Ntokozo Nkabinde
JOHANNESBURG – Mitah Innocentiah Molete might have been just three years old on that fateful 17th June of 1992 when armed men, suspected to Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) members, allegedly committed the Boipatong massacre in the Vaal, but events on that day keep coming back in her mind.
Molete is still traumatized even up to today after she was axed in her head and left for dead by the assailants. As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission celebrated its 20 years in existence this April, some of the victims still have deep scars to show.
Gauteng Guardian visited Molete, now 27, where she revealed that she will never forget the horror of that day despite her tender age at the time because she was butchered in her head by an axe.
On that days, the Joe Slovo Informal settlement in Boipatong outside Vereeniging was attacked by a group of about 300 armed men from Kwa Madala Hostel in ne a rby Sebokeng Township. Observers suspected that the attack was aimed at undermining the delicate process of negotiations between the Nationalist Party (NP) government and the African National Congress (ANC).
In response to the massacre the ANC withdrew from the negotiations, blaming the NPgovernment for the attack.
“My mother told me I spent months at the hospital. I don’t quite remember anything because I was still a child.
All I know is that I grew up in a wheelchair. I only know in pictures that I use to walk. It is difficult because I can’t do everything by myself, but thankfully I am able to wash myself, clean the floor and cook little things like Vienna sausages, nooddles baking cookies and taking myself to the bathroom.
“Losing a father is very difficult; my mother tells me that we were very close with him as I was his only child. But I did not feel that pain because I was still very young. My mother has been there for me ever since. The only thing she finds difficult now is that whenever she wants to go somewhere, she has to ask for someone to look after me,” says Mitah.
Mitah completed her Matric at Philadelphia in Soshanguve, Pretoria, a school that caters for people with disability.
”I was staying at their boarding school. I spent five years of my high school there .After matric, I studied Information Technology (IT) at DVG Media Training in Kempton Park, which was also for people with disability.
I have a diploma in IT and teachers there were very supportive to us they made sure we all passed to have a better life.
“The R30,000 compensation from Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) helped to pay my fees and to buy uniform. I worked for four months at as an office administrator the for an NGO ( Non-Profit Organisation) company called Hands of Hope which I never got paid up to this day. It is very sad.Right now I’m looking for the job, staying at home is very stressful,” laments Molete.
She adds: “My pillar of strength is my boyfriend Godfrey Mmbengwa.
He is very supportive although he is not disable. We’ve been dating for four years now. One day I hope to get married and have two children.”
Her mother Matseleng Molete (61) says: “My life changed forever in just a few minutes because I got sick, I was even mentally disturbed , I could not cope at all. “What really hurt me most is that not only did I lose my husband to be Thomas Pule Lekabe, but I also had to look after my daughter who was fighting for her life in hospital.
”It was very difficult for me. I never got to work like any other women of my age or do things other women do, my life got shuttered from that day.
My worst fear would be to leave Mitah by herself. I am grateful to God that I am still alive.”
The Sedibeng Municipality built Mitah and her mother an eight roomed house in 2011 with two toilets inside to accommodate Mita’s situation but life has never been the same for the two ladies
–Guardian
