Civil-rights movement Khulumani Support Group says it wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to acknowledge its members as victims of apartheid and to facilitate payment of reparations for their suffering.
The group of 150 elders mostly women have been camping at the doorsteps of the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein for two months demanding compensation for human rights violations perpetrated against them by the apartheid regime.
54-year-old Group Organizer Noma-Russia Botane told Newsnote on Tuesday that the government has so far avoided dealing with their demands.
“For years we’ve been pushing to get someone to give us answers but no one wants to take accountability, first it was Gauteng Premier [then premier David Makhura], we slept outside his office without success. We were sent to the department of correctional services which then sent us to the presidency.
“The office of the president told us it is the Department of Justice together with the Parliament that needs to see us,” she said.
Botane said Minister Ronald Lamola visited them early this year when they first picketed at the Constitutional Court but it was a fruitless visit because he later sent his spokesperson to tell us we should head to Parliament.
Botane narrated her history and what led her to be an activist for this group of women.
“My mother was a domestic worker and she visited my father in Carletonville who was a mine worker and she was eight months pregnant with me.
“The police who were raiding the area and demanded papers, instead of arresting her raped her and led to what everyone thought was a miscarriages,” she said.
Her brother Khulekani was also killed in the early 1990’s during the days leading up to the death of former struggle stalwart Chris Hani.
“It was a dangerous time when Chris Hani was killed. He wasn’t the only one, many people died. Some were killed at memorial services and funerals of those who were just killed and some women were raped and adducted to other countries and never came back,” she said.
Another protestor Ntombekhaya Lolo (57) said she was beaten by police when she was 20, got crippled and doctors told her she will never be able to give birth.
“I’ve used the same crutches for 15 years after I was beaten by police when I was 20. At first I thought I was fine. Years later doctors told me I can’t walk without crutches and won’t be able to fall pregnant,” Lolo said.
“A lot of us are going through worse here, some are sick, some still have bullets in their bodies. But we continued to sleep in this cold cement, she said, adding that they are expecting compensation of R1.5 million per person.
“The compensation we are looking at is in the region of R1.5 million and R250 000 for all the troubles we went through trying to get this money.”
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi who visited the victims conceded that the government has failed to address their concerns.
Lesufi said the issues raised by the group are valid and called on the national government to deal with the matter..
“We owe these people an explanation and support in terms of sanitation, food and water and temporary shelter. But the long-term goal is that the national leadership of the government must come and address some of these issues which are genuine.
“They are just requesting that the deadline of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission must be reopened, and their pleas taken into consideration and accommodated, “he said.
Lesufi said the protestors fought for freedom but didn’t enjoy the fruits of it.
“They must find solace that we fought for freedom with them. These are the people we know that some of their families were hanged, some of them we don’t know where they are, we can’t account for them, this is a sad story.
“In the interim as the Gauteng Provincial Government, we will continue to support this group. This group is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and our team is doing the administrative work to ensure that their campaign is consistent, as well as funds which will allow them to wage this important battle. I am also bringing a mobile clinic for those who might need medical assistance as we have elderly people here.”
