Interview
with Mrs Thobile Mhlongo
|
 |
| Who was involved? |
Thobile Mhlongo |
| When did it occur? |
It was the 10th of April
1989 |
| What happened? |
It was on Saturday at
midnight. S'the, Micheal, Philani and their friends (There were six of them) S'the and
Micheal were stabbed to death. |
| Why did it
happened? |
Because they wanted my
husband who was working in Sarmcol and they thought all Sarmcol shop stewards were ANC
members. |
| Where did it take place? |
It took place in
Sweetwaters. |
| What were you feeling at that
time? |
It was terrible and I did
not feel angry at that time because there was nothing to do |
| What effect did it have on
you talking about it? |
Sometimes if I think about
it I cry, Yes the battles are over but memories are still. |
| Do you still think about the
wrongs of the past? |
Yes I do, But it is
something that happened in the past and I can't change it |
| Were you compensated for losses? |
Not yet |
"I lost my boys in a tragic way, they were stabbed to
death, and there were two of them. It was because of this IFP and ANC thing, which broke
up and turned into fight, especially this Sarmcol strike made it worse. Policemen came to
my house and they did not bother to help me, they even said words that made me felt so
angry at the same time. I had nothing to do. So we moved from Sweetwaters to KwaMevana (to
my parents) with those two bodies and we buried them in Mpophomeni. The policemen came to
stop people caming to the funeral; only family members were allowed to come. I did not go
to the TRC because my other son did not want to hear anything about it. I did consult the
local council, but I don’t think that was the end tunnel because now I am still
willing to go to the TRC.
Since I have lost my children, my life changed as well. Sometimes I cry but it does not
help now because it’s in the past.
