Langa (B 16)

Name: Langa

Langa, the sun, was created in 1901 in the wake of the Bubonic Plague where over 500 Africans, identified as a ‘health hazard’, were resettled in Langa, which became the first black township in the Cape. It was to make history in 1960 when over 50 000 people burnt their pass books in defiance of the pass laws, and again in 1976 when students protested against using Afrikaans as a compulsory first Language in all schools.

More: http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/langa.php

Happening:
Mr Chairman I now proceed to read the contents of the affidavit of Vusumzi Samuel Ntamo.

"1. I, the undersigned Vusumzi Samuel Ntamo do hereby make oath and state that I am 25 years old and currently serving an 18 year sentence at the Helderstroom Prison for the murder of Amy Biehl.

2. The facts to which I depose are true and correct and within my personal knowledge unless the context indicates otherwise.

3. I am an ordinary member of the PAC, and a supporter of the Pan African Students Organisation commonly known as PASO, and the Azanian Peoples' liberation Army, commonly known as APLA.

4. I turned 22 on 25 August 1993 the day on which Amy Biehl was killed.

5. I only attended school up to standard 4. I have a very low intelligence quotient and I would regard myself as mentally backwards. I was referred for observation at Pollsmoor Hospital during the criminal trial in 1994 for 30 days. I think I do suffer from some mental incapacity. I am not able to properly articulate any political ideology or motivation for my conduct. I am sure, however, given my limited mental capabilities that I am a firm supporter of the Pan African Congress, PASO and APLA.

I have always been a follower and it is in this way that I followed some of my comrades including Mongezi Christopher Manqina into joining the PAC. I have always attended PAC and PASO meetings, rallies and marches. I am not a member of PASO only because I was not a bona fide student.

I confirm that I attended the launch of the Langa High unit of PASO at the Langa High School on 25 August 1993. I attended the meeting together with Manqina. I grew up together with Manqina in Langa and we have been friends for years. I only got to know Nofemela during the criminal trial. And I got to know Peni subsequently after he was convicted and sentenced.

I remember that a lot of political speeches were made at the meeting on 25 August 1993, and that we were toyi-toying and chanting political slogans like One Settler, one bullet, throughout the meeting and after the meeting.

I did not understand much of what was being said during these speeches, but I remember that I was highly motivated during the meeting and after we left the meeting.

The affidavit of Ntombeko Ambrose Peni has been read and explained to me and I confirm the contents thereof insofar as it relates to me and what happened at the re-launch of the Langa High unit of PASO.

In particular I confirm that along Vanguard Drive we had stoned a truck and tried to burn it when the police arrived on the scene, fired shots at us, and we split into two groups. I was in the group with Manqina which ran towards the Langa Station. We were in a group of between 50 and 60 people.

When we got to the Langa Station we had to wait for quite a while before we could board a train because someone had allegedly taken a gun from a policeman and that is why the train was delayed.

When the Khayelitsha train came we changed platforms and boarded that train and got off at Heideveld Station. We got there just before 5 p.m.

9. Whilst in the group and walking along NY110 towards NY1 we were chanting, dancing and singing. At the corner of NY1 and NY132 we saw a truck and threw stones at the truck. At this time Manqina was standing and talking to a girl whose name I do not know. I threw stones at the truck. A car came behind the truck and we also stoned this car.

I now know that Amy Biehl was in this car. I was part of the group that threw many stones at the car. When the car stopped Amy Biehl got out of the car and ran towards the garage. As she ran towards the garage and she was on the grass verge Manqina tripped her and she fell. I saw Manqina stab her with a knife. About seven or eight others also had knives and were stabbing at her.

I, together with others, threw stones at her. I threw many stones at her head from a distance of approximately one metre away. I only stopped when the police approached and the others were running away.

10. Even after Manqina had stabbed Amy I still threw stones at her, at least another four or five stones. I threw stones at her because she was a Settler.

11. I have applied for amnesty in terms of Section 18 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, Act no.34 of 1995 because the act which I committed that day was associated with a political objective committed in the course of the conflicts of the past.

I was highly politically motivated that day and I did what other PASO people around me were doing.

http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/amntrans/capetown/capetown_biehl02.htm

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Other interesting info:

"The black township of Langa had houses like ‘railway carriages’ and generally poor conditions but Langa High had a proud tradition as the foremost school for black students in the Western Cape, for sporting achievements and for producing leaders."
Mr 'Cappy' Mathemba Ndlumbini
Langa High School in the lead



Langa Railway Station: http://granbuild.com/project16.php




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