SOUTH AFRICA

FORGIVING BOIPATONG – 22’45”

June 2001

June marks the anniversary of the Boipatong massacre - an event that has become part of South Africa's tragic history.

While many of us would rather forget those dark days, the victims, some of whom were maimed for life, simply cannot.

Nor has Boipatong been erased from the minds of those who did the killing.

Special Assignment tracked down three of the men who, nine years ago, swept through the township, hacking, stabbing, burning and shooting as they went.

Special Assignment producer Zukile Mancunga, cameramen Richard Davies and Irvin Oberholzer compiled this report.

[V/O] It's March the 21st. Human Rights Day. This day in the New South African calendar was inspired by the memory of Sharpeville. In 1961, 69 protestors were killed by police. Forty years on, South Africans have many more such incidents to remember.

One of them in 1992... when IFP-aligned hostel residents went on a killing spree in the Vaal township of Boipatong.

[VISUAL – MARCH, SINGING]

Today's gathering is being held at Sebokeng's stadium near Vereeniging in the Vaal Triangle.

[BUTHELEZI ARRIVING, DRUM MAJORETTES ]

[V/O] It's an IFP affair, to be addressed by the party leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi. His praise-singer is Bhekinosi Mkhize. He has a terrible past. In June 1992, Mkhize and his friends went on a killing spree in the Vaal Triangle, killing women, babies and old people. It brought this country to the brink of civil war.

[SOUND UP: BHEKI PRAISING]

[V/O] Mkhize was arrested and sentenced to 18-years for his part in massacre.

Now he – and his two best friends -- are free men. In November last year, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission gave the killers amnesty.

Bheki: The IFP is happy to see me here today and I am also thankful to be here amongst them.

Richard: Ever since I was arrested I never thought I would be so free, or that the IFP would be so free, and for our leader to come here, I’m very excited.

Vincent: I never thought there’d be such tolerance between the political parties, like today.

[V/O] Buthelezi uses this occasion to make it known that his conscience is clear.

Buthelezi speech: The truth about Mangosuthu Buthelezi standing before you now, the leader of Inkatha, is that I never once perpetrated, ordered, authorised or condoned any gross violation of human rights.

The struggle for development must bring us closer together and in order to do so we need to overcome the lies about our past which still divide many of our people. I trust that the truth will be known in South Africa and the truth will set us free, as the Bible says.

[RICHARD AND VINCENT CLAPPING]

[V/O] Also listening and accepting these words are Richard Dlamini and Vincent Khanyile.

They too are Boipatong killers, and were sentenced to 15 and 18 years respectively for murder, attempted murder and public violence.

They too received amnesty.

The TRC believed their actions were politically motivated, in one of South Africa's worst-ever massacres which left 45 people dead.

But the killers say that that form of forgiveness isn't enough. There is something else they need to do. They need to face their past, and their victims.

[TITLE]

FORGIVING THE MADNESS

A REPORT BY ZUKILE MANCUNGA

 

[VISUALS: MAHLABATHINI]

[V/O]

Vincent Khanyile grew up in Mahlabathini village in rural Kwa Zulu Natal.

These hills are his home - as a boy he spent many carefree hours tending the family's livestock.

Education was not a priority - earning a living was more important.

After Vincent Khanyile passed standard nine he left the hills of Zululand for the city of gold.

Accommodation was hard to come by - but he found somewhere to live in Sebokeng, a township in an industrial area, south of Johannesburg.

In 1990, he moved to the now notorious KwaMadala Hostel, an IFP stronghold.

There he was introduced to politics and soon became the regional IFP chairperson. He then got caught up in the bloody conflict with the ANC.

Vincent: KwaMadala Hostel became famous during the Sebokeng violence in 1990. We needed accommodation, and got help from Chief Vanana, and Induna working at ISCOR, to get in here at kwaMadala, instead of living all over the place. We never got permission from ISCOR, we just stayed, thinking, once we’re inside, they can’t chase us out.

[V/O] He was once shot and left for dead while walking with a friend in Boipatong.

Vincent: I was shot on two different occasions, with bullets all over my body. If I was shot in the face, you’d be able to tell, but fortunately I was shot in my body. I’ve had operations all over, having been shot many times in this violence, and that’s not counting the stabbings, just the bullets. I’ve been to hospital twice to get bullets removed.

[VISUAL - SCARS]

Those were the reasons that made me say: “If this is life, let me die in fire.”

[V/O] When orders were received to attack the township of Boipatong, he never hesitated.

Vincent: So the only way to survive was to eliminate the one next to you. That was the way of life. When the day of the attack was announced, to me, it was long overdue. If it were up to me, it would have been executed long ago.

[V/O] But the horror of what happened at Boipatong eventually dawned on Vincent Khanyile.

Especially when he realised he was a wanted man.

[VINCENT AND PARENTS]

His parents still can't forget the day they heard that their beloved son was going to prison... for his part in the deaths of 45 people.

Father: I was shocked. I asked myself what it was that he couldn’t handle, because he’s an ordinary man who never quarrelled with anyone. I was looking forward to raise him to be a better person.

Mother: We heard over the radio that violence had broken out. It was war. People were killed, and some arrested. We were worried, because he was everything to this family. Vincent was doing wonderful things for us. I had many sleepless nights, thinking that my son never had problems with anybody. He’s never been arrested before, and of all five of the children in this family, he was the only one to be arrested. Even his father has never been in jail. His first wife left him, because she could not wait for 15 years. Some people scared her by asking how she would be able to cope for 15 years.

[V/O] After spending eight months in prison, the men were allowed to appeal against their sentences and were released on bail. During this time, Vincent returned to his home in Mahlabathini . In 1995 he married his second wife Nonhlanhla.

His first wife couldn't face life with a killer. But Nonhlanhla was prepared to wait for her husband.

Wife: I was traumatised because I was still at school. I was troubled each time I thought about him being in prison. We were about to marry. I was confused and lonely, but I waited for him to come back, not knowing when that would be. I was excited when he was given amnesty, even though what happened was terrible. My thoughts were disturbed by what happened.

[V/O]

His wife has forgiven him. Now Vincent Khanyile says he has to forgive himself.

To do this, he decides to journey away from his rural home... to the scene of his worst nightmares.

[VINCENT, TAXI]

He's not alone.

[THREE OF THEM WALKING]

Richard Dlamini, Bhekinkosi Mkhize and Vincent Khanyile come from the same village in Kwazulu Natal.

They came to Johannesburg 22-years ago - to look for jobs and learn a trade.

They killed together, went to prison together and were freed together.

Now they claim that they want peace together.

And that peace has to be found, not in the hills of KwaZulu-Natal, but here in the Vaal Triangle.

[ SELLING OLD CLOTHES]

Praise-singer Bheki Mkhize used to be a factory worker in Vanderbijlpark. Now he sells clothes around Sebokeng hostel. He says he is at peace with the community... but he is still haunted by the past... and suffers terrible nightmares.

Bheki: I see myself in a dream, fighting. Sometimes I’m in that township, being arrested, which means that picture is still in my mind.

I was the commander of the group that night. It was I who organised and instructed them.

Many people were being killed in the township, others were being abducted from town.

My people said they would take revenge on me if I didn’t do something, so I had to make a decision. I made these plans together with my late colleague, Chonco.

[V/O]: These plans included using "Intelezi", a potion Zulu warriors drink before they go to war.

[UPS] Richard: One day we were returning from the funeral of our friend at Boipatong, accompanied by the police. We came across two guys who fired at us with AK47’s, but they missed us – the bullets went in that direction. After the police returned from the chase, they came to ask how the bullets missed us. We said we didn’t know. They asked us if we were using Intelezi. We said “No, it’s Holy Water.” Intelezi is easy and simple. It’s like a leaf, you grind it and mix it with water. Then you drink it, smear it over your body, and sprinkle it on your weapons. Then you go out and fight.

Bheki: I was armed with an AK47 and I remember using it many times. Afterwards, on our way back, we saw many dead people. I realised that there were people here that I’d killed. But we believed that was what we wanted.

Richard: We started to regret our actions, but it was too late. The police were locking us in. We couldn’t go to shops, to work, or anywhere else.

 

[LEAVING HOME FOR CHURCH]

Richard Dlamini has two children... and works as a security guard. He's become a born-again Christian... something that he says helps him cope with the past. They hold church services at the very same hostel they once lived in.... kwa Madala hostel.

[VISUALS: PASTOR WELCOMING RICHARD AND FAMILY]

[SINGING IN CHURCH]

________________________________________________________

--------------- AD break -----

________________________________________________________

[UPSOUND: CHOIR]

[CONDUCTING CHOIR]

[V/O]

Richard Dlamini finds solace in God.

Vincent Khanyile, who once spent his evenings plotting to kill, now whiles away the hours singing in the Sebokeng Hostel choir.

But going to church, singing in the choir and selling clothes are not enough to set these men free.

They have to do the one thing they dread most...

[VISUALS: WALKING TO BOIPATONG, FLASHBACK SHOTS]

Boipatong, the township that has become synonymous with horror, is their destination.

[VIS] Mother helping child out of the car

 

[V/O] On the night of the 17th of June, 1992, a three-year-old girl and her father were brutally attacked with pangas. Richard, Bhekinkosi and Vincent can't remember who their victims were, but today they'll come face to face them for the first time.

 

The girl, now 12, was too young to recall much about the event that killed her father.

Nor does she remember who drove the panga into her head, paralysing her. Even Richard Dlamini knows forgiveness does not come easily.

Richard: If someone did that to my child, and if I had any power, I would take revenge. I would hit back for what he had done to my little child.

Vincent: After the day of the attack I felt very satisfied, because it was something that I was longing for.

Bheki: If I had to tell a child she’s crippled because of me, I would cry.

Vincent: During that period I didn’t have any feelings at all.

[V/O] The meeting between victim and perpetrators takes place at the home of another victim, Pauline Mbatha. She too is paralysed. On that terrible night, she was repeatedly stabbed with a spear until her spinal cord was severed.

[VIS] Archive footage of Boipatong...

[V/O] The attack lasted more than an hour. Vincent Khanyile, Bhekinkosi Mkhize and Richard Dlamini and others locked everyone in their shacks, women and children included. They then set their houses on fire.

At the time, multi-party negotiations were underway at Kempton Park. These were immediately suspended, and the future of the "new" South Africa looked very dark...

[VIS] Mother & Mita arrives...

[V/O] Despite their pain, mother and daughter are prepared to meet the three men whose actions changed their lives forever.

In turn, these men are taking an unusual journey, walking down the streets of Boipatong to face those they wronged so terribly.

[VIS] 3 men Arrive, greetings ...

Vincent: We have decided, as black people having been forgiven by the government to come here and meet you in person. Our wish is that today should be the beginning of reconciliation between you and the people of kwa Madala hostel.

[VIS] TRC Hearing...

[V/O] Since the Boipatong massacre, there has been claims about the involvement of the security forces. Although the TRC could find no evidence to support this involvement, most victims and survivors continue to believe that the police assisted the Inkatha impi. This issue hangs heavily over the meeting.

 

Johannes Mbatha: We hear you want us to forgive you, but where are the policemen? They are supposed to be here with you. You couldn’t have done all that on your own… killing and carrying the loot on your head at the same time. Where were the “hippos”?

Vincent: Even when we were sentenced in Pretoria, the police involvement was not proven, nor at the TRC. What we can say, as kwaMadala residents, is that there was no police involvement. If the police were around, they’d have to come on their own to apologise.

 

Matseleng - Mita's mother: What happened has happened, you got amnesty, you are forgiven, that's fine, but don’t say there were no policemen here. I was also stabbed like my child. A light like this TV light was shining at my door while I was trying to protect my child.

Richard: I would like to ask the little girl to try and forget about the past. God will make a plan, and He doesn’t fail.

Pauline: They want us to forgive them, but they can see the damage they have done. I'm hurt. I’m very hurt. Forgiveness? I do forgive them. But can you see the way I look? But I forgive you.

Vincent: We thank you. We want to thank you for forgiving us. Because if we weren’t human beings, the government would not have forgiven us, but we wanted to come to you, to show that we are human. We feel the same pain you feel. No-one liked what happened. I never thought I would kill a person in my lifetime. Things were beyond our control. I wouldn’t like to see my mother in your situation

[V/O] Johannes is still bitter that his wife cannot do anything for herself.

Johannes: I have to treat my wife like a baby. Think about it, a person like this, she’s like a baby. Understand? How can we forgive such a thing?

Bheki: There’s nothing we can say but that we regret our actions. We are sorry, even in front of God. What we did was wrong. Everything you said to us is painful. We cannot deny any of it. We really regret what we did.

Vincent (comforting Pauline Mbatha): May God be with you. You were able to forgive us. I ask for God to bless you. God will help you every step of the way, whatever you may face. God created you, and He knows how you will survive.

[V/O]

But mother and child cannot forgive. They've received little compensation for their pain. Matseleng was granted R3000 by the TRC nine years after the massacre. But Mita is still waiting. She had to borrow a wheelchair from her school.

Matseleng: It's okay that the government gave you amnesty, that’s fine. But I want you to know that I'm suffering. I am suffering a lot, and no one helps me with my child. You might be forgiven, but the greatest forgiveness comes from God. I don't have that ability. I go for 3 days or 4 days without food because my husband was killed. We were married for only one year.

Richard: Whatever you said about your child and your husband, wherever he is, I ask him to forgive us. Circumstances forced us, my sister.

Mita: I no longer have a father because of you. My mother is suffering. I can't help her because I can't walk. I can't forgive you until I am able to walk again. I wish you could go back to jail.

[V/O]

Mita and Pauline are just two of the countless survivors of the horrors of our past.

Vincent, Bheki and Richard are just three of those who perpetrated these horrors.

-------------------------------END WITH CHILDREN SKIPPING.-------------