MRS OLIFANT
Makwassie was quiet, it was on a Sunday and he woke up very early on Sunday morning. I said to him where are you going to so early.  He said to me I am going to pay my grandmother a visit. They were staying in the squatter area. I said okay, you can go.  As I was sitting at home, some youth came in and they said the granny was calling me. I said no, tell her that I will come back because I am going to church.  As I was preparing myself for the church it was still early.  A child came in again and said Joel's grandmother calls you. I went to see her.  When I arrived there she told me that Happy, that is Joel, told her that the principal was going to kill him.  I said what is it now that Happy is talking about.  She said to me no,  Happy said he wants home-baked bread before he dies, because it was his favourite.  She said to me yes, Happy said that I should prepare him the last meal.  I just left her. I went back.
 On my way back I passed next to a bar and a person called me, called Monkey, and as we were still talking another family of mine came, and said I am called at home. I was shocked. They said no, they said we are going to talk about Happy, please come with us, you will hear the news as you arrive.
 I think if I was there, I would have been killed also, because I wouldn't allow anyone to harm the child.  I went home, you know, I didn't know the reason for calling me. When I arrived I saw people and I saw a police van. Sithogo was also there, he was a sergeant.  He was just standing there.  The people gave way for me. I asked them what happened. They didn't give me an answer, they just looked at KLERKSDORP HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
4 M OLIFANT
me.  My son was shot dead. He was lying and a blanket was put over him. His legs were protruding, I could see him.  I wanted to touch my son, but they didn't allow me. I said what happened.  
 People were not telling me anything. I went into the house. The house was full.  People were crying. I went to the toilet.  People were still following me. I said people, what is really happening here. And nobody told me. I went out of the house.  I said get out of my way and I went to this White man and I do not know his name, but he refused me to touch Happy.  I said to him do you know whose child is this?  I said this is my child.  Someone whispered in his ear and he said please, just let her see him, and I said to him Happy, and he gave me an answer.  He said "hmm", and Mrs Mobela pulled me away and she said Happy has been shot but he is not dead. I said who shot him, and they told me who shot him.  
 I enquired as to what happened.  They said no, they do not know what happened.  I wanted to call the ambulance, but I forgot the telephone numbers. I couldn't get the telephone directory.  People were just after me. I wanted to make my way through to telephone, but they just wouldn't allow me. As I went outside, they were all over me again.  I only heard later that he was shot by the school principal.
 Now this man was present. He can tell the whole story, because they were together and with Rev Zanini.