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September 1976
The Commission resumes on Tuesday, 21st September 1976.
Dr. Yutar:
M'Lord, my first witness this morning is a sister of one of those who were unfortunately killed and therefore I ask that her name be not published nor the fact that she is a sister of the one who was killed or any detail which might lead to her identification. That is also her request.
Chairman:
The name of the witness then to be called is not to be published, nor her relationship to the person who was killed in this particular instance or any other fact which might show her identity.
Yutar:
I now call Antoinette Musi [name blocked out]
Ms. Musi:
[Sworn states, through interpreter.]
Yutar:
You are a young girl aged 17?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Staying with your parents at 1460 B., White City, Jabavu [blocked out].
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Together with your—actually it is your step-brother [blocked out]?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
A scholar aged about 13 years.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Who was unfortunately shot during the riots on the morning of Wednesday, the 16th June, 1976.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Now, you yourself are a scholar at the Thesele Secondary School, White City.
Musi:
I am.
[…]
Yutar:
What class are you in?
Musi:
Form Two.
Yutar:
Your brother [blocked out] was a scholar at a school known as Ishetsepeng… Higher Primary School, also White City.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
What class was he in?
Musi:
Standard 4.
Yutar:
Now, he was a young boy of 13.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Now I am going to put in a medical report of a post-mortem examination where they do not give us his height unfortunately. What was his height?
Musi:
As long as I am now demonstrating.
Chairman:
About half a head shorter than what she is.
Musi:
Approximately.
Yutar:
You are about just under 5 foot.
Musi:
I think I am 5 feet.
Yutar:
You are 5 feet and therefore he would be just under 5 feet.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
And his build, what was he? Well built or slender?
Musi:
Slenderly built.
Yutar:
Now, on that morning, Wednesday, 16th June this year, at about 7 o'clock you left home to go to school.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Leaving Hector behind.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
And at about 8 a.m. you joined the other girls in your school for prayers at the school.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
And prayers were held as usual just outside your school.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
And the attendance was as usual?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Up to that stage were you aware of any trouble or commotion?
Musi:
No, I had not.
Yutar:
Or aware of any trouble that was to break out that day?
Musi:
No, not aware of any.
Yutar:
Will you tell His Lordship what happened whilst you were saying your prayers with the other school children? Did anybody arrive on the scene?
Musi:
Whilst praying, I heard a noise as though it was that of an aeroplane. Thereafter I saw a group of children carrying placards. Because we knew nothing, they came with placards singing. We then moved backwards. They then asked us to join them and we were surprised why we should join them. Some of the school children refused to join this group of children. They then forced us to join them. The principal got out of his office and told us not to join that group. They then terrified the principal; he immediately ran into his office. We then joined the group and moved away with them.
Yutar:
Now up to that stage I want to ask you a few questions. The children that came there, who were they?
Musi:
They were children coming from the Morris Isaacson School.
Yutar:
Boys only or girls or both?
Musi:
Boys and girls.
Yutar:
Now you say you heard the noise what appeared to be an aeroplane. What in fact was the noise?
Musi:
I later on realised that it was the noise made by this group of children.
Yutar:
What kind of noise were they making?
Musi:
Singing, talking aloud, mixed up as though when people are in a hall. The noise one hears when people are in a hall.
Yutar:
When they came and spoke to you, who did the speaking; when they asked you to join with them, who did the speaking?
Musi:
They were all speaking.
Yutar:
And asking you to join with them?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Were there any of your class afraid in any way?
Musi:
Yes, almost the whole school.
Yutar:
And did you all remain there or did you go anywhere?
Musi:
We went to the office.
Yutar:
You went inside the school to the office of the principal?
Musi:
We went straight into the office.
Yutar:
Did any of the children go to their classrooms?
Musi:
I cannot say.
Yutar:
You told us the principal came out.
Musi:
No, he did not.
Yutar:
Oh, what did he do then?
Musi:
When they had terrified him, he ran into his office.
Chairman:
When they terrified him, was he outside, when he spoke to you?—He was with us outside.
Yutar:
He was with you outside. And you say he was terrified and ran inside?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Then did the children follow him?
Musi:
Some of them followed him.
Yutar:
And the others?
Musi:
Some joined the group and the others remained standing there, others followed him.
Yutar:
What was the attitude of the children from the Morris Isaacson School when they asked you and the others to join them?
Musi:
They looked happy.
Yutar:
What made the principal afraid then?
Musi:
Because he refused to join us to join them and then they told him that he is not a scholar but a principal and they terrified him, thus he ran away.
Yutar:
In what way did they terrify him?
Musi:
As our principal, we usually call him our father. Then they told him that they will assault him.
Yutar:
Now you and others of your class joined those from the Morris Isaacson School?
Musi:
Yes, from the office we then joined them.
Yutar:
Why did you join them?
Musi:
They had promised to assault us too.
Yutar:
Well, promise is hardly the word; they threatened I should imagine.
Musi:
Each time when they say one standing, they would grab him and tell that particular individual to come out and join them.
Yutar:
Were you happy to join them?
Musi:
No.
Yutar:
You personally how did you feel about it?
Musi:
I was surprised and I did not know exactly what to do.
Yutar:
Now, will you carry on and tell His Lordship what happened from the time you and others joined up with those scholars from the Morris Isaacson School?
Musi:
The schools in that particular area aer next to each other. We then left our school and went to Ishetsepeng School.
Yutar:
Where Hector was a pupil?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Right. Carry on and tell us what happened then?
Musi:
When we arrived at that school I found the school children there already outside. They also joined us.
Yutar:
Voluntarily?
Musi:
I do not know. There were quite a lot of us. How they joined us I cannot say.
Yutar:
Did anybody speak to them, make any request to them?
Musi:
I do not know.
Yutar:
Then what happened?
Musi:
There are several schools in that vicinity and I do not know the names of those schools. We went to Phefeni to a school, I am not sure of the name of the Orlando High School or not. We then stood there. I do not know what the rest of the children did.
Yutar:
Now when you were marching to the various schools, who led the march?
Musi:
I did not see anybody leading.
Yutar:
But now where were the children from the Morris Isaacson School? Where were they?
Musi:
We were together with them.
Yutar:
I know, but alongside them, were you in front of them, behind them? Where?
Musi:
We were all mixed up, different uniforms; I cannot tell the Court where actually they were.
Yutar:
What happened when you got to the Orlando High School?
Musi:
All I can remember is we were in the school yard. There was also a photographer there. He was then busy taking snaps whilst the other children were carrying placards.
[…]
Musi:
I then saw a convoy of police vehicles. It is then that I left.
Yutar:
Before the convoy of police arrived, were there any motorists in the vicinity?
Musi:
I did not see them.
Yutar:
Any motor cars driven by Black people?
Musi:
I do not know.
Yutar:
Did you see anybody give the sign of "Black Power"?
Musi:
There were quite a lot of them giving that sign.
Yutar:
To whom?
Musi:
They were just lifting their fists in the air to anybody.
Yutar:
Where were they doing it exactly?
Musi:
While we were marching to that school on the road.
Yutar:
On the road?
Musi:
On the road.
Yutar:
Whilst you were walking did you see any motor cars going in any direction?
Musi:
Yes, there were cars moving, going in an opposite direction towards the location.
Yutar:
Were these cars stopped in any way?
Musi:
Yes, cars which were coming ahead of us were being stopped.
Yutar:
By whom?
Musi:
The majority were the boys stopping these cars.
Yutar:
And in what way did they stop the cars?
Musi:
They would lift up their hands with their fists and command the driver of the car to also do the same sign.
Yutar:
Did they?
Musi:
Some did, others not.
Yutar:
Now those that returned the sign, were they allowed to pass?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Those who did not return the sign, what happened to them?
Musi:
Some of the school children would tell the others that they should leave them to go and the others would say they must be assaulted, talking amongst each other, these scholars.
Yutar:
Of those who did not give the sign, were any of them in your presence assaulted?
Musi:
No, I did not see any being assaulted.
Yutar:
Did anything happen to their cars?
Musi:
No, I saw nothing happening to their cars.
Yutar:
Now you say that as you were marching at a certain stage, you saw a convoy of police?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Now again I leave you on your own to tell the Court in your own words what you saw.
Musi:
When I saw the convoy of the police, I then decided to go home, but thereafter I went to hide myself somewhere.
Yutar:
About what time was it that you first saw the convoy?
Musi:
I am not quite sure of the time; approximately 10:
30.
Yutar:
And where exactly did you go?
Musi:
Unknown house to me where I went to hide myself.
Yutar:
And you remained in hiding?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
And whilst so hiding did anybody else come to the house?
Musi:
No.
Yutar:
Did you then see Hector at any stage?
Musi:
I was of the opinion that I was the only person who had taken a hiding place. The houses in that area are in a line. I saw a lot of children coming out of those houses who had probably hidden themselves there.
Yutar:
Right.
Musi:
I saw Hector emerging froma certain corner, there is a church building in that vicinity where I saw him.
Yutar:
You saw him emerging?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Was he alone?
Musi:
Mixed up with other children.
Yutar:
Did you speak to him?
Musi:
I called him.
Yutar:
Yes?
Musi:
I then asked him not to go away but stand in front of me.
Yutar:
To remain with you?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Did he?
Musi:
He was there for a short while. Thereafter I could not see him any more.
Yutar:
Did you search for him?
Musi:
I did. I did search for him.
Yutar:
Did you find him?
Musi:
No, I did not.
Yutar:
Then what happened?
Musi:
I stood there amazed. Thereafter I saw a group of young boys coming along. It was then that I realised that Hector was being carried by these boys.
Yutar:
Did you go to him?
Musi:
I did.
Yutar:
And tell us what happened.
Musi:
One schoolboy carried him to the Phefeni Clinic. I then followed them.
Yutar:
Now you say this one who was carrying him to the clinic, was he a schoolboy?
Musi:
I cannot say because he was not dressed in uniform.
Yutar:
How old would you think he had been?
Musi:
Approximately 19 or 20 years.
Yutar:
And he took him to the clinic?
Musi:
Meanwhile on the way to the clinic, we came across a vehicle. A Bantu female, Sophie, I think she is round about here, she then got off and then suggested that she would take Hector to the clinic.
Yutar:
Let us get this straight. Hector was being taken by the Bantu man to the clinic. Did you go with?
Musi:
Yes, I did.
Yutar:
Then a vehicle arrived on the scene and in this vehicle was this Bantu woman?
Musi:
Yes, and another Bantu male in the car.
Yutar:
Right. Now is this Sophie Tema that you saw outside in Mr. Hlungwani's office?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
A reporter on the newspaper called The World.
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
And what happened then?
Musi:
We then went to the clinic by that car.
Yutar:
On whose instructions?
Musi:
Sophie.
Yutar:
What were her instructions?
Musi:
She said that Hector must be carried to the clinic by this car, but she did not go along with us.
Yutar:
She said that he should be conveyed, not carried—conveyed in the vehicle to the clinic, but she did not go with?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Who all went with?
Musi:
Myself, Hector, the unknown Bantu man who was the driver and another one unknown to me.
Yutar:
And who else?
Musi:
We were only four.
Yutar:
Two unknown people, Hector and yourself?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Did you speak to Hector?
Musi:
I called him by his name; he did not answer.
Yutar:
Was he wounded?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Did you see any blood?
Musi:
Yes, I did.
Yutar:
Where?
Musi:
Coming out through the mouth and blood on the neck.
Yutar:
On arrival at the clinic, did any doctors arrive or come to the car?
Musi:
Yes, two doctors, European doctors came.
Yutar:
What did they do?
Musi:
Carried out of the car and carried to the clinic.
Yutar:
Did you follow?
Musi:
I stood outside.
Yutar:
And then?
Musi:
Meanwhile I was outside, there came a Bantu nurse who called me and directed me where to go. That is where I found the doctor inside. He asked me the name of Hector and told me that I will be a witness.
Yutar:
Did he tell you what the condition of Hector was?
Musi:
No.
Yutar:
When did you first hear and from whom that Hector had died?
Musi:
I heard the doctor while I was still there, mention the word "mortuary" and I realised then that he had passed away.
Yutar:
What did you do then?
Musi:
There came two lady teachers who told me that they will try and obtain transport for me to go home.
Yutar:
Did they?
Musi:
Yes, I went home with them.
Yutar:
Did you see this Sophie Tema again? Or Sophia Tema.
Musi:
I saw her again when she had arrived at the clinic. I do not know when she arrived there.
[…]
Yutar:
Did you speak to her again?
Musi:
No, I did not.
Yutar:
One last aspect. At school you were taught in what language medium?
Musi:
Geography and History are being taught in Afrikaans.
Yutar:
The other subjects?
Musi:
In English.
Yutar:
You personally, how do you feel about the use of the two languages as a medium of instruction?
Musi:
I am used to it, I see no mistake about it.
Yutar:
Are you able to manage?
Musi:
Yes, I was.
Yutar:
Do you have any objection to it at all?
Musi:
I have no objection.
Yutar:
Are you bilingual?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
But if you did express a preference, would you have liked to haven taught Geography in any other language? English or Afrikaans, what do you prefer?
Musi:
I think it is better if I am being taught it in English.
Yutar:
You think it would be better if you were taught Geography in English?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
Why do you say that?
Musi:
I know English for quite a long time and Afrikaans has certain words which are rather too difficult for me.
Yutar:
Can you manage History in Afrikaans?
Musi:
Yes, I do manage.
Yutar:
What is the attitude of the other children in your class in regard to the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in History and Geography?
Musi:
Some say that they are quite used to Afrikaans, more especially with the subjects in which Afrikaans in being taught and others say it is better that we must have a change-over to English.
Yutar:
For how long had you been taught in these two subjects in Afrikaans? For how long?
Musi:
It is only this year that History and Geography are taught in Afrikaans.
Chairman:
Since the beginning of this year?
Musi:
Yes.
Yutar:
One final question. Were your teachers competent to teach in both English and Afrikaans?
Musi:
Some are competent, others not.
Yutar:
Did you see any of them making use of dictionaries in order to teach in Afrikaans?
Musi:
Yes, in most cases when there is a difficult word, we and the teacher we appeal to our dictionaries.
[break]
Chairman:
Last year were you in Form One?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
In the same school?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
In what medium did you have History and Geography?
Musi:
Afrikaans.
Chairman:
Last year, not this year.
Musi:
Last year and this year medium Afrikaans.
Chairman:
Before last year did you have any subjects in the medium of Afrikaans?
Musi:
No, there were none.
Chairman:
Do you know whether Hector had any subjects in the medium of Afrikaans?
Musi:
I do not know.
Chairman:
Did you hear discussions of students not about whether they can manage, but whether they wanted or liked the idea of having certain subjects through a different medium other than English?
Musi:
The majority prefer English.
Chairman:
What is your home language?
Musi:
Tswana.
Chairman:
Would you say that the other children at your school, were there more speaking Tswana language than any other language?
Musi:
I am the only pupil in that school speaking Tswana. The others are Sotho-speaking.
Chairman:
Your teachers, do you know what—first of all let me ask you this: were you taught any subjects in Sotho?
Musi:
Do you mean while attending school?
Chairman:
Yes.
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
And this year what were you taught in Sotho?
Musi:
We were taught Sotho in Sotho language.
Chairman:
Well, that was one of your subjects, Sotho was one of your subjects. Is that right?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
That you were taught through the medium of Sotho.
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
Your other subjects—English you were taught through the medium of English?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
Were you taught Afrikaans? As a subject?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
Through the medium of Afrikaans?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
Then two subjects you were taught through Afrikaans medium, that is History and Geography?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
Did you have any other subjects?
Musi:
Science… Through the medium of English.
Chairman:
Mathematics?
Musi:
Also in English.
Chairman:
Any other subject that you were taught in high school?
Musi:
No other subject.
Chairman:
Can you still remember when you were in the primary school, were you taught any subjects through the medium of Sotho?
Musi:
Yes, once I was in Standard 3, Science and Arithmetic, Geography in Sotho.
Chairman:
And was English used as a medium in any subject?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
Do you remember which subject?
Musi:
English itself was a subject.
Chairman:
Were there any subjects that you were taught through medium English? You have mentioned the subjects now which you are now taught through English medium, you were in Standard 3 taught through the medium of Sotho, that is Science and Arithmetic.
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
What was the position with History and Geography in Standard 3?
Musi:
Medium of Sotho.
Chairman:
Do you know where your teachers came from, I am more interested in your—do you know where our teachers came from, where they had been to the training schools?
Musi:
Come from Wilberforce.
Chairman:
Where is that?
Musi:
I do not know. I got to know about that whenever there was a new teacher arriving in our school, when they introduced him to us, that he comes from such and such a place.
Chairman:
From your experience do you know whether the teachers who had to teach you in Geography and History, do you know whether they could speak Afrikaans ordinarily?
Musi:
Some know how to teach both those languages in English only and others in Afrikaans.
Chairman:
Some in English only you say?
Musi:
In English only.
Chairman:
Did they ever tell you that they find it difficult to speak in Afrikaans or to teach you in Afrikaans?
Musi:
Yes, they used to tell us that they are unable to teach us in Afrikaans.
[…]
Chairman:
I want to go now to the time when the other children arrived at your school while you were having prayers.
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
You say they had placards. Can you remember what was said on the placards?
Musi:
"Away with Afrikaans."
Chairman:
What else?
Musi:
Some was written "Afrikaans is Boere taal—ons is nie Boere nie." I cannot remember what was on the rest of these placards.
Chairman:
Do you remember that later on you saw some more students joining you. Did they have placards?
Musi:
No, those who had placards are those who came to our school.
Chairman:
Did you have any placards at your school ready for this march?
Musi:
No.
Chairman:
Do you know whether at Hector's school they had any?
Musi:
I do not know.
Chairman:
Can you recall, was there any meeting of students before the 16th, before this day that he got shot?
Musi:
I do not know.
Chairman:
No meeting of students or scholars that you attended?
Musi:
Not in our school, I never attended a meeting there.
Chairman:
What did they give as a reason or why did they say you had to join them?
Musi:
They gave no reason.
Chairman:
But didn't they say what they were going to do?
Musi:
They merely said we must just read the placards.
Chairman:
Were there many placards, or just a few?
Musi:
I cannot say whether there were many or few.
Chairman:
But you saw them, you were there; can't you remember?
Musi:
There were many of us and we were not confined to one place. Some were moving this way and others that way.
Chairman:
Did you hide in the place where you were, alone?
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
And just try to think when you saw the photographer taking photographs.
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
He took photographs of children carrying placards.
Musi:
Yes.
Chairman:
Can you remember what there was on those placards?
Musi:
No, I cannot remember.
Chairman:
While you were hiding did you hear any noises outside?
Musi:
No, I did not.
Chairman:
Did you hear the reports of firearms being fired?
Musi:
The school children were making a noise.
Chairman:
You could not hear anything else?
Musi:
I could not hear anything else.
Chairman:
Were they shouting anything that you could hear?
Musi:
I could hear others exclaiming that something was being poured on us and they said they did not know what it was.
Chairman:
Being poured on us?
Musi:
Being poured on them.
Chairman:
Was that something that made them cry?
Musi:
They said it was something whitish, they did not know what it was.
Chairman:
Did you see that white thing or white stuff?
Musi:
No, I did not see.
Chairman:
Did you see any older people amongst the students there or at any other time, that is people who were not students at the school, men or women?
Musi:
Meanwhile when I had gone to take hiding I saw a few women outside the yard.
Chairman:
Were they mixing with the children?
Musi:
They were standing in a yard.
Chairman:
Did you see any policemen on the ground, standing, not in vehicle?
Musi:
No, I did not.
Chairman:
Did you see any dogs?
Musi:
No.
Source: Antoinette Musi, testimony, 21 September 1976, SAB K345, vol. 139, file 2/3, part 1.
