The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty committee is hearing testimony about the Boipatong massacre, which left 46 people dead and caused national and international outrage in June 1992. Sixteen Inkatha Freedom Party members, who were convicted for the murders in 1994, have applied for amnesty for their part in the attack, which involved between 200 and 300 KwaMadala hostel residents.
Madikizela-Mandela arrived in a white Mercedes Benz accompanied by several bodyguards, and took a seat in the front row of the audience in the Sebokeng College of Education hall. She listened as the first of the applicants, Victor Mthandeni Mthembu, 29, told of his part in the raid on Boipatong.
Mthembu told the hearing he had a 2m spear and a knobkerrie on the night of the massacre. He said he did not stab anybody but admitted striking a man with the knobkerrie.
The start to Thursday's hearing was delayed by a power failure from a damaged substation. Initial fears of sabotage were allayed when it was found that the damage was caused by a veld fire. The hearing continues.