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MR PRIOR | May I proceed Mr Chairman? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 0 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 2 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.24962 | 8.829064 | -1 |
CHAIRPERSON | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 1 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 3 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 14.576262 | 19.924894 | 3 |
MR PRIOR | Mr Chairman, the matter which proceeds this morning, the 28th April 1998 is the Amnesty Application of Thabiso James Makoala, No. 6026/97 and Phila Martin Dolo, No. 3485/96.
The event is the Zastron Mayaphuti Bridge attack on the vehicle of a Mr Griesel and that occurred during November 1992. May I inform the Committee that Mr Griesel was injured in that attack, not fatally, he has subsequently died, he committed suicide, Mr Chairman, if that evidence will be forthcoming - that's why on the schedule before you in brackets "deceased" appears there.
The two other victims who were with Mr Griesel at the time were Mr Tladi and Mr Ndeleni have been informed. Mr Ndeleni is present and I understand Mr Tladi had worked night shift and was unable to attend this morning and in no doubt if necessary his presence will be secured. The victim Mr Ndeleni will rely on the services of the evidence leader, that is myself, P.C. Prior.
The implicated person Mr Letlapa Mphahlele I understand is present and is informed of the proceedings and the two applicants are represented by their respective attorneys. Thank you Mr Chairman. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 2 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 4 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 9.429839 | 8.925325 | 1,046 |
CHAIRPERSON | Thank you. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 3 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 8 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -13.806621 | -5.42799 | 800 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Thank you Mr Chairman. Mbandazayo's my name, I'm representing Phila Martin Dolo, Mr Chairman. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 4 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 9 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.546016 | 8.522761 | -1 |
MR MTHEMBU | Mr Chairman, Mthembu, I represent Mr Makoala. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 5 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 10 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.296852 | 7.964207 | -1 |
MR PRIOR | Mr Chairman, before we proceed, may the bundle that was prepared be marked "A" and there was a supplementary - there was copies of photographs, that they may be marked "B". Mr Chairman to some extent this is a overrun of the photographs already appearing but to avoid confusion, maybe mark that "B" and I understand that Mr Dolo and Mr Makoala have filed supplementary affidavits to their applications this morning. I think Mr Dolo is going to be kicking off so could that affidavit be marked "C", the affidavit of Mr Dolo and the affidavit of Mr Makoalo, "D". Thank you Mr Chairman. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 6 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 11 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 8.019296 | -1.013616 | 613 |
CHAIRPERSON | Now gentlemen do you agree with that numbering? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 7 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 12 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 1.353577 | 6.737069 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Yes Mr Chairman I agree. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 8 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 13 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.165598 | 8.557246 | 2,538 |
MR MTHEMBU | Correct Mr Chairman. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 9 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 14 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -0.394623 | 13.62634 | 384 |
CHAIRPERSON | Right, carry on. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 10 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 15 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -7.232538 | -4.492809 | 169 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | (sworn states) | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 11 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 16 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -10.906466 | 15.983614 | 217 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Mr Dolo, do you confirm the affidavit which is before the Committee that it was made by you and you abide by it's contents? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 12 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 17 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 8.03328 | -1.026492 | 613 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I do. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 13 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 18 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -0.397103 | -9.895099 | 313 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Mr Chairman, as usual Mr Chairman, I won't go to - I'll go to paragraph - I'll start with paragraph 6 of his affidavit, Mr Chairman. I'll read the paragraph - "The target was identified by myself, the armament used in the operation was organised by myself in my capacity as a Regional Commander, I was charged with the task of getting the ball rolling operationally and intelligence wise and I was reporting directly to the Director of Operations regarding my activities and operations before and after they have taken place. I was therefore always having cadres at my disposal as I was involved in training new recruits."
Now, Mr Dolo, for the benefit of the Committee, tell the Committee how did you identify the target? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 14 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 19 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.24823 | 4.962474 | 3,314 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | As stated in my application, that I was the commander of the unit. I was having subordinates, recruits and some other cadres were under my control. They were involved in information gathering about targets that have to be attacked and that information would be submitted to me and I would make an overall rule of which target do I choose that have to be attacked and which one does not have to be attacked, so I was the one therefore who was identifying the targets and after that I would report to my superiors prior to the attack and after the attack. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 15 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 21 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.477995 | 4.433349 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Can you also for the benefit of the Committee, tell the Committee how did you organise the armament, that is the weapons used in the operation? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 16 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 22 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.58626 | 1.684445 | 2,088 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | As the Regional Commander, when I arrived in that region or area, the way armaments that were there, the Commander was informed of them, they were under my control so I was the one therefore would be in charge of those arms I will just be ...[inaudible] in that way. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 17 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 23 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.393157 | 1.581761 | 2,088 |
CHAIRPERSON | You've been asked how you identified the target and you've explained that you got information from people under you. Would you please tell us what target you identified? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 18 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 24 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.335413 | 3.947394 | 3,320 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Like the one we are dealing with it now here? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 19 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 25 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -0.528731 | 3.765218 | -1 |
CHAIRPERSON | The one you're asking amnesty in respect of. I would like to know what target it was? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 20 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 26 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 9.947804 | 9.264411 | 1,080 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | The one we once dealt about it last week and we're talking about and this one we're dealing with it now. The Zastron Sterkspruit Bridge. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 21 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 27 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.434234 | 2.173782 | 3,438 |
MR LAX | Sorry are you saying if I understand you correctly that the target was the bridge or was that the target area? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 22 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 28 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.24891 | 3.691443 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | The target was on the side of South Africa, when you passed the bridge, that was the area where the target would be targeted. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 23 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 29 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.414213 | 3.835552 | 3,320 |
MR LAX | So that was the locality, if you like, if you chose to carry out an attack, is that what you're saying when you talk about target, you really - because target could be used in a whole range of different ways. You identified an area where you would launch an attack. I'm just trying to get this clear? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 24 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 30 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.349828 | 3.620015 | 3,280 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | My unit or those were under me will embark on reconnaissance and surveillance work - that information would be submitted to me and I would be the one therefore to choose which target is to be attacked. So in this case, we are dealing with the cars which were approaching Sterkspruit from the Zastron side. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 25 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 31 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.074274 | 2.250461 | -1 |
MR LAX | The question really goes to what you are saying now - was it random which cars you would attack or was purely fortuitous that those cars would arrive at that place at that time or would you have specific information that specific vehicles would be arriving at a specific place? We're trying to understand because a target is usually the end product at which you point a firearm - either a vehicle, a person or a something. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 26 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 32 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 6.45581 | 2.098151 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I was having information about those targets. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 27 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 33 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.36228 | 3.868466 | 3,320 |
MR LAX | Well expand on that for us please because you're being very quiet about that, tell us more, tell us what information you had, why you chose those targets, what was your objective in relation to those targets. That's what we want to know and unfortunately we haven't had much elaboration on that so far. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 28 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 34 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.410686 | 3.901066 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | The targets were from the area of Zastron approaching to Sterkspruit. Some were having businesses around there at Sterkspruit. Some were passing through Sterkspruit to the side of Lady Grey. The one we are talking about now was also from that direction of Zastron to Sterkspruit and the hours they were using to approach that area - it was - they normally used or approached at that area early in the mornings during working hours and the purpose of attacking those were normally or where cars and it's occupants were at that stage - we'll call them settlers or white colonists.
The objectives of attacking them were part and parcel liberation of our people and the question of driving them away from the area of Sterkspruit so that we can take it over - Sterkspruit - and as part of liberation of ourselves. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 29 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 35 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.399336 | 4.189962 | 1,961 |
CHAIRPERSON | It's gradually becoming a little clearer to me. Do I understand you to say that persons using that road at that time of the morning were usually people who worked in Sterkspruit and you wanted to drive them out, drive them off the land there, drive them out of Sterkspruit? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 30 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 37 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.152837 | 2.437097 | 3,335 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | That was part of the object. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 31 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 38 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 0.328547 | 3.567215 | 2,993 |
CHAIRPERSON | So understandably your people could take over, is that part of the object? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 32 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 39 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -0.394506 | 4.015793 | 2,920 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 33 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 40 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.760467 | -14.668155 | 963 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | May I proceed Mr Chairman?
"We were four operatives for the Zastron Mayaphuti Sterkspruit Bridge incident. It was myself, Rogers, Scorpion and then Kleintjie. I was the Commander of the unit, I was carrying R4 rifle. Kleintjie -" Mr Chairman, it's not B8 it's 3.8, Mr Chairman - "3.8 Special, Scorpion also 3.8 Special and Rogers 7.65 Special. At the time of the incident we were staying at Jozannashoek in Transkei."
Mr Dolo can you - I know that it has been asked many times - tell the Committee at whose place were you staying at Jozanneshoek in Transkei? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 34 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 41 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.222579 | 7.100731 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I learned a name after all last week, the owner of the house was known by the name of - he was a Chief there of that area - well I think the name was Spitso which was mentioned last week. So we were staying in his house of which we use it as our base. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 35 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 44 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.456103 | 2.497354 | -1 |
CHAIRPERSON | Sorry, could you? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 36 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 45 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -1.353872 | 3.617226 | 2,054 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Speak again? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 37 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 46 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -1.984217 | 5.22037 | -1 |
CHAIRPERSON | Spitso? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 38 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 47 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 2.979583 | 6.006249 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 39 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 48 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 14.504463 | 19.868324 | 3 |
CHAIRPERSON | Thank you. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 40 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 49 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -13.79935 | -5.43627 | 800 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Thank you Mr Chairman.
I'll proceed to paragraph 8, Mr Chairman. "I was the only person who knew what was going to happen and I briefed my unit when we arrived at the bridge on the Zastron side. I deployed the unit on the side of the road. I was laying in ambush and the people who we were to attack, the cars whose occupants who were white."
Now can you, before you lay this ambush, before you went to the target to the spot where you lay the ambush, can you tell the Committee, from Jozannashoek how did you manage to be at that particular spot where the incident took place? Can you take the Committee through that? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 41 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 50 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.195847 | 7.115971 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | We were four of us as mentioned in my affidavit. We went to Sterkspruit, the town of it, where we went to the house of Viyaphuti and arriving there, it was still dark, early in the morning. We found that the house was - inside it was dark, there were no lights which were litten and we thought maybe we'll be waking them early in the morning so we decided to go to another house of another African person.
We went to the house of Nopise, I know him as Nopise I don't know whether he has another name and arriving there the lights were on in his house and we knock and he opened for us and I told him that we wanted to go to Zastron and I asked him whether he would be willing to transport us to that place. He thought maybe we wanted the car so why I told we also need him to transport us, to drive it for us and drop us at the other side of Zastron. After some time he went inside his house and I thought maybe he approached his wife and after some times he come back and he agree that he was going to take us to the other side of Zastron and we went to Zastron, to the side of Zastron and ...[inaudible] to that side of Zastron. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 42 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 53 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.685003 | 3.712105 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Yes, now let's go to paragraph, now 8 which I was talking about that where you laid the ambush, are you saying to this Committee that all along when you went to Viyaphuti and you went to Nopise and you were dropped at that spot the other, the members of your unit, they didn't know what was going to happen? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 43 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 55 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.173067 | 7.230521 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Normally due to our modus operandi, when we're going to embark in any operation, that the Commander will be the only person who knew what is going to happen. As in this case, after arriving at the side of the bridge I briefed my unit of what is going to take place and I deployed them in that side of Zastron and we waited for the car.
ADV. SANDI: Sorry, Mr Mbandazayo, where did the members of your unit think they were going up to the point when you told them what the operation was going to be, where did they think they were going? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 44 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 56 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.992457 | 5.223683 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | During that period, we embark on these exercises I once mentioned, training exercises which were partly operations and partly exercise. I don't know what was in their minds, maybe they thought it was part of the exercise.
ADV. SANDI: When you say you briefed them, what exactly did you say to them? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 45 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 58 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.940005 | 4.514972 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I told them that we are going to wait for the cars whose occupants were settlers and we are going to ambush it, that's what I told them and I deployed them in the ambush formation. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 46 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 60 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.591104 | 2.000372 | -1 |
CHAIRPERSON | Your evidence was you waited for "the" car, was it a particular car that you were waiting for? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 47 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 61 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.992815 | 1.838496 | 3,476 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | We, at that stage, we knew that there will be these cars which were coming towards Zastron and anyone that comes will be our target. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 48 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 62 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.961743 | 2.319741 | -1 |
CHAIRPERSON | But where were these - you said you were being dropped at the side of Zastron? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 49 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 63 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.058193 | 2.299669 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 50 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 64 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 14.514965 | 19.823359 | 3 |
CHAIRPERSON | That isn't near this bridge is it? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 51 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 65 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.318648 | 2.091896 | 3,438 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Zastron, I take it to be on the other side of the bridge. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 52 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 66 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.368311 | 2.153493 | 3,438 |
CHAIRPERSON | Well isn't Zastron some distance away from the river? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 53 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 67 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.182364 | 2.079307 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Mr Chairman, just maybe he will answer that. I take it that on the Zastron side of the bridge - the bridge which separates Transkei and the Free State. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 54 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 68 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.430063 | 5.486607 | 1,907 |
CHAIRPERSON | Yes, that's over the Orange River isn't it? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 55 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 69 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.136765 | 2.268487 | 3,440 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Yes Mr Chairman. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 56 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 70 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -7.100306 | 3.939721 | 516 |
CHAIRPERSON | And Zastron is what, fifteen kilometres from there? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 57 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 71 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.127039 | 1.946881 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | It's fifteen kilometres from that bridge but Zastron starts at the bridge, that area is called Zastron from the bridge up to the town. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 58 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 72 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.27772 | 1.992091 | 3,438 |
CHAIRPERSON | So he doesn't mean the town of Zastron? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 59 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 73 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.127575 | 2.265664 | 3,440 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | He doesn't mean the town, Mr Chairman, he means the bridge on the Zastron side of the bridge. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 60 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 74 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.182608 | 8.045402 | -1 |
CHAIRPERSON | And you were there to attack any car that came along from the Zastron direction? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 61 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 75 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.01752 | 2.247028 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Whose occupants were settlers. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 62 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 76 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.597145 | 4.321659 | 1,961 |
CHAIRPERSON | Whose occupants were white. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 63 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 77 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.421052 | 4.190896 | 1,961 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Now paragraph 9 Mr Chairman.
"A bakkie came and I ordered that we must fire but I was the only one who fired and I realised that the bakkie was driven by an African and I stopped and the bakkie passed." Can you explain that to the Committee? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 64 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 78 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.214738 | 7.251183 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I deployed my unit in the ambush formation. There was someone some distance - whom I deployed a distance away from us to give us early warning in case that there is any car approaching from that direction, he will inform us. I am not sure whom I deployed to be in that position.
As there was this car approaching, he informed us, give us a signal that there is a car approaching, the car will be approaching from the curve so we won't be in a position to see the car when it's approaching so that's why I deployed one of my commandants in that position and when this car approached. as I was armed with an R4 I ordered the unit that which was acting as an assault unit to attack as I was part of it and the car approached and I attacked it or I shot at it with an R4. The car was speeding, it was moving at a high speed. As I was shooting with it, it was passing me.
To correct something in this case whereby I mentioned that the car was driven by an African - I'm not sure about that but there was an African inside the car and after realising that it was an African inside the car and the settlers, I stopped shooting at the car and the car proceeded to Sterkspruit, to the side of Sterkspruit. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 65 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 80 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 6.92138 | 2.861912 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | What signal was going to be given in terms of the plan or what signal was actually given to you? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 66 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 83 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.89382 | 2.131841 | 2,934 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | To be honest with the TRC I'm not sure which signal did we use there, normally it would be the raising of the hand. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 67 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 84 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.894254 | 2.06777 | 2,934 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | You don't remember the exact signal? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 68 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 85 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.888214 | 2.09489 | 2,934 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes I don't remember. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 69 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 86 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -0.71321 | 2.758501 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Mr Chairman, I proceed with the same paragraph - "We retreated to our base and the unit handed the arms to me at the base. I thereafter reported to my superiors."
Can you explain how did you retreat to your base? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 70 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 87 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.210103 | 6.701603 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | After this incident there were other places or one of the places I knew which we could use it as a hiding place for these hours. So we went to this place, it was the area known as Walazi, it's not far away from this border area of Zastron at the other side of Sterkspruit. We went to the house of Mangenene, one of the PAC members who was staying in that area. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 71 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 89 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.462845 | 2.921111 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Can you repeat the name Mr Dolo? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 72 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 90 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 2.623608 | 6.402173 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Mangenene. We stayed at the place until it was afternoon and then we left the place to our base. The purpose, as it was a question of safety measures, after we attacked the vehicle, we thought maybe the occupants of the car would go to the police and report the matter so that's why we decided to retreat to this place. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 73 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 91 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.868187 | 1.849714 | 3,476 |
MR LAX | Sorry, when you say then after leaving Mangenene's place, just correct me, that was at Walazi you said? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 74 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 92 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.454608 | 3.815526 | 2,874 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 75 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 93 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 14.507929 | 19.840872 | 3 |
MR LAX | From there you went back to your base, was that at Jozannas? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 76 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 94 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.469978 | 3.148565 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | That afternoon? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 77 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 95 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 1.013798 | 2.582057 | -1 |
MR LAX | Yes, but that as your base at Jozanneshoek, is that right? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 78 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 96 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.064869 | 2.619087 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 79 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 97 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.770667 | -14.670695 | 963 |
MR LAX | Thanks
ADV. SANDI: What happened to this car that was shot at? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 80 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 98 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.919494 | 1.668832 | 3,476 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I don't know what happened to it. I take it it went through to Zastron to Sterkspruit to the town of Sterkspruit. We learn it later after some days that one of the occupants went to the hospital there at Sterkspruit.
ADV. SANDI: So the bullet hit one of the occupants of the car, is that what you're saying? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 81 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 100 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 6.656703 | 2.042465 | 3,172 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes one of the settlers.
ADV. SANDI: How many times did you shoot at this particular vehicle? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 82 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 102 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 6.875967 | 1.733713 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I shoot at it as it was approaching to our direction and as it is passing through me and when it passed completely me I stopped shooting as I realised that one of or some of the occupants, one of the occupants was an African. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 83 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 104 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 7.215107 | 3.319964 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | I proceed Mr Chairperson. "I thereafter reported to my superiors." Can you tell the Committee, how did you report to your superiors? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 84 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 105 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.049362 | 6.949891 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | As it is a procedure that each and after an operation we have to report to our - those who are in charge of us so in this case too, I did report the matter to my superiors through a written report. That's how I reported to my superiors. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 85 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 106 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 4.79453 | 5.125414 | 3,308 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | Mr Dolo, is there anything you want to - that you have not mentioned to the Committee relating to this incident, you want to add or you want to say to the Committee? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 86 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 107 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 5.247645 | 7.321147 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I will say that our struggle was just as our land was usurped by settlers, colonists and we were oppressed as a nation, African Nation by settlers, Europeans and the battle then was drawn between the African oppressed versus the European oppressor, between the African exploited versus European exploiter. So the struggle then, it was between those two nations, between the Africans versus European settlers who came into this country and coming to this case of so called civilians or whites who were normally known by you as civilians, it is well known after all that in South Africa at that stage even I think it is up to now, that there were no civilian whites in South Africa, it was a matter of force that they have to be trained in order to defend themselves against those so called terrorists. They were trained at a stage so we were fighting a nation that was armed and we had to defend ourselves, that's how too we formed liberation armies to defend ourselves, to defend the African Nation against the usurpers of our land. I don't think that will be much. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 87 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 108 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 8.398791 | 4.82228 | -1 |
MR MBANDAZAYO | That is all, Mr Chairman.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR MBANDAZAYO.
ADV. SANDI: Just one thing Mr Dolo, when you say you reported to your superiors, who is that? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 88 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 109 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.681756 | 8.770246 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | To Comrade Hepe.
ADV. SANDI: Is that Mr - I gather from the documents that I've seen, from previous documents - is that Mr Letlape Mphahlele? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 89 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 112 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.804896 | 5.477085 | 2,607 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 90 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 114 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 14.472452 | 19.840425 | 3 |
MR LAX | Through you Chairperson, you say you presented a written report, can you remember when you sent that report, or did you hand deliver it? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 91 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 115 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 2.077733 | 4.990759 | 3,152 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I think it was the following day that I wrote the report, if I'm sure. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 92 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 116 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 1.90766 | 5.12255 | -1 |
MR LAX | Ja, carry on? You wrote it the following day, how did you get it to Mr Letlape Mphahlele? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 93 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 117 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.83319 | 5.454273 | 2,607 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | I gave it to another comrade whom I was working with to transport it to Hepe. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 94 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 118 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 2.001786 | 2.981268 | -1 |
MR LAX | Ja, who was that? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 95 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 119 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | -1.728069 | 6.970327 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | He was known by Phila. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 96 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 120 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.373861 | 5.521576 | 2,664 |
MR LAX | That's the person you took over from, is that right? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 97 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 121 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 2.1199 | 4.366243 | -1 |
PHILA MARTIN DOLO | Yes. | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 98 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 122 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 14.507092 | 19.842669 | 3 |
MR LAX | So he would have taken it to Umtata where Mphahlele would have been at that time? | ../data/data_saha\amnesty_hearings\aliwal_north\54583.json | 99 | https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm | 123 | Amnesty Hearings | Aliwal North | 54,583 | 1998-04-28 | 3.889009 | 5.231684 | -1 |
Dataset Card for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Testimonies Dataset
Dataset Summary
This dataset contains the transcriptions of testimonies from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings in South Africa. It includes a wide range of testimonies from different types of hearings such as Amnesty Hearings, Human Rights Violation Hearings, and Special Hearings. We obtained these testimonies from the South African Historical Archive.
Languages
English
Data Instances
A typical data point in this dataset comprises a transcript excerpt from a TRC hearing. The data includes metadata about the hearing, such as the type, location, date, and more.
An example from the dataset is as follows:
{
"speaker": "MR PRIOR",
"dialogue": "May I proceed Mr Chairman?",
"file": "../data/data_saha/amnesty_hearings/aliwal_north/54583.json",
"file_index": 0,
"saha_page": "https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm",
"saha_loc": 2,
"hearing_type": "Amnesty Hearings",
"location": "Aliwal North",
"file_num": 54583,
"date": "1998-04-28",
"umap_x": 4.24962,
"umap_y": 8.829064,
"hdbscan_label": -1
}
Data Fields:
speaker
:- Type: String
- Description: The name or title of the person speaking.
- Example: "MR PRIOR"
dialogue
:- Type: String
- Description: The content of what the speaker said.
- Example: "May I proceed Mr Chairman?"
file
:- Type: String
- Description: The path to the JSON file containing the full dialogue.
- Example: "../data/data_saha/amnesty_hearings/aliwal_north/54583.json"
file_index
:- Type: Integer
- Description: The index of the testimony in the file.
- Example: 0
saha_page
:- Type: URL
- Description: A link to the SAHA page where the full transcript can be found.
- Example: "https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/amntrans/aliwal_north/54583.htm"
saha_loc
:- Type: Integer
- Description: A numerical identifier for the location of the hearing.
- Example: 2
hearing_type
:- Type: String
- Description: The category of the hearing (e.g., Amnesty Hearings, Human Rights Violation Hearings, Special Hearings).
- Example: "Amnesty Hearings"
location
:- Type: String
- Description: The physical location where the hearing took place.
- Example: "Aliwal North"
file_num
:- Type: Integer
- Description: A unique identifier for the file.
- Example: 54583
date
:- Type: Date
- Description: The date when the hearing took place.
- Example: "1998-04-28"
umap_x
,umap_y
:- Type: Float
- Description: Coordinates in a UMAP dimensionality reduction, useful for visualization and analysis.
- Example: 4.24962, 8.829064
hdbscan_label
:- Type: Integer
- Description: Label from HDBSCAN clustering, potentially useful for grouping similar testimonies or dialogue themes.
- Example: -1
Curation Rationale
This dataset is curated to provide researchers, historians, and the public with access to the testimonies recorded during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings en masse. These testimonies are crucial for understanding the extent of human rights violations and the process of reconciliation in South Africa post-apartheid.
Initial Data Collection and Normalization
The testimonies were initially collected during various TRC hearings across South Africa. The data was then digitized, with care taken to accurately transcribe the spoken words and to preserve the integrity of the original testimonies. It was put online by the South African Historical Archive (SAHA).
While the data on the SAHA website is accessible to all and while the HTML data some structure to it, much of the metadata is not consistently structured across all testimonies. Further, some of the data is not encoded in UTF-8. Finally, important aspects of the dialogue within testimonies is not preserved. For example, there is currently no way to separate the speaker from their corresponding dialogue.
For this dataset, we created custom Python scripts to process each testimony from the original HTML files on the SAHA website. For each section of dialogue in a transcript, users have access to the original SAHA webpage.
For this project, we also embedded each segment of testimony, processed those embeddings with UMAP and identified clusters with HDBScan.
Who are the source language producers?
The language producers include the victims, witnesses, and other participants in the TRC hearings, who provided their testimonies during the commission's operation.
Annotations
No additional annotations are provided in this dataset beyond the metadata that accompanies each testimony excerpt.
Annotation process
Not applicable.
Who are the annotators?
Not applicable.
Personal and Sensitive Information
This dataset includes sensitive information as it contains real testimonies from individuals involved in or affected by human rights violations. Care should be taken to treat this information with respect and sensitivity.
Social Impact of Dataset
The dataset is a valuable resource for understanding the historical context of human rights violations in South Africa. It provides insights into the impact of apartheid and the subsequent process of reconciliation. It is a vital tool for education and awareness about human rights and social justice.
Discussion of Biases
There may be inherent biases in the dataset due to the nature of the TRC hearings. Some testimonies might not be included, and the dataset may not fully represent all perspectives or experiences during the apartheid era.
Other Known Limitations
The dataset is based on transcriptions and may contain transcription errors. As the data was processed via Python scripts, there may be some inconsistencies in the separation of speaker and dialogue.
Dataset Curators
Steve Davis, Associate Professor of History, University of Kentucky
William J.B. Mattingly, Postdoc Fellow, Smithsonian Institution
Jennifer Hootman, Coordinator of Digital Scholarship, William T. Young Library, University of Kentucky
Robert Vaughan, Research Assistant, University of Kentucky
Jamari Turner, Graduate Assistant, University of Kentucky
Licensing Information
MIT License.
Citation Information
Contributions
Thanks to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the individuals who provided their testimonies, and the team involved in the transcription and curation of these testimonies.
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