CLEMENT KHEHLANA GXABU
Firstly, in 1959, as the residents of this area we were complaining because the government took decisions
for ourselves, and this government was using the chiefs 
which were ruling us, which were our leaders.  They we
coming from the meeting which was known as Ibonga from Umtata.  The chief would come to the people and tell them what will happen.  These chiefs used to come to us, we had dompas(?) and we had to wear them in our necks and there was also this thing of the Bantu Education, which we were against it and we wanted to be represented in Cape Town Parliament.
 We had to pay taxes for our cattle and we thought it an enigma that we had to pay taxes for our own cattle.  These are the reasons why even the magistrates would not listen to us. Our leader Wanna Johnson, who was also of the royal family, we were then trying to figure out what we would do.  It then came from Bizana that we should not take cognisance of the courts of the chief.  We elected Thembizi Mphoso and Wanna Johnson  to represent us, also Machibini Nokwengwe who is present today in this hall.  We elected six men to go to Bizana for a report-back.  Gizana then said to our leaders that we had elected, at that time Jikindaba Mhlanga who was a chief had passed away, his death was a suspicious one.  They were given another date to come back.
 We then said it would be too late, we should continue, then everyone was called to Hode on a mountain. People came from seven villages, even from Flagstaff.  We all met on the 13th of March 1960.  We were then supposed to go to Ngquza, we never got there because we stayed in Mcokotheni, the boers came, they started shooting, they shot sporadically, we left and went down to Nhodi where we were supposed to meet.  We then asked a man, Linda Mabija that asked a person that's with the chiefs now and again, and would go to 
Umtata, what was going on.  Then Mabija told us what was 
happening.  We then asked him to plead guilty for taking 
part in what was oppressive to us.  After that we went to Ngquza, we were talking and there were people from Bizana, 
Lusikisiki.  As we were talking the helicopter came, it was full with people, you would never say that it was Ngquza,we were disturbed by this helicopter.  
 As we were going down the mountain, about 48 police vans emanated.  They came and they stood before us, they were silent, they stood in a line.  We did not say anything either. I think Mahambehlala's son who had a gun, shot in the air and this is when the police said we must disperse, they gave an order.  As we were starting to leave, the helicopter came, there was tear gas everywhere.