Name:Trapper's Valley
EASTERN CAPE COMMUNITIES POUR THEIR HEARTS OUT TO GOVERNMENT
People in Makana and Ndlambe municipality areas this week poured their hearts out to the Eastern Cape political leadership about community issues that impact on their livelihoods, leading the realisation of interactive governance through the Outreach Programme.
Makhenkesi Stofile with his entire Executive Council, in its totality for the first time since the acquittal of Health MEC, Dr Bevan Goqwana from fraud charges, met an estimated 10 000 people in various community, stakeholder, public meetings and visits to projects.
In the Ndlambe Municipality coastal area, the executive heard about the depressing effect of the legislation banning vehicles from beaches in the economy of towns like Port Alfred and Bokness. Residents told Premier Makhenkesi Stofile and Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Enoch Godongwana (in separate meetings), that there should be no blanket application of laws that govern access to the use of beaches. "For the Eastern Cape there should be central control in Bisho," they said. Businessmen told Mr Godongwana that since the introduction of the legislation their sales for 4X4s had dwindled and revenue generated from servicing and fuel drastically affected.
The communities moved on to request that amendments be made to the legislation since "indeed there was a need to have control measures for beaches". MEC Godongwana concurred that strict measures were needed for beaches to ensure that the environment was protected to be enjoyed by all of the country's generations, even though he expressed concern about the constitutionality of having different rules governing in one country.
Like the Premier, MEC Godongwana agreed that the community in the Ndlambe coastal area needed to draw up a discussion document on ways to deal with the situation. He instructed the community to make inputs around the issue and set the ball rolling. "Where we need to entertain an argument from is an environment which says ye we have started from the extreme," he said, "In that case we may have to look into some of the proposals that are emerging. But what I want to argue is that we need to agree that we need strict regulations and we may need to look at certain exemptions on those regulations." Perlemoen poaching is among concerns that were raised. It was said banning of vehicles at beaches further compounded the problem as it restrained patrols.
Further inland Ndlambe communities complained about absence of job opportunities, lack of government support for farming projects, availability of water, veterinarian services and poor state of roads. Agriculture and Land Affairs MEC, Max Mamase, had no praises for the majority of black emerging farmers, accusing them of tardiness and waiting for government to do everything for them. He consequently called on them to form partnerships with their white counterparts to ensure that rich agricultural land did not lie fallow. "People should apply their minds to farming to play it by heart. There are people who boast about having voted wanting government to do things for them," he said. "There is no responsible government that can spoon feed people."
On the other hand Education MEC, Stone Sizani heard about the plight of farm-school learners. School governing bodies in Trappers Valley, near Bathurst, told MEC Sizani how poverty influenced attendance in schools. Subsequent to the failure of feeding schemes parents were asked to make food donations, but given their poverty levels, they struggled to assist as well. Other concerns were non-availability of transport for learners, absence of electricity in farm schools, lack of opportunities for learners who passed matric, non-existent medical centres and school libraries.
MEC Sizani said the school-feeding scheme would resume on 22 July this year. He also committed the department to working with the Labour Department ensuring that farmers assisted their workers to sign forms for transport. "A problem with farmers is that they might refuse to assist, because that form requires that they divulge how much they pay their workers," he said. Coming to the issue of assisting learners who want to study beyond matric, he said they should produce good results to get access to the Eastern Cape provincial government bursary fund.
Enquiries: Mncedi Mgwigwi at 083 617 3840/ mgwigwi@yahoo.com
Issued by Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape
28 June 2002
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Touwsrivier (C 15)
Name: Touwsrivier
In 1877 a railway station was built here and named Montagu Road. In 1883 the name was changed to Touwsriver. It became a municipality in 1962.
The expanding Kimberley Diamond Boom in the early 1870's made it essential for the Cape government to secure a rail link to the north. An obstacle to achieving this was the lack of a suitable route folded belt mountains of the Cape.
After an earlier failed attempt to locate a route, the Hex River Pass route was re-examined in 1874. The appointed engineer, Wells Hood, under the instruction of the railway engineer Thomas Brounger, found a potential route which snaked up 2,353ft (735m) from Worcester to the top of the Karoo mountains east of the Hex River Valley, with gradients no more than 1:40 (which is very steep by modern standards). In addition, he proposed that a short tunnel would be required.
Thomas Brounger's route through the Hex River Pass was selected by 1876 with the line to follow the route from Worcester through De Doorns, Touws River, Matjiesfontein and on to Beaufort West.
As with most early railway lines in the country, the route served an important role in the development of these Karoo towns.
The then standard wide gauge track of 4'8" could not be accommodated economically on the tight bends of the Hex River Pass. A decision was thus made by the Cape Government to install the track at 3'6". Subsequently a decision was taken to convert all tracks to the Cape Gauge of 3'6". In further efforts to construct the pass cheaply and quickly, sleepers were laid on the ground without ballast in certain areas and had to be corrected later. The maximum possible gradient and tightest curves were used to avoid extra work and expense. Between 600 and 1000 English "Navies" were brought out to work on the construction of the line under Brounger and his railway contractor, Pauling. High wages has to be paid to these English labourers who specialised in road and rail construction. Construction of the pass went extremely smoothly. The route was prepared, cut and filled well in advance of rail being laid. Permanent way materials were transported on a construction locomotive. Empty trucks, returning to Worcester, were used by locals as a convenient means to transport produce from the more remote mountain farms into town.
Despite its quick and cheap construction the pass served for over 100 years. It was the starting point of the country's first railway line to the Rand and opened the way for Rhodes' colonization thrust into central Southern Africa.
Google count:Date:Historic fact:Other interesting info:Where to stay:
In 1877 a railway station was built here and named Montagu Road. In 1883 the name was changed to Touwsriver. It became a municipality in 1962.
The expanding Kimberley Diamond Boom in the early 1870's made it essential for the Cape government to secure a rail link to the north. An obstacle to achieving this was the lack of a suitable route folded belt mountains of the Cape.
After an earlier failed attempt to locate a route, the Hex River Pass route was re-examined in 1874. The appointed engineer, Wells Hood, under the instruction of the railway engineer Thomas Brounger, found a potential route which snaked up 2,353ft (735m) from Worcester to the top of the Karoo mountains east of the Hex River Valley, with gradients no more than 1:40 (which is very steep by modern standards). In addition, he proposed that a short tunnel would be required.
Thomas Brounger's route through the Hex River Pass was selected by 1876 with the line to follow the route from Worcester through De Doorns, Touws River, Matjiesfontein and on to Beaufort West.
As with most early railway lines in the country, the route served an important role in the development of these Karoo towns.
The then standard wide gauge track of 4'8" could not be accommodated economically on the tight bends of the Hex River Pass. A decision was thus made by the Cape Government to install the track at 3'6". Subsequently a decision was taken to convert all tracks to the Cape Gauge of 3'6". In further efforts to construct the pass cheaply and quickly, sleepers were laid on the ground without ballast in certain areas and had to be corrected later. The maximum possible gradient and tightest curves were used to avoid extra work and expense. Between 600 and 1000 English "Navies" were brought out to work on the construction of the line under Brounger and his railway contractor, Pauling. High wages has to be paid to these English labourers who specialised in road and rail construction. Construction of the pass went extremely smoothly. The route was prepared, cut and filled well in advance of rail being laid. Permanent way materials were transported on a construction locomotive. Empty trucks, returning to Worcester, were used by locals as a convenient means to transport produce from the more remote mountain farms into town.
Despite its quick and cheap construction the pass served for over 100 years. It was the starting point of the country's first railway line to the Rand and opened the way for Rhodes' colonization thrust into central Southern Africa.
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Tooronga (G 9)
Name:Tooronga
Origins of Cleveland
There's some dispute as to how the suburb got its name, and at times in its early days, it was even referred to as "Tooronga". Anna Smith in her Johannesburg Street Names gives several possibilities.
It could have been named after American president Stephen Grover Cleveland, in office from 1885 to 1889 (and again from 1893 to 1897). An American engineer, Harry Cleveland Perkins, could possibly have given his middle name to the suburb.
Mine manager WT Hallimond could have offered the name based on Cleveland College in Darlington, England, where he was educated. He was mine manager from 1888 until around 1911. The nearby Yorkshire Cleveland Hills is another possibility.
But the most likely possibility is that an Australian, Florence Richards, who owned the land and in 1907 applied for permission to lay out the township of Cleveland, named the suburb after a street in her home town of Melbourne. It seems that at first the names Cleveland and Tooronga (also a street in Melbourne) were used interchangeably. Tooronga was dropped at some stage, and given to one of the streets in the suburb. Several of the other street names have an Australian connection - Myrnong, another street in Melbourne, and Dandenong, a town in Victoria.
Joburg's first police station
Johannesburg's first police station was in Kort Street, between Market and Commissioner Streets, according to Anna Smith in Johannesburg Firsts. This site was used in the 1890s to build the Gaiety Theatre which was demolished in 1972.
The barracks for the officers were at the bottom of Market Square, while the barracks for the mounted police were in Kazerne in Bree Street, west of the CBD.
Soon after this a police station was built in 1887 in Bree Street, on the corner of Simmonds Street. A police station still stands on this site, but it is believed to be a slightly later building, now used as a photo shop. The present building is old although no date is available for its construction. It retains its thick walls and tall ceilings, and its façade is striking in red and white.
http://www.joburgnews.co.za/2003/feb/feb4_police.stm
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Origins of Cleveland
There's some dispute as to how the suburb got its name, and at times in its early days, it was even referred to as "Tooronga". Anna Smith in her Johannesburg Street Names gives several possibilities.
It could have been named after American president Stephen Grover Cleveland, in office from 1885 to 1889 (and again from 1893 to 1897). An American engineer, Harry Cleveland Perkins, could possibly have given his middle name to the suburb.
Mine manager WT Hallimond could have offered the name based on Cleveland College in Darlington, England, where he was educated. He was mine manager from 1888 until around 1911. The nearby Yorkshire Cleveland Hills is another possibility.
But the most likely possibility is that an Australian, Florence Richards, who owned the land and in 1907 applied for permission to lay out the township of Cleveland, named the suburb after a street in her home town of Melbourne. It seems that at first the names Cleveland and Tooronga (also a street in Melbourne) were used interchangeably. Tooronga was dropped at some stage, and given to one of the streets in the suburb. Several of the other street names have an Australian connection - Myrnong, another street in Melbourne, and Dandenong, a town in Victoria.
Joburg's first police station
Johannesburg's first police station was in Kort Street, between Market and Commissioner Streets, according to Anna Smith in Johannesburg Firsts. This site was used in the 1890s to build the Gaiety Theatre which was demolished in 1972.
The barracks for the officers were at the bottom of Market Square, while the barracks for the mounted police were in Kazerne in Bree Street, west of the CBD.
Soon after this a police station was built in 1887 in Bree Street, on the corner of Simmonds Street. A police station still stands on this site, but it is believed to be a slightly later building, now used as a photo shop. The present building is old although no date is available for its construction. It retains its thick walls and tall ceilings, and its façade is striking in red and white.
http://www.joburgnews.co.za/2003/feb/feb4_police.stm
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Tongaat (M 12)
Name: Tongaat
Tongaat is a sugarcane growing town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated on the banks of the Tongati River about 37 km north of Durban and 28 km south of Stanger. It now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban metropolitan area. Its population is predominantly people of Indian descent. Aesthetically English colonial but distinctly cosmopolitan in flavour, Tongaat, part of the Sugar Coast, now supports one of the largest sugar-producing districts in the world.
History
Tongaat was established in 1945 and its name was corrupted from the river's name, Tongati, the Zulu word for the Strychnos mackenii trees that flourish on its banks.
Commerce
The town is the centre for the Tongaat Hulett Sugar and the Moreland Molasses Companies. Maidstone Sugar Mill, one of the country's first mills, completed in 1850. Some original sugar-crushing methods are still employed.
Wikipedia
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Tongaat is a sugarcane growing town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated on the banks of the Tongati River about 37 km north of Durban and 28 km south of Stanger. It now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban metropolitan area. Its population is predominantly people of Indian descent. Aesthetically English colonial but distinctly cosmopolitan in flavour, Tongaat, part of the Sugar Coast, now supports one of the largest sugar-producing districts in the world.
History
Tongaat was established in 1945 and its name was corrupted from the river's name, Tongati, the Zulu word for the Strychnos mackenii trees that flourish on its banks.
Commerce
The town is the centre for the Tongaat Hulett Sugar and the Moreland Molasses Companies. Maidstone Sugar Mill, one of the country's first mills, completed in 1850. Some original sugar-crushing methods are still employed.
Wikipedia
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Toise (G 14)
Name: Toise
The Lutheran Church Society
Links have been established with the Lutheran Church Society locally as well as with its German counterpart which has already resulted in correspondence from Reverend Hirst Wagner in Germany. Reverend Wagner resided in South Africa between 1955 and 1976 during which time he acquired several heritage artefacts which he later sold and donated to the British Museum. The heritage artefacts back as far as 1850. The Society has forwarded a list to the Council of the ECPHRA listing a number of their buildings which have not yet been declared heritage structures, including:
• Lutheran Church Wartburg Mission at Toise River, founded in 1843
• Lutheran Church Liefeldt founded in 1856
• Lutheran Church Anders Mission at Mdizeni established in 1864
• Lutheran Church Kwa-Shushu, near Tamara Village, established in 1868
The Reverend Liefeldt of the Liefeldt church listed above was drowned tragically with his three daughters whilst crossing the Braunschweig and the first service ever held in the church he founded was their funeral service in Tshox (Mxaxo Location) and the place was renamed in his honour to Liefeldt Village. The incumbent Chairperson of the Council of the ECPHRA, Mr Monde Mkunqwana was in fact schooled in this very same church.
Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Authority http://www.ecphra.org.za/
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The Lutheran Church Society
Links have been established with the Lutheran Church Society locally as well as with its German counterpart which has already resulted in correspondence from Reverend Hirst Wagner in Germany. Reverend Wagner resided in South Africa between 1955 and 1976 during which time he acquired several heritage artefacts which he later sold and donated to the British Museum. The heritage artefacts back as far as 1850. The Society has forwarded a list to the Council of the ECPHRA listing a number of their buildings which have not yet been declared heritage structures, including:
• Lutheran Church Wartburg Mission at Toise River, founded in 1843
• Lutheran Church Liefeldt founded in 1856
• Lutheran Church Anders Mission at Mdizeni established in 1864
• Lutheran Church Kwa-Shushu, near Tamara Village, established in 1868
The Reverend Liefeldt of the Liefeldt church listed above was drowned tragically with his three daughters whilst crossing the Braunschweig and the first service ever held in the church he founded was their funeral service in Tshox (Mxaxo Location) and the place was renamed in his honour to Liefeldt Village. The incumbent Chairperson of the Council of the ECPHRA, Mr Monde Mkunqwana was in fact schooled in this very same church.
Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Authority http://www.ecphra.org.za/
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tica
Name:
Tica to Timbe ... Tica, Provincia de Sofala, -20.3888889, 33.8119444,
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Tica to Timbe ... Tica, Provincia de Sofala, -20.3888889, 33.8119444,
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Three Sisters (C 13)
Name: Three Sisters
The Three Sisters 'koppies' is an icon of the N1 and the Karoo.
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http://www.northerncape.org.za/getting_around/towns/Three%20Sisters/
The Three Sisters 'koppies' is an icon of the N1 and the Karoo.
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http://www.northerncape.org.za/getting_around/towns/Three%20Sisters/
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thornville (L 13)
Name: Thornville
Google count:Date:
Pentrich-Thornville-Richmond Branch Line
This branch formerly began at Thornville on the old main line between Pietermaritzburg and Umlaas Road. The main line section from Thornville and Umlaas Road has now been closed and uplifted, and the branch line now officially begins at Pentrich. Formerly 28 km in length, it is now 42 km in length.
The branch has a 1 in 24 ruling gradient. The maximum permissible wagon axle-load is 18.5 tons. The sharpest curve has a radius of 90 metres. Train loads are 350 tons for a single Class 35 diesel loco and, in normal circumstances, up to two are used on trains.
Opened in 1897, the branch was the first of many agricultural development lines at the time. During 1925 the branch moved over 35,000 tons of traffic, consisting mainly of milk and butter, livestock, bacon and other general traffic. Today, over 95% of traffic is timber, but this traffic has dropped from over 40,000 tons in 2002/2003 to just 28,000 tons in 2005/2006. Part of the reason for this decline has to do with harvesting patterns in the timber industry.
If plantations being felled are near to the railway then it is an economic option. If, however, the plantations are further away, road transport becomes the preferred option. Since the road haul to the coast is relatively short and road freight vehicles are not adequately tolled for road use, the use of road transport is in the short-term interests of the industry but not necessarily in the country’s interest.
http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/public_trans/freight_databank/kzn/rail/freight_lines/branch_lines/9/index_xml.html
Patons Country Railway will take you with the Eshayamoya coaches and steam train ... SATURDAY - Depart from Creighton Station at 10-00 am and travel through ... are simple: >From Durban or Pmb. take the Thornville, Richmond, Ixopo road. ...
www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D... - Cached
Historic fact:
In its climb up from the coast, the line to Pietermaritzburg had the characteristics of a mountain railway with its ruling gradient of 1-in-30 and curves of 91 m radius. Although there were no great mountain passes to overcome, the topographical difficulties were nonetheless formidable. After an initial level start, the line gained 73 m in elevation in 45 km and reached its highest point between the Bay of Natal and Pietermaritzburg, 931 m above sea level, near Thornville Junction. It then descended 275 m in 17 km to the bridge over the Msunduze River. It is not surprising that in the 1880s the journey from Pietermaritzburg to Durban took 61 hours! The 453 m climb from Pietermaritzburg station to the top of the Town Hill was the most tortuous stretch of railway alignment on the entire Natal Main Line. For the most part this 18 km stretch was benched out of the hillsides on a 1-in-30 grade and abounded with so much curvature that it averaged 250 degrees per kilometre. It follows that trains negotiated this curving alignment at a snail's pace. The maximum safe speed on the best portions of the line was limited to 24 kilometres an hour with severe restrictions for crossing the Inchanga bridges.
http://www.pmbhistory.co.za/?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=24
Other interesting info:
Showing quite clearly the age of the Thornville line - 1965 was the last time the rail was laid
www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za/SLST_12.php
Where to stay:
Google count:Date:
Pentrich-Thornville-Richmond Branch Line
This branch formerly began at Thornville on the old main line between Pietermaritzburg and Umlaas Road. The main line section from Thornville and Umlaas Road has now been closed and uplifted, and the branch line now officially begins at Pentrich. Formerly 28 km in length, it is now 42 km in length.
The branch has a 1 in 24 ruling gradient. The maximum permissible wagon axle-load is 18.5 tons. The sharpest curve has a radius of 90 metres. Train loads are 350 tons for a single Class 35 diesel loco and, in normal circumstances, up to two are used on trains.
Opened in 1897, the branch was the first of many agricultural development lines at the time. During 1925 the branch moved over 35,000 tons of traffic, consisting mainly of milk and butter, livestock, bacon and other general traffic. Today, over 95% of traffic is timber, but this traffic has dropped from over 40,000 tons in 2002/2003 to just 28,000 tons in 2005/2006. Part of the reason for this decline has to do with harvesting patterns in the timber industry.
If plantations being felled are near to the railway then it is an economic option. If, however, the plantations are further away, road transport becomes the preferred option. Since the road haul to the coast is relatively short and road freight vehicles are not adequately tolled for road use, the use of road transport is in the short-term interests of the industry but not necessarily in the country’s interest.
http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/public_trans/freight_databank/kzn/rail/freight_lines/branch_lines/9/index_xml.html
Patons Country Railway will take you with the Eshayamoya coaches and steam train ... SATURDAY - Depart from Creighton Station at 10-00 am and travel through ... are simple: >From Durban or Pmb. take the Thornville, Richmond, Ixopo road. ...
www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D... - Cached
Historic fact:
In its climb up from the coast, the line to Pietermaritzburg had the characteristics of a mountain railway with its ruling gradient of 1-in-30 and curves of 91 m radius. Although there were no great mountain passes to overcome, the topographical difficulties were nonetheless formidable. After an initial level start, the line gained 73 m in elevation in 45 km and reached its highest point between the Bay of Natal and Pietermaritzburg, 931 m above sea level, near Thornville Junction. It then descended 275 m in 17 km to the bridge over the Msunduze River. It is not surprising that in the 1880s the journey from Pietermaritzburg to Durban took 61 hours! The 453 m climb from Pietermaritzburg station to the top of the Town Hill was the most tortuous stretch of railway alignment on the entire Natal Main Line. For the most part this 18 km stretch was benched out of the hillsides on a 1-in-30 grade and abounded with so much curvature that it averaged 250 degrees per kilometre. It follows that trains negotiated this curving alignment at a snail's pace. The maximum safe speed on the best portions of the line was limited to 24 kilometres an hour with severe restrictions for crossing the Inchanga bridges.
http://www.pmbhistory.co.za/?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=24
Other interesting info:
Showing quite clearly the age of the Thornville line - 1965 was the last time the rail was laid
www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za/SLST_12.php
Where to stay:
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thornton (B 16)
Name: Thornton
Thornton, one of Cape Town’s leafy Northern suburbs.
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Thornton, one of Cape Town’s leafy Northern suburbs.
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Sunday, April 18, 2010
Thornhill (F 16)
Name: Thornhill
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is the only province of South Africa to have all seven of its ecological zones within its boundaries. This gives the province a tremendous diversity of climates, allowing for a vast range of farming activities including; Dairy, Beef, chicken, small stock (sheep and goat), wool and mohair, game, fruit, citrus, vegetables, maize, cotton, flowers, fish, ostriches, horse, honey, fynbos, herbs, medicinal (Aloe) (Chas Everitt blurb)
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Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is the only province of South Africa to have all seven of its ecological zones within its boundaries. This gives the province a tremendous diversity of climates, allowing for a vast range of farming activities including; Dairy, Beef, chicken, small stock (sheep and goat), wool and mohair, game, fruit, citrus, vegetables, maize, cotton, flowers, fish, ostriches, horse, honey, fynbos, herbs, medicinal (Aloe) (Chas Everitt blurb)
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Thorngrove (E 14)
Name: Thorngrove
Just next to Slagtersnek in the Eastern Cape.
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Just next to Slagtersnek in the Eastern Cape.
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thomas Rivier (G 14)
Name: Thomas Rivier
Thomas River Concervancy, Eastern Cape South Africa - Accommodation in farmstays B&B
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Source: http://www.weg.co.za/files/pdf/Old_Thomas_rivier.pdf
1. Gaan soek rotskuns
Die Rotskunssentrum word bestuur deur
Victor Biggs. Sy metodes is miskien effens
onkonvensioneel (Victor gebruik waterstokke
om nuwe rotskuns te soek), en sy vertolkings
kan ’n paar wenkbroue laat lig, maar ’n uur
in sy geselskap is heerlik. Die binnekant van
die sentrum lyk nes ’n grot en Victor het ’n
paar kunswerke op die mure nagemaak wat
hy gebruik om die geskiedenis en geestelike
betekenis van rotskuns verduidelik. Jy kan
ook saam met Victor na regte rotskuns in die
Thomasrivierstreek gaan kyk.
Koste: ’n Donasie (jy besluit hoeveel) gee
jou toegang tot die sentrum.
’n Rotskunsuitstappie kos R50 per persoon
of ’n minimumtarief van R250
Kontak: 045 843 1369
2. Vang ’n forel
As jy van kunsvlieghengel hou, koop ’n permit
by die Ramble-restaurant en ry na die
Reigatedam op die Amatola-platorand. Maar
selfs al vang jy nie vis nie, gaan loer steeds. Op
’n mooi dag kan jy die suidelike Drakensberg
sien. Volg die sirkelroete uit die dorp na enige
kant toe. Wanneer dit lyk of jy nie nog nader
aan die berge kan kom nie, wees op die uitkyk
vir ’n afdraaibordjie. Ry deur die plaashek tot
bo. Ry liewer met ’n bakkie wat redelik hoog
van die grond af staan, want dis rof en steil.
Koste: R75 per dag vir forelhengel; R30 per
dag vir baarshengel
Kontak: John Potter 082 575 4923
3. Ry met ’n bergfiets na
die Keivallei
As jy met die N6 in die rigting van Stutterheim
ry, sien jy ná omtrent 2 km ’n bord wat links
wys na die Henderson-plaasdistrik. Dié
grondpad vat jou na ’n aansluiting met die
pad na Bacela, nog ’n vervalle nedersettinkie.
Hier begin die pret. Parkeer jou ryding by dié
aansluiting en klim op jou fiets. Die pad na
Bacela (25 km), al langs die Thomasrivier, loop
uiteindelik dood by ’n pragtige uitsig oor die
samevloeiing van die Thomas- en die Keirivier.
Die natuurskoon is iets besonders. Jy is in ’n
diep kloof vol doringbome, waar bobbejane
van die kranse af vir jou blaf. Besluit hoe ver jy
wil ry: die volle 50 km soontoe en terug, of net
halfpad. Die pad is plek-plek losgespoel, maar
dis nie te uitputtend nie.
Kontak: John Potter 082 575 4923
4. Bekyk die spoorwegbouvalle
Net meer as ’n kilometer wes van die
dorpie, reg langs die polisiekantoor sien jy
die klipbasis van die ou watertoring waar
stoomlokomotiewe vir water gestop het.
Aan die voet van die koppie kan jy die hoë
klippilare sien wat eens die treinbrug oor die
rivier gedra het. Die interessantste bouval is ’n
ou opsigterskothuis op ’n koppie langs die N6,
omtrent 5 km van die Ou Thomasrivier-afdraai
af in Cathcart se rigting. Die storie loop dat
die spook van die opsigter – Jono Trowbridge,
wie se graf langs die kothuis lê – langs die pad
rondhang en werk aanbied vir mense wat op
’n donker nag verbystap. Dis nogal moeilik om
die plek te kry. Gesels eerder met John Potter,
die Thomasrivier-bewaringsbestuurder.
Kontak: 082 575 4923
5. Kom smul op ’n Sondag
Op die eerste Sondag van elke maand is daar
’n buffetvoorsnytafel by die Ramble-restaurant.
Bespreek betyds, want dis ’n gunsteling
onder dagbesoekers van Oos-Londen. Kry
jou sit in die son en lê weg aan ’n bakkie
botterskorsiesop en oondgebraaide bees- en
varkvleis, aartappels soos net jou ouma dit
kon maak, allerlei slaaie en sponspoeding met
room. Moenie bekommerd wees as jy dalk in
die middel van die maand hier aanland nie; jy
kan ook heerlike à la carte-geregte bestel. Die
restaurant is oop vir aandete van Woensdae tot
Saterdae, en Sondae vir middagete.
Koste: R65 per persoon vir die buffet
Kontak: 045 843 1504
Doendinge op en om Thomasrivier Deur Jon Minster
4. Spoorwegbouvalle 3. Keivallei
1. Rotskuns
5. Ramble-restaurant
2. Vang 'n forel
4. Spoorwegbouvalle
Ou Thomas-rivier
2000m
Ca t h c a r t
N6
Ou Thomas-rivier
g r ui s
Toise
Granta
Thomasrivier
gr u is
Dohne
gru
Where to stay:
Thomas River Concervancy, Eastern Cape South Africa - Accommodation in farmstays B&B
Google count:
Date:
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
Source: http://www.weg.co.za/files/pdf/Old_Thomas_rivier.pdf
1. Gaan soek rotskuns
Die Rotskunssentrum word bestuur deur
Victor Biggs. Sy metodes is miskien effens
onkonvensioneel (Victor gebruik waterstokke
om nuwe rotskuns te soek), en sy vertolkings
kan ’n paar wenkbroue laat lig, maar ’n uur
in sy geselskap is heerlik. Die binnekant van
die sentrum lyk nes ’n grot en Victor het ’n
paar kunswerke op die mure nagemaak wat
hy gebruik om die geskiedenis en geestelike
betekenis van rotskuns verduidelik. Jy kan
ook saam met Victor na regte rotskuns in die
Thomasrivierstreek gaan kyk.
Koste: ’n Donasie (jy besluit hoeveel) gee
jou toegang tot die sentrum.
’n Rotskunsuitstappie kos R50 per persoon
of ’n minimumtarief van R250
Kontak: 045 843 1369
2. Vang ’n forel
As jy van kunsvlieghengel hou, koop ’n permit
by die Ramble-restaurant en ry na die
Reigatedam op die Amatola-platorand. Maar
selfs al vang jy nie vis nie, gaan loer steeds. Op
’n mooi dag kan jy die suidelike Drakensberg
sien. Volg die sirkelroete uit die dorp na enige
kant toe. Wanneer dit lyk of jy nie nog nader
aan die berge kan kom nie, wees op die uitkyk
vir ’n afdraaibordjie. Ry deur die plaashek tot
bo. Ry liewer met ’n bakkie wat redelik hoog
van die grond af staan, want dis rof en steil.
Koste: R75 per dag vir forelhengel; R30 per
dag vir baarshengel
Kontak: John Potter 082 575 4923
3. Ry met ’n bergfiets na
die Keivallei
As jy met die N6 in die rigting van Stutterheim
ry, sien jy ná omtrent 2 km ’n bord wat links
wys na die Henderson-plaasdistrik. Dié
grondpad vat jou na ’n aansluiting met die
pad na Bacela, nog ’n vervalle nedersettinkie.
Hier begin die pret. Parkeer jou ryding by dié
aansluiting en klim op jou fiets. Die pad na
Bacela (25 km), al langs die Thomasrivier, loop
uiteindelik dood by ’n pragtige uitsig oor die
samevloeiing van die Thomas- en die Keirivier.
Die natuurskoon is iets besonders. Jy is in ’n
diep kloof vol doringbome, waar bobbejane
van die kranse af vir jou blaf. Besluit hoe ver jy
wil ry: die volle 50 km soontoe en terug, of net
halfpad. Die pad is plek-plek losgespoel, maar
dis nie te uitputtend nie.
Kontak: John Potter 082 575 4923
4. Bekyk die spoorwegbouvalle
Net meer as ’n kilometer wes van die
dorpie, reg langs die polisiekantoor sien jy
die klipbasis van die ou watertoring waar
stoomlokomotiewe vir water gestop het.
Aan die voet van die koppie kan jy die hoë
klippilare sien wat eens die treinbrug oor die
rivier gedra het. Die interessantste bouval is ’n
ou opsigterskothuis op ’n koppie langs die N6,
omtrent 5 km van die Ou Thomasrivier-afdraai
af in Cathcart se rigting. Die storie loop dat
die spook van die opsigter – Jono Trowbridge,
wie se graf langs die kothuis lê – langs die pad
rondhang en werk aanbied vir mense wat op
’n donker nag verbystap. Dis nogal moeilik om
die plek te kry. Gesels eerder met John Potter,
die Thomasrivier-bewaringsbestuurder.
Kontak: 082 575 4923
5. Kom smul op ’n Sondag
Op die eerste Sondag van elke maand is daar
’n buffetvoorsnytafel by die Ramble-restaurant.
Bespreek betyds, want dis ’n gunsteling
onder dagbesoekers van Oos-Londen. Kry
jou sit in die son en lê weg aan ’n bakkie
botterskorsiesop en oondgebraaide bees- en
varkvleis, aartappels soos net jou ouma dit
kon maak, allerlei slaaie en sponspoeding met
room. Moenie bekommerd wees as jy dalk in
die middel van die maand hier aanland nie; jy
kan ook heerlike à la carte-geregte bestel. Die
restaurant is oop vir aandete van Woensdae tot
Saterdae, en Sondae vir middagete.
Koste: R65 per persoon vir die buffet
Kontak: 045 843 1504
Doendinge op en om Thomasrivier Deur Jon Minster
4. Spoorwegbouvalle 3. Keivallei
1. Rotskuns
5. Ramble-restaurant
2. Vang 'n forel
4. Spoorwegbouvalle
Ou Thomas-rivier
2000m
Ca t h c a r t
N6
Ou Thomas-rivier
g r ui s
Toise
Granta
Thomasrivier
gr u is
Dohne
gru
Where to stay:
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Theunissen (E 11)
Name: Theunissen
Theunissen - In the centre of the Free State, surrounded by rich agricultural land, lies the town of Theunissen. The Erfenis irrigation dam fed by the Vet River provides ample water for farming and good yellow fish and carp fishing. Two diamond mines in the district produce gem stones of fine quality. Theunissen was named after Colonel Helgard Theunissen who was the commandant of the Winburg Commando during the Anglo-Boer War. He founded the town and for many years served as its mayor.
Google count:
Date:
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
Where to stay:
Theunissen - In the centre of the Free State, surrounded by rich agricultural land, lies the town of Theunissen. The Erfenis irrigation dam fed by the Vet River provides ample water for farming and good yellow fish and carp fishing. Two diamond mines in the district produce gem stones of fine quality. Theunissen was named after Colonel Helgard Theunissen who was the commandant of the Winburg Commando during the Anglo-Boer War. He founded the town and for many years served as its mayor.
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Where to stay:
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Theron (E 11)
Name: Theron
Free State
No link to Charleze Theron
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Other interesting info:
Where to stay:
Free State
No link to Charleze Theron
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Thabazimbi (F 6)
Name: Thabazimbi
Source: http://www.thabazimbionline.co.za/za/index.php
Location Coordinates: 24°36′S, 27°24′E
Thabazimbi is an iron mining town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town is situated at the feet of the Ysterberg and is surrounded by the Witfonteinrand and Boshofberg with the majestic Kransberg in the background. The name Thabazimbi means mountain of iron because of the large iron ore reef that was discovered in 1919 by J.H. Williams.
The mine boasts one of the largest mining shafts in Africa. More than 2 million tons of ore are mined every year and hauled by train to Mittal's iron and steel works. The railway line from Rustenburg reached the area in the 1930s and full scale iron and steel production began. The town was proclaimed in 1953. Kumba Iron Ore, previously Kumba Resources, is now the principal operator of the iron ore mine.
The Marakele National Park about 20km north-east of the town and situated in the heart of the magnificent Waterberg Mountains characterised by contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, hills and valleys, as well as an impressive variety of wildlife. Marakele National Park is also the home of some of the Tuli Elephants that were caught up in controversy in 1999 involving animal cruelty in South Africa.
In the post-apartheid era, the town made headlines in 2003 as the site of Kamp Staaldraad, the Springboks' infamous training camp prior to the Rugby World Cup. The excesses of Kamp Staaldraad helped lead to an almost complete housecleaning of the upper administrative levels of South African rugby union.
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Date:
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Source: http://www.thabazimbionline.co.za/za/index.php
Location Coordinates: 24°36′S, 27°24′E
Thabazimbi is an iron mining town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town is situated at the feet of the Ysterberg and is surrounded by the Witfonteinrand and Boshofberg with the majestic Kransberg in the background. The name Thabazimbi means mountain of iron because of the large iron ore reef that was discovered in 1919 by J.H. Williams.
The mine boasts one of the largest mining shafts in Africa. More than 2 million tons of ore are mined every year and hauled by train to Mittal's iron and steel works. The railway line from Rustenburg reached the area in the 1930s and full scale iron and steel production began. The town was proclaimed in 1953. Kumba Iron Ore, previously Kumba Resources, is now the principal operator of the iron ore mine.
The Marakele National Park about 20km north-east of the town and situated in the heart of the magnificent Waterberg Mountains characterised by contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, hills and valleys, as well as an impressive variety of wildlife. Marakele National Park is also the home of some of the Tuli Elephants that were caught up in controversy in 1999 involving animal cruelty in South Africa.
In the post-apartheid era, the town made headlines in 2003 as the site of Kamp Staaldraad, the Springboks' infamous training camp prior to the Rugby World Cup. The excesses of Kamp Staaldraad helped lead to an almost complete housecleaning of the upper administrative levels of South African rugby union.
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Date:
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Other interesting info:
Where to stay:
Thaba Nchu (F11)
Name:Thaba Nchu
Thaba Nchu is a town in Free State, South Africa, located 60km east of Bloemfontein. Its population is comprised largely of Tswana and Sotho people. The town was settled in the 1830s and officially established in 1873. The town grew larger following the 1913 Natives' Land Act that stated Thaba Nchu as a homeland for Tswana people.
The Tswana people migrated to this place in the 1830s and were frequently attacked during the difaqane (tribal wars), as a result the Thaba Nchu people chose the Voortrekkers as allies. Thaba Nchu then became a safe meeting place for leaders such as Hendrik Potgieter, Piet Uys and Gerrit Maritz.
During the apartheid era it fell into the area set aside for the bantustan of Bophuthatswana, nominally ruled by the then President Lucas Mangope. It was then a trading centre. It was, and remains, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Free State, home to various Sun International and other casinos.
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Date:
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Thaba Nchu is a town in Free State, South Africa, located 60km east of Bloemfontein. Its population is comprised largely of Tswana and Sotho people. The town was settled in the 1830s and officially established in 1873. The town grew larger following the 1913 Natives' Land Act that stated Thaba Nchu as a homeland for Tswana people.
The Tswana people migrated to this place in the 1830s and were frequently attacked during the difaqane (tribal wars), as a result the Thaba Nchu people chose the Voortrekkers as allies. Thaba Nchu then became a safe meeting place for leaders such as Hendrik Potgieter, Piet Uys and Gerrit Maritz.
During the apartheid era it fell into the area set aside for the bantustan of Bophuthatswana, nominally ruled by the then President Lucas Mangope. It was then a trading centre. It was, and remains, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Free State, home to various Sun International and other casinos.
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Saturday, April 10, 2010
Century City station
Name:
At present, the most convenient station serving Century City is at Monte Vista on the Cape Town – Monte Vista (B 15) – Bellville line. A new Century City station at the Sable Road bridge over the N1 is one of the transport infrastructure projects due for completion prior to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
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At present, the most convenient station serving Century City is at Monte Vista on the Cape Town – Monte Vista (B 15) – Bellville line. A new Century City station at the Sable Road bridge over the N1 is one of the transport infrastructure projects due for completion prior to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Google count:
Date:
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Where to stay:
Teza (M 10)
Name: Teza
See 6 below.
Google count:
Date:
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
Environmental history and recent human influence at coastal Lake Teza, Kwazulu-Natal
www.historicalvoices.org/
Where to stay:
The standardisation of geographical names in a democratic South Africa is part of the process of redressing the marginalisation of indigenous language, culture, and heritage. It reclaims this wealth for the benefit of all, now and for the future. It is an exciting and dynamic process filled with opportunity for South Africans to enhance their understanding of themselves and their geographical places and in this way, to celebrate our common identity.
Geographic names standardisation is not a uniquely South African phenomenon. In terms of United Nations (UN) Resolution 4 of the first UN Conference on the Standardisation of Geographical Names, each country has, the sovereign right to standardise its geographical names and decide what the name for each feature in that country should be and how that name should be written. In 1998 the South African Geographical Names Council Act (Act No.118 of 1998) was passed by Parliament.
Names standardisation is part of the broad reconciliation and social cohesion process. The standardisation of geographical names in South Africa is part of the healing and reconciliation process, within the broader context of social transformation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended the re-naming of geographical features as a form of symbolic reparations to address South Africa’s unjust past. We all know that many of the existing names of our geographical features are not reflective of our society and our quest for national unity. Names standardisation is not an attempt to obliterate the history of any section of our society. It seeks to contribute towards inclusivity and participatory democracy that acknowledges our common heritage.
Accordingly, the Minister would like to announce that she has approved the following geographical names on the recommendation of the South African Geographical Names Council:
1. Century City Station
Railway Station in Cape Town
2. eMkhondo (change of name from Piet Retief)
Town in Mpumalanga
3. eNtumeni (correction of spelling from Ntumeni)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
4. eNyezane (correction of spelling from Nyezane)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
5. eNyoni (correction of spelling from Nyoni)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
6. eSitheza (correction of spelling from Teza)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
7. Goliyadi
Mountain in Mpumalanga
8. Hillsview
Suburb in Mpumalanga
9. iNyoni (correction of spelling from Nyoni)
River in KwaZulu-Natal
10. Kalomboma
River in Mpumalanga
11. Kakholwane
Mountain in Mpumalanga
12. Kamagugu
Township in Mpumalanga
13. King Shaka International Airport (change of name from La Mercy Airport)
Airport in KwaZulu-Natal
14. Magadze
River in Mpumalanga
15. Mahikeng
Town in North West
16. Mandlela
Mountain in Mpumalanga
17. Manyeveni
Settlement in Mpumalanga
18. Masoyi
Village in Mpumalanga
19. Mbhucu
Mountain in Mpumalanga
20. Mbube
Mountain in Mpumalanga
21. Mlalati
Mountain in Mpumalanga
22. Mkhingoma
Mountain in Mpumalanga
23. Mkhomazane
River in Mpumalanga
24. Sbubule
Mountain in Mpumalanga
25. Siyanabani
River in Mpumalanga
26. Tekatakho
Settlement in Mpumalanga
27. uThukela (correction of spelling from Tugela from Tugela)
River in KwaZulu-Natal
28. Ukuthula Game Estate Estate
Game and residential estate in Mpumalanga
Due to technical matters identified late last week, Minister Xingwana has retracted the registration of the Tshwane municipal council name as a geographical feature. The Ministry has instructed more work to be done by officials on this matter.
As government we believe geographical name standardization is at the heart of our social cohesion project.
Media enquiries: Lisa Combrinck 082 821 4886
Mack Lewele on 082 450 5076
See 6 below.
Google count:
Date:
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
Environmental history and recent human influence at coastal Lake Teza, Kwazulu-Natal
www.historicalvoices.org/
Where to stay:
The standardisation of geographical names in a democratic South Africa is part of the process of redressing the marginalisation of indigenous language, culture, and heritage. It reclaims this wealth for the benefit of all, now and for the future. It is an exciting and dynamic process filled with opportunity for South Africans to enhance their understanding of themselves and their geographical places and in this way, to celebrate our common identity.
Geographic names standardisation is not a uniquely South African phenomenon. In terms of United Nations (UN) Resolution 4 of the first UN Conference on the Standardisation of Geographical Names, each country has, the sovereign right to standardise its geographical names and decide what the name for each feature in that country should be and how that name should be written. In 1998 the South African Geographical Names Council Act (Act No.118 of 1998) was passed by Parliament.
Names standardisation is part of the broad reconciliation and social cohesion process. The standardisation of geographical names in South Africa is part of the healing and reconciliation process, within the broader context of social transformation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended the re-naming of geographical features as a form of symbolic reparations to address South Africa’s unjust past. We all know that many of the existing names of our geographical features are not reflective of our society and our quest for national unity. Names standardisation is not an attempt to obliterate the history of any section of our society. It seeks to contribute towards inclusivity and participatory democracy that acknowledges our common heritage.
Accordingly, the Minister would like to announce that she has approved the following geographical names on the recommendation of the South African Geographical Names Council:
1. Century City Station
Railway Station in Cape Town
2. eMkhondo (change of name from Piet Retief)
Town in Mpumalanga
3. eNtumeni (correction of spelling from Ntumeni)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
4. eNyezane (correction of spelling from Nyezane)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
5. eNyoni (correction of spelling from Nyoni)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
6. eSitheza (correction of spelling from Teza)
Village in KwaZulu-Natal
7. Goliyadi
Mountain in Mpumalanga
8. Hillsview
Suburb in Mpumalanga
9. iNyoni (correction of spelling from Nyoni)
River in KwaZulu-Natal
10. Kalomboma
River in Mpumalanga
11. Kakholwane
Mountain in Mpumalanga
12. Kamagugu
Township in Mpumalanga
13. King Shaka International Airport (change of name from La Mercy Airport)
Airport in KwaZulu-Natal
14. Magadze
River in Mpumalanga
15. Mahikeng
Town in North West
16. Mandlela
Mountain in Mpumalanga
17. Manyeveni
Settlement in Mpumalanga
18. Masoyi
Village in Mpumalanga
19. Mbhucu
Mountain in Mpumalanga
20. Mbube
Mountain in Mpumalanga
21. Mlalati
Mountain in Mpumalanga
22. Mkhingoma
Mountain in Mpumalanga
23. Mkhomazane
River in Mpumalanga
24. Sbubule
Mountain in Mpumalanga
25. Siyanabani
River in Mpumalanga
26. Tekatakho
Settlement in Mpumalanga
27. uThukela (correction of spelling from Tugela from Tugela)
River in KwaZulu-Natal
28. Ukuthula Game Estate Estate
Game and residential estate in Mpumalanga
Due to technical matters identified late last week, Minister Xingwana has retracted the registration of the Tshwane municipal council name as a geographical feature. The Ministry has instructed more work to be done by officials on this matter.
As government we believe geographical name standardization is at the heart of our social cohesion project.
Media enquiries: Lisa Combrinck 082 821 4886
Mack Lewele on 082 450 5076
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tembisa (G 8)
Name: Tembisa
Tembisa is a large township situated to the north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1957 when Africans were resettled from Alexandra and other areas in Edenvale, Kempton Park, Midrand and Germiston.
(wikipedia)
Google count: 111 000
Date: 10 April 2010
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
SUBMISSIONS - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DATE: 26.11.96 NAME: TIMOTHY TONY MABENA
HISTORY OF TEMBISA
__________________________________________________________
PRAYERS AND A READING FROM THE BIBLE
MS SOOKA: It is the place where victims tell their stories. We have received a number of statements from Tembisa but not everybody can tell their stories publicly. What we have done is we have chosen statements and we have chosen some from young people, some from old people, a number of women and stories relating to the different events which took place in the lives of the people from Tembisa. I am going to introduce the panel to you. On my left-hand side is Commissioner Hlengiwe Mkhize, the Chairperson of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee, on my extreme right-hand side is Professor Piet Meiring, a member of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee. Next to me is Mr Hugh Lewin, a member of the Human Rights Violation Committee, and I am Yasmin Sooka, the Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Violations Committee.
This hearing is an opportunity for victims to tell their stories, and we ask that when they are telling them that you allow them to speak in peace and that you are silent during that particular time. We stress that we do not make findings at this hearing. We hear the cases from the witnesses and once they have told their stories the matter is then handed on to our Investigation Unit which investigates before the Commission makes a finding as to whether someone is a victim or not.
We also wish to emphasise that being found a victim is
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
2 T MABENA
not dependent on your appearing publicly before the Commission. We can do that on a statement as well. We have our statement-takers who are sitting in the room to the right of the exit sign at the back of the hall, and if anybody wants to make a statement they are available for you to do that.
We have provided interpretation services and these are available. Earphones and headsets for those people who do not understand the languages which are being spoken. The witness will speak in his or her language of choice.
Before we begin our proceedings today we are calling upon a man who is very well-known to most of you, Mr Timothy Tony Mabena, who will come forward and very briefly tell us a little bit about the history of Tembisa. We know that Tembisa began its life in 1957. The stories we are going to focus on today relate to people who disappeared and who have not been seen again, to many of those who were tortured and who were shot in the different periods of violence.
We now call upon Mr Timothy Mabena to come and take the stand please. Mr Mabena we would like to welcome you for your assistance in the preparation for this hearing and we would like to welcome you to this hearing. However, before you begin I am going to ask you to take the oath.
TIMOTHY TONY MABENA: (sworn states)
MS SOOKA: Could I ask you to begin please.
MR MABENA: Yes. I have prepared a paper that states "Brief Report to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee about Tembisa", and I am going to give the history.
Tembisa Township was established in 1957 to accommodate families removed from Olifantsfontein, Irene, Verwoerdburg, Edenvale, Kempton Park and Alexander. They were
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
3 T MABENA
accommodated in shacks. The first sections were Thobeni, Ekhaleni, Mqansa, Sitebeng and Masimong. Some years later Sithughau Hostel was established next to Thobeni Section and there were two schools at Ekhaleni and Thobeni and one shop at Ekhaleni which also served as a post office.
In 1962 or '63 the first four-roomed house was built at Sitebeng Section. Residents were invited to inspect and it was called the "Sample House", and they wanted the approval of residents. The Municipality started building those four-roomed houses and administration offices at Sikhelo Section and a two-roomed clinic at Mqansa Section.
Tembisa was granted municipal status in 1983 by means of election. Only 14% of the residents voted. In 1984 the Town Council collapsed and it was replaced by seven Black administrators and one White chairperson. At that stage the Civic Association emerged and started questioning the imbalances in the Township. The working committee requested a meeting with the authorities. Street Committees were formed to take mandates from communities. This led to major consumer boycotts in 1985 and also wanted the withdrawal of army, police from the Township. The rent boycotts started in 1985, people protesting against increases of rent and service charges.
In 1986 the entire leadership of Tembisa Residents Association was detained and taken to Modderbee Prison. By 1987 arrears totalled, that is rent arrears, totalled 12 million and the Council collapsed.
Tembisa was intended to house only single people. Most of the sections in Tembisa were hostels for single men. One might sight Maqulong, Timong, Chiyane, Etafene, Mlonganeng, Toga, Vusumuzi and Lerale. In most of these hostels we have TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
4 T MABENA
seen people taken those houses and taken them to be family houses. Some houses were surrendered by the Council for allocating the families.
Tembisa was one of the horrible townships with four creches, 28 primary schools, ten secondary schools, and we had a total formal houses, that is 20,000 formal houses and rented were 9,000. Those bought for 30 year leasehold were 8,000. 99 year leasehold were 2,500 and freehold, none. Occupants per house was round about 16. Hostels four, halls three, police station one, post office one, library one, hospital one, clinics three, soccer fields 15, cinemas two. The above was for the population estimated 400,000. Thank you.
MS SOOKA: Thank you very much Mr Mabena. I think that it would be very useful if you would give a copy of your statement to our briefers so that we can put that in terms of our records. The statistics you sight are incredibly frightening and one recognises that it is incredibly difficult for people to live under those kind of circumstances. We know that the system of single-sex hostels was one of the roots of contention in this country, particularly in townships. I am going to ask my fellow commissioners if they have any questions that they would like to ask you.
Mr Mabena you have also given us a statement relating to your own personal story.
MR MABENA: Yes.
MS SOOKA: Are you going to deal with that as well?
MR MABENA: Yes I am going to deal with that as well.
MS SOOKA: Alright. You can go on to that.
MR MABENA: Ja. Probably one would start with my detention TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
5 T MABENA
in 1977. I was detained by a policeman called Johan Coetzee. I was by then the Secretary of the Black People's Convention. At that stage our chairperson which at that stage was James Malea was already detained and a colleague Mike Mtembu were also tortured. I was brought to Rabasoto.
On our way to Rabasoto Johan Coetzee asked me that is it possible that Black people can rule this country. He spoke in Afrikaans and he said to me "Timothy do you think the Black people will rule this country", and I said "Yes". And he said to me "You are going to jail, just like Mandela". They brought me to Rabasoto.
At Rabasoto they took me to one room which had blood all over and Johan Coetzee told me that "Do you see this blood, if you are not going to speak the truth your blood is going to be spilled all over this room". The other room, where they started beating me, they put a plastic bag over my head and started beating me on the head, on the body and they were using a hammer to beat me on my feet. At that stage there was some, because I could not see, some policemen who were laughing when I was beaten up and I lost consciousness. I don't know for how long, but when I gained consciousness I heard Johan Coetzee telling, that was Pat Vilikazi, that "go and through this dog away". He took me. I went home and my grandfather could not recognise me. I was then taken to a doctor, who has passed away, Doctor Khwele at Kopanong Section, where X-rays were taken and I was referred to the hospital.
MS SOOKA: Do you want to tell us about the time that you were also held in Modderbee Prison?
MR MABENA: The second, I think it was when I was the General Secretary of the Tembisa Resident Association, and
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at around one o'clock a policeman called Borman came to my house. With him were close to six, if not seven, other White policemen. At that stage my wife was also the Secretary of the Women's League. They started searching the house around one o'clock and picked up some documents that we had at that stage. They arrested us. They took us first to Rabasoto and after Rabasoto they took us to Spartan. They took us to two separate rooms and at that stage Borman left and one huge White policeman came to me and he gave me a paper to say I should write down everything that I know about the Tembisa Resident Association. But before he came already Borman had slapped me because he said "I must just cooperate". He asked me to write everything that I know about the Tembisa Resident Association.
After writing I handed this paper to this White man and at that stage, close to ten policemen came and this huge White man asked them who is this one, and everybody laughed and he said "no this Timothy Mabena, Resident Association, and if we are having him here we don't know what is going to happen about the rent boycott". I was then taken to Modderbee Prison.
Before I could be taken to Modderbee Prison Borman came and commented and said to me I am going to join my colleagues which is Paul Maseko, Isak Nypai and Alithiani who were then at the Modderbee Prison. He said what other thing do I want from him, I said he can release me. He came back and he said your wife will be released and she is going to take your clothes, you will be going to Modderbee and we are going to charge you with treason. We stayed at Modderbee until we were released with restrictions. I have a copy of the restrictions which was signed on the 21st of TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
7 T MABENA
February 1989 by the then Minister of Law of Order Adriaan Vlok.
MS SOOKA: You also spent some time on Robben Island, do you want to tell us about that?
MR MABENA: No I never, I have never been to Robben Island.
MS SOOKA: You didn't. Mr Mabena you probably have quite a lot of information on the kind of activities that took place in this area and you mention that you were a member of the Tembisa Residents Association.
MR MABENA: Yes.
MS SOOKA: From the statements that we have received in this area there seemed to have been a number of problems. I wonder if you could tell us a little about the group called "The Toasters"?
MR MABENA: I think the group called "Toasters" started at Umtambeka Section after one leader has pointed a gun at somebody, because those youngsters at that stage, it was more of information, because I was the leader of the Residents Association and we had our own sectional committees who were giving us and who were briefing us on what was happening at the sections. We were told at that stage that a group of youngsters wanted one leader to be killed at Umtambeka Section, and those youngsters were just adamant, ill-disciplined, who never wanted to listen to the leaders. When the sectional committee wanted to discipline them they actually ran away from Umtambeka Section to Vosimuzi Hostel. That's the brief that we got from our leadership within the sections.
MS SOOKA: There are also a number of names of policemen.
MR MABENA: Yes.
MS SOOKA: Which have appeared quite regularly through the
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statements and I wonder if you could tell us about them, you yourself was interrogated by one of them. Are they still around in this area? Were they members of the Security Branch?
MR MABENA: Yes. Let me go back to 1977 and '78. I was a student at the University of the North. At that stage one security policeman, which is Pat Vilikazi came to the University with Johan Coetzee. Pat Vilikazi as a policeman is still alive because when we received these orders to sign at the police station, at one stage it was round about one o'clock, whilst I was signing at the police station he was there. On a number of occasions I have seen him preaching. He is at Rabasoto Police Station. He is now wearing a uniform. About Johan Coetzee all I learnt is that he passed away. There is another one who was the lieutenant, the second in charge to Johan Coetzee that was Groenewald and there are some - the other one is Twale also. It's a policeman who was engaged with Borman. There was another old man whom I've learnt that he's also related to one Chief's soccer player Fani Madida who used to stay at Umtambeka Section. Those policemen are still alive except I don't know the whereabouts of Johan Coetzee. Borman I believe is still in Spartan.
MS SOOKA: Are they integrated within the community now?
MR MABENA: The last time when I saw Borman he was watching our march when we marched against "Toasters" to the police station. I, and a colleague of mine approached him and asked him, Borman are you still a policeman, and I believe he's integrated.
MS SOOKA: Thank you. Is there anything that you would like to add to your statement?
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MR MABENA: What I would like to add to my statement is that I think Johan Coetzee interrupted my future, because in 1978 I had to run away and not finish my degree. That's all I want to tell the Commission that when looking at my statement they should consider that my education was interrupted by Pat Vilikazi and Johan Coetzee and Groenewald.
MS SOOKA: Could you tell us a little bit about what you actually do now?
MR MABENA: What I do now?
MS SOOKA: What are you employed as if you ...(intervention)
MR MABENA: I am presently employed by the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa as an organiser.
MS SOOKA: Thank you. I am going to ask the others if they have any questions to ask you.
MS MKHIZE: Thank you Mr Mabena. In your case we will oscillate between questions which we are wanting to know more about the history of Tembisa as well as your own personal exposure to human rights violations. Can you tell us a little bit about the Black People's Convention, its activities, its mission and vision and how it landed in serious problems with the security forces?
MR MABENA: I think the Black People's Convention was an organisation which was really conscientising people, especially Black people to understand themselves. As you are quite aware there was suppression. At some stage we have seen especially Black women using cream to be White. And also stretching their hair that they should look like the Whites. I think the Black People's Convention's duty was to conscientise people to say as Black people they are
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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okay with the colour of their skin and also they are okay with their hair. It was to conscientise are people.
MS MKHIZE: As an organisation were you involved in armed struggles at all or it was just a philosophical position?
MR MABENA: It was more of a philosophical position. Nothing was mentioned of arms in our organisation.
MS MKHIZE: You mentioned also here in your statement that your wife was taken to prison, whether she was detained is not clear, can you just tell us a little bit about the circumstances surrounding that?
MR MABENA: I think what I said is that we were taken to Rabasoto and to Spartan. At Spartan we were questioned at two separate rooms and Borman came to me and asked me what can he do for me, and I said he can release me. He said I am going to release your wife she is going to take your clothes and you are going to Modderbee. She was released the following day. She never went to the prison.
MS MKHIZE: So in all these instances you were questioned mainly about this organisation or there were any particular activities that they were interested in?
MR MABENA: At that stage I was questioned about the rent boycott, consumer boycotts that were happening in Tembisa and my activities in the Tembisa Resident Association.
MS MKHIZE: Just one last question from me, in all these activities did you ever get legal assistance?
MR MABENA: Only in 1987, I was represented by Shan Chetty and yes in 1987 we used to consult with the lawyers in terms of what our legal rights were in the organisation.
MS MKHIZE: Thank you.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
PROF MEIRING: You are a community leader and you are in
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the know of what people are feeling, of what people want in Tembisa. One of the most interesting things that awaits the Truth Commission is to make recommendations on reparation, how to help individuals after the hearings, but especially how to help communities after the hearings. Have you given it some thought what so-called symbolic things could be done to Tembisa to help ease the tension and to help people to bear the pain? For example some people in other communities thought that re-naming of streets, to name the heroes of the struggle, should be considered and other things. Have you given it some thought, what symbolic things can be recommended by the Truth Commission in order to help the whole community of Tembisa?
MR MABENA: What I have said earlier is that, yes, naming the streets and some buildings, it's a symbol. But I have recommended that Tembisa should dedicate a day where all victims and also because of this process that even perpetrators should be invited, where everybody that they will release all the frustration, all the pains that he went through, and that day should be celebrated yearly by the people of Tembisa.
PROF MEIRING: Thank you very much, that helps a lot. May I ask in future, in coming months, if you hear with your ear to the ground similar proposals will you please send it through to us.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
MS SOOKA: Thank you.
MR LEWIN: Mr Mabena if I could just ask one brief question about the symbolism of us being here in Rabasoto, I mean it's a name that crops us and we will hear it over the next three days. The name keeps recurring. Rabasoto, people
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were taken to Rabasoto, people were brought to Rabasoto as the police station. We are not quite in the police station, we are in the hall next door to the police station, but can you just tell us in your words what you feel is the significance and the symbolism of us having this hearing of the Truth Commission here in Rabasoto?
MR MABENA: I think what I said earlier is that Rabasoto is where we are now. The police station is a different thing, but because things used to happen at Rabasoto, then the whole area was then called Rabasoto. The Rabasoto is the community hall, not the police station. The police station it's a police station, but you cannot separate the police station now from the Rabasoto because of the closeness of Rabasoto to the police station. So the police station generally our people call, if somebody is going to a police station he will tell you that I am going to Rabasoto.
MR LEWIN: Do you see any significance in us being here?
MR MABENA: Yes there is, because of the history of Tembisa and a lot of events having happened at Rabasoto which one cannot - you know there is no clear distinction as to is it the police station because if you look at it at face value some people will be thinking that the Truth and Reconciliation hearings are happening exactly where it was happening at Rabasoto, meaning the police station where people were tortured.
MR LEWIN: Thank you.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
MS SOOKA: Mr Mabena you mentioned that you were detained under the State of Emergency Act, and you also said that Mr Shan Chetty acted for you, were you at any stage during the two years, were you charged formally in a court of law?
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MR MABENA: No Shan Chetty was representing me in the detentions of 1977 because we were filing a case against the then Minister of Police, Jimmy Kruger, for the sufferings that were caused to me.
MS SOOKA: During the period of 1986 when you were held at Modderbee how long were you there before and were you charged at the end of that process?
MR MABENA: I think at Modderbee we were always threatened because at that stage there was this Delmas strike. I still remember Borman coming to us and saying to us look these people at Delmas are charged with treason and you are also going to be charged with treason and the charges were not forthcoming. At that stage, if I still remember well, we then wrote a letter to the Minister who was then Botha, to ask for release or be charged.
MS SOOKA: Thank you. We would like to thank you for coming today. Hlengiwe has got one more question.
MS MKHIZE: Thank you. As I indicated that having you is an opportunity for us, can you just tell us one more thing before you disappear, where is Tembisa today in terms of conflicts that occurred not between the residents and the security forces but between different political groupings within Tembisa, how are relationships now?
MR MABENA: I think the other thing we have made in Tembisa is that we have managed in Tembisa to have discussions across the political groupings in terms of people fighting for political reasons. I think in Tembisa presently one would say it's at zero percent. We don't experience that thing anymore in Tembisa.
MS SOOKA: Thank you Mr Mabena. We would like to thank you for coming and for sharing with us your own perspective of
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what has happened in Tembisa through the last number of years. You are a survivor in fact of the process and I think that it was very important for us to hear you. Thank you for coming.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
Source: http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/hrvtrans/tembisa/mabena.htm
Where to stay:
Other links: http://libcom.org/library/electricity-tembisa-franco-barchiesi
Tembisa is a large township situated to the north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1957 when Africans were resettled from Alexandra and other areas in Edenvale, Kempton Park, Midrand and Germiston.
(wikipedia)
Google count: 111 000
Date: 10 April 2010
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
SUBMISSIONS - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DATE: 26.11.96 NAME: TIMOTHY TONY MABENA
HISTORY OF TEMBISA
__________________________________________________________
PRAYERS AND A READING FROM THE BIBLE
MS SOOKA: It is the place where victims tell their stories. We have received a number of statements from Tembisa but not everybody can tell their stories publicly. What we have done is we have chosen statements and we have chosen some from young people, some from old people, a number of women and stories relating to the different events which took place in the lives of the people from Tembisa. I am going to introduce the panel to you. On my left-hand side is Commissioner Hlengiwe Mkhize, the Chairperson of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee, on my extreme right-hand side is Professor Piet Meiring, a member of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee. Next to me is Mr Hugh Lewin, a member of the Human Rights Violation Committee, and I am Yasmin Sooka, the Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Violations Committee.
This hearing is an opportunity for victims to tell their stories, and we ask that when they are telling them that you allow them to speak in peace and that you are silent during that particular time. We stress that we do not make findings at this hearing. We hear the cases from the witnesses and once they have told their stories the matter is then handed on to our Investigation Unit which investigates before the Commission makes a finding as to whether someone is a victim or not.
We also wish to emphasise that being found a victim is
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not dependent on your appearing publicly before the Commission. We can do that on a statement as well. We have our statement-takers who are sitting in the room to the right of the exit sign at the back of the hall, and if anybody wants to make a statement they are available for you to do that.
We have provided interpretation services and these are available. Earphones and headsets for those people who do not understand the languages which are being spoken. The witness will speak in his or her language of choice.
Before we begin our proceedings today we are calling upon a man who is very well-known to most of you, Mr Timothy Tony Mabena, who will come forward and very briefly tell us a little bit about the history of Tembisa. We know that Tembisa began its life in 1957. The stories we are going to focus on today relate to people who disappeared and who have not been seen again, to many of those who were tortured and who were shot in the different periods of violence.
We now call upon Mr Timothy Mabena to come and take the stand please. Mr Mabena we would like to welcome you for your assistance in the preparation for this hearing and we would like to welcome you to this hearing. However, before you begin I am going to ask you to take the oath.
TIMOTHY TONY MABENA: (sworn states)
MS SOOKA: Could I ask you to begin please.
MR MABENA: Yes. I have prepared a paper that states "Brief Report to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee about Tembisa", and I am going to give the history.
Tembisa Township was established in 1957 to accommodate families removed from Olifantsfontein, Irene, Verwoerdburg, Edenvale, Kempton Park and Alexander. They were
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accommodated in shacks. The first sections were Thobeni, Ekhaleni, Mqansa, Sitebeng and Masimong. Some years later Sithughau Hostel was established next to Thobeni Section and there were two schools at Ekhaleni and Thobeni and one shop at Ekhaleni which also served as a post office.
In 1962 or '63 the first four-roomed house was built at Sitebeng Section. Residents were invited to inspect and it was called the "Sample House", and they wanted the approval of residents. The Municipality started building those four-roomed houses and administration offices at Sikhelo Section and a two-roomed clinic at Mqansa Section.
Tembisa was granted municipal status in 1983 by means of election. Only 14% of the residents voted. In 1984 the Town Council collapsed and it was replaced by seven Black administrators and one White chairperson. At that stage the Civic Association emerged and started questioning the imbalances in the Township. The working committee requested a meeting with the authorities. Street Committees were formed to take mandates from communities. This led to major consumer boycotts in 1985 and also wanted the withdrawal of army, police from the Township. The rent boycotts started in 1985, people protesting against increases of rent and service charges.
In 1986 the entire leadership of Tembisa Residents Association was detained and taken to Modderbee Prison. By 1987 arrears totalled, that is rent arrears, totalled 12 million and the Council collapsed.
Tembisa was intended to house only single people. Most of the sections in Tembisa were hostels for single men. One might sight Maqulong, Timong, Chiyane, Etafene, Mlonganeng, Toga, Vusumuzi and Lerale. In most of these hostels we have TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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seen people taken those houses and taken them to be family houses. Some houses were surrendered by the Council for allocating the families.
Tembisa was one of the horrible townships with four creches, 28 primary schools, ten secondary schools, and we had a total formal houses, that is 20,000 formal houses and rented were 9,000. Those bought for 30 year leasehold were 8,000. 99 year leasehold were 2,500 and freehold, none. Occupants per house was round about 16. Hostels four, halls three, police station one, post office one, library one, hospital one, clinics three, soccer fields 15, cinemas two. The above was for the population estimated 400,000. Thank you.
MS SOOKA: Thank you very much Mr Mabena. I think that it would be very useful if you would give a copy of your statement to our briefers so that we can put that in terms of our records. The statistics you sight are incredibly frightening and one recognises that it is incredibly difficult for people to live under those kind of circumstances. We know that the system of single-sex hostels was one of the roots of contention in this country, particularly in townships. I am going to ask my fellow commissioners if they have any questions that they would like to ask you.
Mr Mabena you have also given us a statement relating to your own personal story.
MR MABENA: Yes.
MS SOOKA: Are you going to deal with that as well?
MR MABENA: Yes I am going to deal with that as well.
MS SOOKA: Alright. You can go on to that.
MR MABENA: Ja. Probably one would start with my detention TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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in 1977. I was detained by a policeman called Johan Coetzee. I was by then the Secretary of the Black People's Convention. At that stage our chairperson which at that stage was James Malea was already detained and a colleague Mike Mtembu were also tortured. I was brought to Rabasoto.
On our way to Rabasoto Johan Coetzee asked me that is it possible that Black people can rule this country. He spoke in Afrikaans and he said to me "Timothy do you think the Black people will rule this country", and I said "Yes". And he said to me "You are going to jail, just like Mandela". They brought me to Rabasoto.
At Rabasoto they took me to one room which had blood all over and Johan Coetzee told me that "Do you see this blood, if you are not going to speak the truth your blood is going to be spilled all over this room". The other room, where they started beating me, they put a plastic bag over my head and started beating me on the head, on the body and they were using a hammer to beat me on my feet. At that stage there was some, because I could not see, some policemen who were laughing when I was beaten up and I lost consciousness. I don't know for how long, but when I gained consciousness I heard Johan Coetzee telling, that was Pat Vilikazi, that "go and through this dog away". He took me. I went home and my grandfather could not recognise me. I was then taken to a doctor, who has passed away, Doctor Khwele at Kopanong Section, where X-rays were taken and I was referred to the hospital.
MS SOOKA: Do you want to tell us about the time that you were also held in Modderbee Prison?
MR MABENA: The second, I think it was when I was the General Secretary of the Tembisa Resident Association, and
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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at around one o'clock a policeman called Borman came to my house. With him were close to six, if not seven, other White policemen. At that stage my wife was also the Secretary of the Women's League. They started searching the house around one o'clock and picked up some documents that we had at that stage. They arrested us. They took us first to Rabasoto and after Rabasoto they took us to Spartan. They took us to two separate rooms and at that stage Borman left and one huge White policeman came to me and he gave me a paper to say I should write down everything that I know about the Tembisa Resident Association. But before he came already Borman had slapped me because he said "I must just cooperate". He asked me to write everything that I know about the Tembisa Resident Association.
After writing I handed this paper to this White man and at that stage, close to ten policemen came and this huge White man asked them who is this one, and everybody laughed and he said "no this Timothy Mabena, Resident Association, and if we are having him here we don't know what is going to happen about the rent boycott". I was then taken to Modderbee Prison.
Before I could be taken to Modderbee Prison Borman came and commented and said to me I am going to join my colleagues which is Paul Maseko, Isak Nypai and Alithiani who were then at the Modderbee Prison. He said what other thing do I want from him, I said he can release me. He came back and he said your wife will be released and she is going to take your clothes, you will be going to Modderbee and we are going to charge you with treason. We stayed at Modderbee until we were released with restrictions. I have a copy of the restrictions which was signed on the 21st of TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
7 T MABENA
February 1989 by the then Minister of Law of Order Adriaan Vlok.
MS SOOKA: You also spent some time on Robben Island, do you want to tell us about that?
MR MABENA: No I never, I have never been to Robben Island.
MS SOOKA: You didn't. Mr Mabena you probably have quite a lot of information on the kind of activities that took place in this area and you mention that you were a member of the Tembisa Residents Association.
MR MABENA: Yes.
MS SOOKA: From the statements that we have received in this area there seemed to have been a number of problems. I wonder if you could tell us a little about the group called "The Toasters"?
MR MABENA: I think the group called "Toasters" started at Umtambeka Section after one leader has pointed a gun at somebody, because those youngsters at that stage, it was more of information, because I was the leader of the Residents Association and we had our own sectional committees who were giving us and who were briefing us on what was happening at the sections. We were told at that stage that a group of youngsters wanted one leader to be killed at Umtambeka Section, and those youngsters were just adamant, ill-disciplined, who never wanted to listen to the leaders. When the sectional committee wanted to discipline them they actually ran away from Umtambeka Section to Vosimuzi Hostel. That's the brief that we got from our leadership within the sections.
MS SOOKA: There are also a number of names of policemen.
MR MABENA: Yes.
MS SOOKA: Which have appeared quite regularly through the
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
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statements and I wonder if you could tell us about them, you yourself was interrogated by one of them. Are they still around in this area? Were they members of the Security Branch?
MR MABENA: Yes. Let me go back to 1977 and '78. I was a student at the University of the North. At that stage one security policeman, which is Pat Vilikazi came to the University with Johan Coetzee. Pat Vilikazi as a policeman is still alive because when we received these orders to sign at the police station, at one stage it was round about one o'clock, whilst I was signing at the police station he was there. On a number of occasions I have seen him preaching. He is at Rabasoto Police Station. He is now wearing a uniform. About Johan Coetzee all I learnt is that he passed away. There is another one who was the lieutenant, the second in charge to Johan Coetzee that was Groenewald and there are some - the other one is Twale also. It's a policeman who was engaged with Borman. There was another old man whom I've learnt that he's also related to one Chief's soccer player Fani Madida who used to stay at Umtambeka Section. Those policemen are still alive except I don't know the whereabouts of Johan Coetzee. Borman I believe is still in Spartan.
MS SOOKA: Are they integrated within the community now?
MR MABENA: The last time when I saw Borman he was watching our march when we marched against "Toasters" to the police station. I, and a colleague of mine approached him and asked him, Borman are you still a policeman, and I believe he's integrated.
MS SOOKA: Thank you. Is there anything that you would like to add to your statement?
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9 T MABENA
MR MABENA: What I would like to add to my statement is that I think Johan Coetzee interrupted my future, because in 1978 I had to run away and not finish my degree. That's all I want to tell the Commission that when looking at my statement they should consider that my education was interrupted by Pat Vilikazi and Johan Coetzee and Groenewald.
MS SOOKA: Could you tell us a little bit about what you actually do now?
MR MABENA: What I do now?
MS SOOKA: What are you employed as if you ...(intervention)
MR MABENA: I am presently employed by the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa as an organiser.
MS SOOKA: Thank you. I am going to ask the others if they have any questions to ask you.
MS MKHIZE: Thank you Mr Mabena. In your case we will oscillate between questions which we are wanting to know more about the history of Tembisa as well as your own personal exposure to human rights violations. Can you tell us a little bit about the Black People's Convention, its activities, its mission and vision and how it landed in serious problems with the security forces?
MR MABENA: I think the Black People's Convention was an organisation which was really conscientising people, especially Black people to understand themselves. As you are quite aware there was suppression. At some stage we have seen especially Black women using cream to be White. And also stretching their hair that they should look like the Whites. I think the Black People's Convention's duty was to conscientise people to say as Black people they are
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
10 T MABENA
okay with the colour of their skin and also they are okay with their hair. It was to conscientise are people.
MS MKHIZE: As an organisation were you involved in armed struggles at all or it was just a philosophical position?
MR MABENA: It was more of a philosophical position. Nothing was mentioned of arms in our organisation.
MS MKHIZE: You mentioned also here in your statement that your wife was taken to prison, whether she was detained is not clear, can you just tell us a little bit about the circumstances surrounding that?
MR MABENA: I think what I said is that we were taken to Rabasoto and to Spartan. At Spartan we were questioned at two separate rooms and Borman came to me and asked me what can he do for me, and I said he can release me. He said I am going to release your wife she is going to take your clothes and you are going to Modderbee. She was released the following day. She never went to the prison.
MS MKHIZE: So in all these instances you were questioned mainly about this organisation or there were any particular activities that they were interested in?
MR MABENA: At that stage I was questioned about the rent boycott, consumer boycotts that were happening in Tembisa and my activities in the Tembisa Resident Association.
MS MKHIZE: Just one last question from me, in all these activities did you ever get legal assistance?
MR MABENA: Only in 1987, I was represented by Shan Chetty and yes in 1987 we used to consult with the lawyers in terms of what our legal rights were in the organisation.
MS MKHIZE: Thank you.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
PROF MEIRING: You are a community leader and you are in
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
11 T MABENA
the know of what people are feeling, of what people want in Tembisa. One of the most interesting things that awaits the Truth Commission is to make recommendations on reparation, how to help individuals after the hearings, but especially how to help communities after the hearings. Have you given it some thought what so-called symbolic things could be done to Tembisa to help ease the tension and to help people to bear the pain? For example some people in other communities thought that re-naming of streets, to name the heroes of the struggle, should be considered and other things. Have you given it some thought, what symbolic things can be recommended by the Truth Commission in order to help the whole community of Tembisa?
MR MABENA: What I have said earlier is that, yes, naming the streets and some buildings, it's a symbol. But I have recommended that Tembisa should dedicate a day where all victims and also because of this process that even perpetrators should be invited, where everybody that they will release all the frustration, all the pains that he went through, and that day should be celebrated yearly by the people of Tembisa.
PROF MEIRING: Thank you very much, that helps a lot. May I ask in future, in coming months, if you hear with your ear to the ground similar proposals will you please send it through to us.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
MS SOOKA: Thank you.
MR LEWIN: Mr Mabena if I could just ask one brief question about the symbolism of us being here in Rabasoto, I mean it's a name that crops us and we will hear it over the next three days. The name keeps recurring. Rabasoto, people
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
12 T MABENA
were taken to Rabasoto, people were brought to Rabasoto as the police station. We are not quite in the police station, we are in the hall next door to the police station, but can you just tell us in your words what you feel is the significance and the symbolism of us having this hearing of the Truth Commission here in Rabasoto?
MR MABENA: I think what I said earlier is that Rabasoto is where we are now. The police station is a different thing, but because things used to happen at Rabasoto, then the whole area was then called Rabasoto. The Rabasoto is the community hall, not the police station. The police station it's a police station, but you cannot separate the police station now from the Rabasoto because of the closeness of Rabasoto to the police station. So the police station generally our people call, if somebody is going to a police station he will tell you that I am going to Rabasoto.
MR LEWIN: Do you see any significance in us being here?
MR MABENA: Yes there is, because of the history of Tembisa and a lot of events having happened at Rabasoto which one cannot - you know there is no clear distinction as to is it the police station because if you look at it at face value some people will be thinking that the Truth and Reconciliation hearings are happening exactly where it was happening at Rabasoto, meaning the police station where people were tortured.
MR LEWIN: Thank you.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
MS SOOKA: Mr Mabena you mentioned that you were detained under the State of Emergency Act, and you also said that Mr Shan Chetty acted for you, were you at any stage during the two years, were you charged formally in a court of law?
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
13 T MABENA
MR MABENA: No Shan Chetty was representing me in the detentions of 1977 because we were filing a case against the then Minister of Police, Jimmy Kruger, for the sufferings that were caused to me.
MS SOOKA: During the period of 1986 when you were held at Modderbee how long were you there before and were you charged at the end of that process?
MR MABENA: I think at Modderbee we were always threatened because at that stage there was this Delmas strike. I still remember Borman coming to us and saying to us look these people at Delmas are charged with treason and you are also going to be charged with treason and the charges were not forthcoming. At that stage, if I still remember well, we then wrote a letter to the Minister who was then Botha, to ask for release or be charged.
MS SOOKA: Thank you. We would like to thank you for coming today. Hlengiwe has got one more question.
MS MKHIZE: Thank you. As I indicated that having you is an opportunity for us, can you just tell us one more thing before you disappear, where is Tembisa today in terms of conflicts that occurred not between the residents and the security forces but between different political groupings within Tembisa, how are relationships now?
MR MABENA: I think the other thing we have made in Tembisa is that we have managed in Tembisa to have discussions across the political groupings in terms of people fighting for political reasons. I think in Tembisa presently one would say it's at zero percent. We don't experience that thing anymore in Tembisa.
MS SOOKA: Thank you Mr Mabena. We would like to thank you for coming and for sharing with us your own perspective of
TEMBISA HEARING TRC/GAUTENG
14 T MABENA
what has happened in Tembisa through the last number of years. You are a survivor in fact of the process and I think that it was very important for us to hear you. Thank you for coming.
MR MABENA: Thank you.
Source: http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/hrvtrans/tembisa/mabena.htm
Where to stay:
Other links: http://libcom.org/library/electricity-tembisa-franco-barchiesi
Tembalhle (H15)
Name: Tembauhle (spelt like this on the index of the map)
(spelt Tembalhle on the map itself)
Google count: 1
Date: 9 April 2010
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
Tembalhle 17,005 commuters per day
Where to stay:
Germiston 118,613
Marefe 26,406
Naledi 29,926
Daveyton 43,597
Orlando 18,346
Dube 22,310
New Canada 49,016
Benoni 15,856
Tshiawelo 15,701
Roodepoort 24,671
Croesus 20,758
Jeppe 23,856
Lenz 21,798
Oakmoor 40,080
Birchleigh 15,985
Kliptown 17,938
Dunswart 35,819
George Goch 21,505
Park Station 280,000
Bosman str. 40,345
Pretoria 37,374
Belle Ombre 28,808
Denneboom 35,843
Sausville 28,150
Atteridgeville 5,744
Mamelodi Gardens 11,522
Silverton 12,821
Akasiaboom 15,509
Gezina 6,179
Wonderboom 16,033
Schutte str. 7,891
Rissik 8,460
Mears str. 6,796
Eerste Fabrik 16,526
Mabopane 91,337
Durban 32,278
Berea rd. 69,983
Umlazi 30,697
Kwa Mashu 23,092
Tembalhle 17,005
Bonte Heuwel 77,066
Mitchell's Plain 34,853
Maitland 41,537
Cape Town 176,837
Lentegeur 24,607
Heideveld 51,982
Langa 86,341
Parow 23,273
Retreat 33,132
1,947,023
http://www.offthewall.co.za/Mailers/junemailer/two_million.asp
(spelt Tembalhle on the map itself)
Google count: 1
Date: 9 April 2010
Historic fact:
Other interesting info:
Tembalhle 17,005 commuters per day
Where to stay:
Germiston 118,613
Marefe 26,406
Naledi 29,926
Daveyton 43,597
Orlando 18,346
Dube 22,310
New Canada 49,016
Benoni 15,856
Tshiawelo 15,701
Roodepoort 24,671
Croesus 20,758
Jeppe 23,856
Lenz 21,798
Oakmoor 40,080
Birchleigh 15,985
Kliptown 17,938
Dunswart 35,819
George Goch 21,505
Park Station 280,000
Bosman str. 40,345
Pretoria 37,374
Belle Ombre 28,808
Denneboom 35,843
Sausville 28,150
Atteridgeville 5,744
Mamelodi Gardens 11,522
Silverton 12,821
Akasiaboom 15,509
Gezina 6,179
Wonderboom 16,033
Schutte str. 7,891
Rissik 8,460
Mears str. 6,796
Eerste Fabrik 16,526
Mabopane 91,337
Durban 32,278
Berea rd. 69,983
Umlazi 30,697
Kwa Mashu 23,092
Tembalhle 17,005
Bonte Heuwel 77,066
Mitchell's Plain 34,853
Maitland 41,537
Cape Town 176,837
Lentegeur 24,607
Heideveld 51,982
Langa 86,341
Parow 23,273
Retreat 33,132
1,947,023
http://www.offthewall.co.za/Mailers/junemailer/two_million.asp
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