You have a son at school at—?

I have…

And he made a report to you on the 15th June, 1976, that afternoon about 5 o'clock.

He did.

He told me that on the 15th all the school children have to march and further told me that five men had come traveling in a blue Comic and told me that they will come and fetch them on the 16th.

Who were these five men?

He told me that they were not known to him.

Were they Black men, White men?

Black men.

Adults or children?

He told me that they were school children coming from Matsike High School.

He told me that they told him that they do not want to see anybody on that day in the street and they will break down all the schools—I beg your pardon, all the cars, not the schools, all the cars.

[…]

And what about the school buildings?

No, he made no mention about the school buildings.

Any mention made of the buildings belonging to the West Rand Administration Board?

No.

And the children were to stay away from school they were told?

It was said that they would start at school and then march out of school.

[…]

How old is your son?

He is 19 years old.

Did he at any time convey to you any complaints that his co-students might have had with regard to the teaching at school?

No.

Was your son himself happy or not?

He was happy. But on that particular day he was not happy. … On account of what these people told them at school.

[…]

And how long have you been stationed in the Soweto complex?

All my career in Soweto as a policeman.

Then you are in a position to tell us what was the relationship between Black inhabitants of Soweto and first of all the White officials of the West Rand Bantu Administration Board?

In the City Council of Johannesburg which we termed Municipal Offices, they were living there together. Then after it was the Native Settlement Board, I have not come across any trouble, but now when this West Rand Administration Board has come into operation, I have just seen them starting this affair. It is the first time for me to experience it. … I mean the burning of the buildings… What I mean is I do not know what the cause of this is.

But what was the relationship between the Black people and the White officials? …

They are going quite well together the Blacks and the Whites.

We policemen and the inhabitants, we live quite well.

[…]

Whilst we were busy patrolling, we found children marching in the streets. … Hundreds and hundreds. … They were marching in Xorile Street. They were marching north, south in the street.

Were they being led or not?

No, as a group, not being led.

And what happened? Give us a description of what you saw and heard that day.

I saw a group of children in the street.

Right, you have told us that.

Seeing that there were many, I then went back, and reported to Lieutenant Brandt, telling him that I see many children marching. … Police had to parade. Colonel Kleingeld also arrived, we then left, the police left. We entered Amicha (?) Street. Whilst moving towards Xorile Street, we saw this group of children marching towards Khumalo Street and join Vilakazi Street. There was the Matsike High School marching from East to West. We then went to Phefeni Station, went around east to west towards Vilakazi Street. Once we were near this Matsike School we then parked our vehicles. We then got off these vehicles with Colonel Kleingeld. He tried to speak to these children four or three times. It is then that trouble started. Stones were thrown at us. A constable who had a dog with him, this dog got loose from him and it ran towards these children. In a second's time the dog was dead… Killed by these school children… They got hold of the dog, all of a sudden the dog got into their midst. What happened thereafter I cannot say. I do not know where it ended for that matter.

Then the children exclaimed: "You Black police, you go and stay with your Europeans in town." Thereafter they threw the stones in great numbers. They came in great numbers with stones, we could not make [out] what was what. One of our sergeants was knocked by a stone on his head and another constable's leg was injured. The police vehicles were stoned. They started with the colonel's because it was far in front of the rest of the vehicles. I was also injured by a stone on my right arm. That moment I turned back to the car still in pain. We were in a great danger at that moment. I saw Colonel Kleingeld catching hold of the machine-gun, swing it round in front of the children. The children were at a distance. He was swinging it just in front of us. It is then that we got some to run away. Thereafter there was quite a lot of police. I think that is all.

This Black constable hit on the head, was he seriously hurt?

Yes, seriously hurt… He was taken to the hospital.

Was he bleeding from the head wound?

Yes.

Were the vehicles damaged … ?

Terribly.

Any buildings?

At the time?

Yes.

No.

Later in the day?

Yes, they set them on fire, the buildings on fire.

What buildings?

Orlando East Municipal Offices and Orlando East Municipality Offices and the bottle store, quite a number of them.

The children, when they were throwing stones, did they say anything, shout anything?

Yes, the remark Black Power with their fists in the air.

[…]

So you told His Lordship that you feared for your lives. What was your fear actually?

They wanted to kill us. Once we were standing others were facing us and there were the others coming from behind. On the side as well, on either side and there were just a few of us.

[…]

You were armed?

Yes, I was.

Did you use your firearm?

Not at all. … I had not yet received instructions to fire.

Until you received instructions you would not use your firearm?

Yes.

Although you were in danger of your lives.

A very great danger.

… Do you know the West Rand Administration Board have got their own policemen?

Yes.

How did the Black people get on with them?

I cannot say. I have never had to think of that.

You know of no trouble between the two sections?

As far as I know the public are friendly with the SAP ever since I took up employment with enquiries. Every time, even if it is at night, they come and ask for help.

Who? The Black inhabitants of Soweto?

The Blacks. And at other times I see them conversing there even with our head officers.

[…]

How far away was the mob away from the Phefeni School?

Approximately 30 yards.