR GQUBULE: He said they had shot me on the spinal cord and 

he said they could not take out the bullet because if they 

had to do that I would be completely paralysed.

CHAIRPERSON: Now you say, as you are sitting there, there 

is a bullet that is embedded here in your body?

MR GQUBULE: Yes it is there.

CHAIRPERSON: Is this the cause of it that when it is 

overcast you feel some pain and your body becomes stiff?

MR GQUBULE: Yes I would say that is the cause.

CHAIRPERSON: Have you ever briefed any lawyer about this 

matter?

MR GQUBULE: No.

CHAIRPERSON: When you were called which in Jubilee Hall, 

what was happening?

MR GQUBULE: I was in hospital at the time.

CHAIRPERSON: So you actually did not go to Jubilee Hall?

MR GQUBULE: No, I didn't go, it is only my parents who went 

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there.

CHAIRPERSON: What did they say to you when they came back 

from Jubilee Hall?

MR GQUBULE: They said to me, there were discussions with 

the White people and they had been promised that some tax 

would be sent to them.

CHAIRPERSON: Is there any cheque that your parents 

received?

MR GQUBULE: No.

CHAIRPERSON: Is there any money that was given to you for 

this shooting?

MR GQUBULE: There is some money I got. Some people from 

the bank came to me whilst I was in hospital and so I 

signed, I was still in hospital at the time.

CHAIRPERSON: Is that all you have to say?

MR GQUBULE: On my way from 27, I was forced to go back to 

Cape Town because after I had been shot I had abscess and 

some fluid coming out of my knees, so I had to go back to 

Conradie Hospital because this left leg was giving me 

problems and it was to be amputated.

CHAIRPERSON: By being here, Mr Gqubule, what is your actual 

wish, or your request to this Commission?

MR GQUBULE: My request to this Commission is that they 

should see to it that we should have some sports fields for 

the paraplegics. I used to be a soccer player.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Gqubule for your explanation, I 

can now hand over to the Chairperson so that if any of my 

colleagues here have got any questions they should pose them 

to you.

PANEL MEMBER: Thank you Mr Gqubule, can you hear me?

MR GQUBULE: Yes, I can hear you.

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PANEL MEMBER: How old were you when you were shot?

MR GQUBULE: Round about 20 something.

PANEL MEMBER: Mr Gqubule, we want to be able to determine 

the impact of your injuries. Would you please describe a 

day in your life starting when you get up, to determine how 

you cope on a day to day basis?

MR GQUBULE: When I wake up in the morning, I just try to 

exercise a little bit and I take a bath. My wife usually 

dresses me and I have breakfast, and visit friends, nothing 

else.

PANEL MEMBER: So it means that without the assistance and 

support of your wife, it would be difficult for you to 

function on a day to day basis, is that correct?

MR GQUBULE: That is correct.

PANEL MEMBER: You say that you were an athlete before your 

injuries?

MR GQUBULE: That is correct.

PANEL MEMBER: Before your injuries, what were your dreams 

and your plans for your future?

MR GQUBULE: I was dreaming of being a sportsman and an 

educated person, but because of the fact that we were very 

poor and my parents and I did not have a lot of facilities.

PANEL MEMBER: Mr Gqubule, this is a very difficult question 

but I need to ask you. On a day to day basis when you think 

about what could have been, and what is now, what goes 

through your mind, and what emotions are surfaced in you?

MR GQUBULE: It is very painful to see myself in this 

condition. When I see other people I just think that if I 

was not in this condition I was going to be somewhere else 

just like a certain person.

PANEL MEMBER: Thank you, my last question. I know you 

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haven't really asked for anything, but you also say you are 

not receiving treatment. I ask again, is there anything you 

would like the commission to take care of?

MR GQUBULE: I would like to have a better wheelchair than 

the one I have right now.

PANEL MEMBER: And continued medical care?

MR GQUBULE: I don't think I need any special treatment 

medication, besides the fact that sometimes I'm trembling. 

I think it is because of this bullet that is in my body.

PANEL MEMBER: Thank you Mr Chairperson, I might want to 

come back to Mr Gqubule when we summarise at the end. Thank 

you.

CHAIRPERSON: Ms Maya is going to lead the next witness.

MS MAYA: Just before we leave Mr Gqubule. Your life is in 

this condition today, I want to get clarity, when you think 

back, who is responsible for this?

MR GQUBULE: I can say it is Boers, I only know that I'm 

here today, I am like this because of the Boers.

MS MAYA: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Gqubule.

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