Grandmother’s account

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 15

Grandmother’s account

This is only one of hundreds of sworn statements of police brutality against black people collected by white groups in South Africa opposed to apartheid. The Brian Francis Bishop named was a prominent civil rights lawyer and opponent of the system, who was killed recently in a car accident. • “Statement, by Mrs Marie Qomoyi, aged 59, of 5 Lower Location, Graaff Reinet, made to Brian Francis Bishop, 70 Molteno Road, Gardens Capetown. “On Tuesday, July 30, at 7 a.m. I was in bed; had ’flu. My daughter and six grandchildren were also in the room. “My 10-year-old grand-daughter

called out that the police were coming. (I found out afterwards that the police had used loud hailers to call the people outside to clean the streets. I did not hear the call). “A white policeman unknown to me entered the room. He said to me, ‘Why didn’t you come outside when called?’ “I said, ‘Who called me?’ He said, ‘you ask,’ and hit me with a long sjambok (whip) across the back and then across the face. (A photo has been taken). “I jumped up and grabbed the whip. We struggled. Another group of policemen came up, threw me

on the floor and kicked me on the head and arms. They walked away. “My grandchild looked dead and I picked him up and ran for the doctor. “At that time my daughter, Marina (24) was standing there. She was B¥z months pregnant. She said, ‘What are you doing to my mother?’ “A white policeman whipped her across her back and across her pregnant stomach (a photo has been taken). Her stomach bled and her dress showed the bloodstains. “My two daughters and I rushed to the entrance of the township where the police would not let us leave. I said that my pregnant

daughter had been whipped in the stomach and that my grandchild was close to death. “A policeman whipped me across the wrist with his gun and, while we were calling that we needed a doctor, they pushed me, my two daughters, and my two grandchildren into a police van and took us to the police station. “We were not charged nor given food or water. We went to the police station at about 8 a.m. “At about 11 a.m. my pregnant daughter was bleeding excessively from the slash across her stormach. Finally, a policewoman called an ambulance. At about 1 p.m. we were told to go.”