Ursula and I were high school sweethearts, since 1982. We studied at different universities. She started working in Somerset West in 1989 as a pharmacist. After my honours year I attended national service in 1990. I did not want to. Law forced me. Linked to my studies I did the officer course, but I was part of the sivvie-rock-band in Oudtshoorn, playing public gigs for the army. We got married in 1991. I started as counsellor while studying further. We grew up with strong morals but with little awareness of politics. We were taught to be kind to and respectful of all people.
Heidelberg – Josh Sithole
While living our early marriage and working days in Somerset West we had been regulars at the tavern. Being into music and performing myself, we were big fans of Josh Sithole, the musician who has been performing there for years. He was one of the main reasons we went there generally, and also that evening. We always chatted to him and I even bought an exact guitar like his, copying much of his style into for my own performances. The other reason was probably that the tavern had such a progressive open student vibe, a true mix of all races and types, away from the stereotypical nonsense.
Over those few days surrounding the event our oldest friend from school, university and post-university, Calvyn, was visiting us from the US to where he had just immigrated to work as a specialist physiotherapist, and with him one of our old friends from varsity we called Coenie. Seeing that Calvyn just started discovering the blues over in US, we said late one evening “We must let you go and see Josh.” We calculated that if we left right away around 11pm we might catch Josh‟s last three songs. Josh used to finish at 12 sharp. So we arrived at the tavern at around 11:40 pm. The place was packed as always.
Josh greeted us from stage. The bouncer was a guy we knew from Somerset West, Kurt. We were lucky to get space at the second table from the door. The tables were made of solid sleeper wood, with loose-standing sleeper wood benches. Facing the stage I sat in the middle with my best friend left of me and Ursula right against me to the right, with Coenie across the table. We got our draft beers and did the cheers. It was Josh‟s second last song I think, „Dream dream dream‟, which he did Josh-style.
The Attack
The first thing I remember was the glass scattering from my friend‟s hand. The bullet must have come through between our shoulders. It struck the glass assumingly probably just missing his hand. The second and immediate sensory recall was the smell of cordite. The third memory was me grabbing Ursula by her hair, pulling her down as we dropped to the ground, with our bench turned over just in time, as bullets were raining continuously from automatic fire. The wood pieces fell from the table and bench onto our heads. The thought in my mind, and in all of our minds, was that we were definitely going to die. With the acceptance of that then came the question who would be hit first. Communication was out of the question so I pressed Ursula‟s hand to see if there was still a response. She responded. Time became obsolete. Then the firing stopped. Next we heard measured single shots.
I was now sure they were taking out the leftovers one by one. Those were the longest moments. Time stood still. We were trapped in a strange world of waiting. It eventually went quiet, until someone shouted “They are gone!”
After slaughter
As we stood up, the air still heavy from gun smoke, people were screaming-crying-rushing-running. Looking around us were bodies lying in blood, some shaking some bubblying. The table behind us, between us and the door took our bullets. My physio-friend did not hesitate a second ripping off his American t-shirt as sprang to
action to help the person closest to him, applying pressure. We followed suite. This was a time of frustration as it was difficult with people with multiple holes in them, to decide which hole to apply pressure to. They don‟t teach that in first aid. The leftover humans shook and bubbled and died. I remember the foamy bubbling out of the chest wounds. Eyes rolled up, body still, so you go the next one, asking people for their t-shirts. At one point I grabbed a blanket that was lying next to me but someone literally hit me with a hysterical fist in my face and pointed to the ground. There was a rifle grenade lying at my feet, prepared with nails like a dark-age torture tool.
Having been in the army not too long before, I remembered noticing the little gravity-window was not turned. The attackers did not fire it correctly.
That grenade, launched from a rifle, needed to go up first, then downwards. The downwards action then turns the window to activate detonation in a few seconds. If I moved that grenade many more would have died a horrible death with maxed evil. Someone put a blanket over it to „keep it safe.‟ It was after that, with chaos and crazy nausea all around, that we decided to leave. We got into our car without talking. We drove to Somerset West without talking. We stopped for Coenie to vomit. Ursula‟s parents, who were also staying with us for the holiday, received us. We spoke in cold and shocked animation I think. I have no real memory of the rest of that night.
Post after-slaughter
In the news people were urged to go and make statements on site the next day at mobile police units. Calvyn and I went to do „our duty.‟ I remember giving a statement like a robot. I walked into the tavern for the last time. Time, experience, memory and emotions were mixed into a strange brew. A certain awareness and sense of trust of life was stolen. A vague hate and an acute distrust was formed.
PTSD
My old friend was dead silent. He was eager to return to the States. I knew I lost him forever. He got first-hand confirmation of why he left. He left a bloody shirt in SA. We drifted apart from there. „Coenie‟ did not have contact with us directly, but I heard from other old varsity friends that he had been in and out of therapy for years with serious PTSD.
We found Josh again 6 years later. We attended a work function at a Hotel in Bantry Bay. We recalled the old times like war veterans, but Josh was not well. He has lost his spark. He died soon after that, in 1999.
Ursula and I understood PTSD well given my work. We had flashbacks and fright responses for about 2 years. Ursula would in the pharmacy dive into underneath the shelves when a child popped a balloon in the pharmacy or when something fell with a bang. We both sat away from any door whether it being in the movies or restaurants.
We always made sure we faced the door and keep an eye. We became hyper-aware of people, places and vibes, anywhere in the world we travelled.
The irony – a ‘rainbow nation’
– but a fake rainbow with only shades of darkness
The „good news‟ was that we became totally disillusioned to politics and any person in power. We do not trust any politician. We do not trust the police. We do not trust the law. We do not trust a „democracy‟ which is has been and is a fallacy in its application. We have not voted ever again in our silent protest against the system of politics, greed, money and terrorism. Depending on who‟s point of view it is, the terrorists and the specialized military forces can be seen as synonyms, and were no different than the populist politicians. It was not in the interest of the extreme politicians to have a real rainbow nation. This was an illusion well sold. The attacks were organized by a politically accepted military (read terrorists) wing of a well-accepted and prominent political party. Over time the attackers were granted amnesty. Their excuses made no sense, and excuse nothing. Yes the bosses were the bigger evil for sure.
Politics were years later still at play in smearing information
around the story of Gugulethu gardener Bennet Sibiya. The facts probably did not fit the politic agenda. The reason for terrorism was valid on the basis of another bigger evil called apartheid. The person who ultimately stamped the attack is now a prominent minister who now has the legal power and right to carry on with no morals,
carrying the love of the democracy forward. Irony? The irony is that this same minister is now in a position to whom Ursula has to provide healthcare to. It is a test of strength to help and provide care for the demon who orchestrated the most horrendous brainless killing of innocent people. It is OK to fight evil with super-evil.
So you become a better person, or so it seems? The legal practice has indeed become illegal practice. The law should be called un-law. „Peace‟ requires war and mindless killing. Fighting and killing for a cause are always good regardless your reasons, as long as your get into power.
This is a bitter story, and requires no sweetening into any agenda. Time‟s Too Short – live now, because life is a feeble moment in time. This was my view and my narrative. We are lucky ones. I wonder what the dead ones would say?
