MS FLATELA
On the 18th Chris Naidoo 'belled' [phoned] and said that they have confirmed that the child did die in a accident, but they can't say what sort of an accident.  So I prepared myself to go to Lusaka, but when Chris Naidoo phoned he said that and unfortunately they said that they buried the child on the 16th of December.  I don't know why they did that because I asked them that the mother said that they must not bury the child if the child is dead.
 Okay, so but all and all I went to Lusaka.  When I got to Lusaka, we were housed in a sort of a guest house, the mother of that house was Ms Kwana I don't know was it her real name or was it a combat name.  But  she said that she was from Swaziland.  So I asked around a little bit was there any funeral on the 16th of December around here and then the only thing he could tell - she could tell me - she said that the only funeral they had was an elderly man who died of natural causes.
 Then I don't know what to think and then okay, we slept because I left with my sister.  The following day comrade mamma Ruth came to us.  And again I asked her how did this child die - and she repeated that she died in an accident - what kind of an accident - no a car accident - was he driving or what - what has happened - no it is just a accident, a car accident.
 Okay I left it like that, so after about 30 minutes while we were sitting with mamma Ruth, comrade Steve Tshwete and Alfred Nzo came to us and then they just told me that I should be brave - I must not cry because they did get the report that I've been - also an activist - very active in the movement and they thank me for that.  But all in all another story emerged after I've met comrade Steve Tshwete and comrade Alfred Nzo, they told me that no the child didn't die in Lusaka.  He died in Luanda, which was now a total different story, he died in Luanda.
 And they had to bury the child - when I asked them where did you bury the - no because there are no more   [indistinct]  in Luanda, it was already nine days the child had died so we had to bury him.  And then mamma Ruth said to me, okay since there are comrades MK-comrades who usually come when their families come and visit them, they come once a week - so you will have to stay for the week here, and then the plane which leaves for Angola goes only on a Tuesday.
 So we will go with you at least that you can see your child's funeral - your child's grave and you'll meet some other comrades who know you there, who will be very glad to see you.  Okay we stayed there for a week, but the Monday mamma Ruth came again and said it's a pity you can't go to Luanda or Angola because the planes will be fired, will be shot down by the Savimbi troops.  I was devastated, my heart was broken, then I asked mamma Ruth - mamma Ruth what do you mean, what am I going to tell the people at home - at least if - at least if I saw the grave at least I would feel a little bit better and I would believe that the child is dead.
 Especially now there are so many stories, the other one comes with car accident in Lusaka, now the other comrades come with in Luanda - now what should I believe, really what should I believe.  Then I asked mamma Ruth okay mamma Ruth since then I have just come here for nothing, going back heart sore, will you give me the death certificate so at least there are policies which I've included him, that I can go and claim that money.  And then mamma Ruth said no because it's Christmas time, it's holiday it was already over Christmas -  I stayed for  two weeks there, since it's Christmas time the offices are closed and all that.  
 Within two weeks time you will get the death certificate.  Up till today I am still waiting for that death certificate.  Mamma Ruth came back from exile, I went to her again, I kept pestering her to tell me the truth what is the real truth and where is the death certificate.  At the end of the day we became enemies.
 So I don't know till today if only this Commission if my child is - I  am going to accept that he is dead, but really it is heart sore to be told lies - because at the end of the day there was another comrade who was also in exile with Khotso.  When he came back, I met him, in fact I thanked him for  what he did, because he went to my place and told  me that comrade these people have been misleading you.  They didn't tell you the truth, I know the truth I was with Khotso, he landed on a landmine.
 Now when I ask mamma Ruth - mamma Ruth why did - why have you been telling me lies all these years - it's eight years I have been suffering - I wanted to know my child how he died, she just said to me - no I only told you what I  was told, just like that.
 I think the only thing I am going to ask from this Commission is just to tell me that - to find out the truth for me, how  he died, I mean he - it doesn't become so painful at least when you know where did your child end, how he died and only if the leadership of our organisation could just tell me the truth.