MS MZOLA
During the year 1986 on the 10th of February I woke up early in the morning to prepare for my son.  He was on his way to school, after school two men came into my house.  They took  him, they took me - they took me with their car.  They told me along the way that my son has been shot and he is dead.
 So we drove to the place where he was.  When we arrived there, there were many policemen but he was not there.  I went straight to the policemen, I met Captain Calitz.  I asked Captain Calitz to take me to the man who shoot my son because they said the guy is Michael James.
 Captain Calitz said to me he's unable to do that, he can't take me to Michael James because the whole of Nonqaba is angry.  So he doesn't know what am I going to do when I see James.  There were also some detectives who arrived.  He asked Thobile Matyila to take me to the hospital.  When I arrived there my son was not in the hospital in Mossel Bay.
 They said they - they've taken him to the - to George Hospital.  When I was taken to George Hospital he was not in  George Hospital.  He was boarded into a flight to Cape Town to Tygerberg Hospital.  
 I asked them when they were sending him to the hospital what was his name and they told me it's unknown.  So we went back to Mossel Bay.  When we arrived to Mossel Bay I tried means to get  the phone numbers of Tygerberg Hospital.  I tried and described to them that there is a child who is 9 years old from George and he has been shot.  
 I gave them the names and all particulars - he stayed there in the hospital up until it - he was discharged and taken back to Mossel Bay.  Then he arrived in Mossel Bay I was told that he is there, so I went to visit him.  I've noticed that he was shot on the right side - on the head.  So the left side was paralysed, his hand is not working and he's dragging his feet.
 He was in Std 1 at school because he was only 9 years old.  There was a time to discharge him - came and I had to be with him at home because he was unable to go to the toilet.  I had to take him to the loo, I had - I had to make up and down moving around for him.  Taking him to Cape Town, Red Cross Hospital even in Groote Schuur Hospital to get some help.  
 For the last time when I was taking him to the Groote Schuur he was taken to Red Cross also.  They told me that he was supposed to take another operation on the head but they can't do it because on his brain there - there are bullets - splinters of bullets.  They - if they could make another operation he will die.  So I've decided that he has survived, so I must not allow another operation to take place.  I stayed with him as he was.
 There was a case - a charged  was laid against - for Michael James.  The case continued but at - as the time goes on it vanished.  I don't know what happened - there was no reason.
 I also gave up because I was suffering and we were oppressed.  Fortunately God helped us - there was a office in Mossel Bay known as the advice office.  Terence Mdanda was worker there, I tried again to go there and told him my grievance.  He tried his best moving up and down with me, even then there was hope as if something could happen.  But it came out that while Michael James was shooting he was not a policeman.  He was not even involved, he was just an informer but we are not aware about that.  
 Even then they said the people who shot was Tise just because Tise had the permission to carry the gun.  But the thing was not like that, everything was quiet then up until today.  I for one - I'm with my crippled son.  I didn't - he was not born like this, he was born as a normal child but now he's abnormal.  When he tried to walk around he wanted to go to school - I tried to take to school.  
 But that couldn't even help because he couldn't just take the hours - just went out of the classroom and walk around.  Or who'll just  [indistinct] the other kids.  I persevere even then go to school and talk to the teachers and try to explain the situation.   I tried to tell them I'd like my child to be at school - I would like him to be educated.
 I stayed with him - he managed to go to school although there was no progress.  Last year when they were about to write the final examination he just dropped out.  I couldn't pursue him to - I couldn't force him to go to school because I know his situation, I am the mother.  
 Now he has got something that appeared because of his abnormality.  His got fits, so it all work on my nerves to me as a mother.  I'm finished.