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The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Remains of struggle fighters handed to families for burial
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi presided over a solemn and historic handover and reburial ceremony of the exhumed remains of political activists hanged on death row for politically related offences. The event on May 3 saw the handover and reburial of ANC activists Benjamin Malesella Moloise and Abram Zakhele Mngomezulu, marking a milestone in SA's ongoing journey towards healing, justice and reconciliation. Between 1960 and 1990, at least 130 people were executed on death row for politically motivated offences. At the time, the State withheld their remains, denying families the chance to mourn and bury their loved ones with dignity. ALSO READ: Winnie Khumalo laid to rest at Westpark Cemetery These individuals were interred as paupers in cemeteries around Tshwane without the knowledge or consent of their families. Moloise was convicted in 1983 and executed in 1985 for the 1982 assassination of a security policeman. He denied any involvement, claiming he confessed under duress. The ANC consistently maintained his innocence. Mngomezulu was executed on May 25, 1989, after being convicted for the 1987 murder of Mandla Khoza during a rent boycott protest in Soweto. ALSO READ: Residents warned of sunken graves in Olifantsvlei cemetery He was sentenced to death, while four teenage co-accused received prison terms ranging from eight to 15 years. 'These two patriots are part of the great army of liberation that took up arms and fought for the liberation of the oppressed Africans since the dawn of colonialism. 'It was because of their heroic deeds and unbreakable spirit that the apartheid regime decided it should be forever silenced. 'Yet, it was because of their heroic deeds and unbreakable spirit that the apartheid regime was destroyed and thrown into the dustbin of history,' said Kubayi. She added, 'Not only did the regime want them silenced, but it was also the apartheid regime's wish that our heroes should be forgotten for good. It is for this reason that the regime decided that after they were executed, our struggle heroes would be buried as paupers in unmarked graves. 'By burying them in an unmarked grave, the enemy wanted to ensure that the stories of their bravery would never be told. ALSO READ: Foreign man wanted for rape and murder of girl (6) in Orlando The enemy wanted to ensure that their courageous and heroic deeds would also be buried with them so that they could normalise oppression and racial segregation. 'In their short-sightedness and arrogance in power, the enemies of freedom were under the illusion that apartheid would last forever and the liberation struggle would end in vain. They were wrong.' During the ceremony, their remains were returned to their families, offering long-overdue closure and recognition of the ultimate sacrifice made in the struggle for freedom. 'It is significant that this handover ceremony is also taking place during the Africa Month celebration, which we are celebrating this year under the theme Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations. Moloise and Mngomezulu fought for justice for Africans, so today, we are here to restore their dignity through a proper burial and celebrate their contribution towards the liberation of this country. 'Their remains were exhumed by the Missing Persons Task Team, assisted by the Truth and Reconciliation Unit in its co-ordinating capacity. ALSO READ: Relatives urged to come forward to claim bodies of loved ones by local hospital The exhumation was done in line with the Gallows Exhumation Project, officially launched by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in March 2016 by the former minister of Justice and Correctional Services. 'The project aims to locate and recover the graves of all political prisoners executed on the gallows and whose bodies remained the property of the State. 'These political prisoners were buried as paupers in unmarked graves in local municipal cemeteries within hours of their executions.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
04-05-2025
- The South African
NPA recovers remains of anti-apartheid activists after four decades
The NPA recovered the bodies of two anti-apartheid activists, who the apartheid regime buried without their families' consent. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recovered the remains of Benjamin Malesella Moloise and Abraham Zakhele Mngomezulu. The apartheid state hanged both activists in the 1980s. Four decades later, authorities discovered their graves in Mamelodi, Pretoria, far from their homes and without family consent. Moloise was convicted of the killing of a security police officer in 1982 and was executed in 1985. The ANC declared him innocent, and he maintained that authorities coerced his confession. His execution sparked international outrage, and several protests erupted globally, condemning his execution. The apartheid regime convicted Mngomezulu in a politically charged trial for a death during a protest in Soweto. They executed him in 1989 at the age of 23. The apartheid government quietly buried the bodies to avoid public funerals that could cause more protests. HAND OVER OF REMAINS On Sunday, 4 May 2025, Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi will hand over the recovered remains at a ceremony at the Orlando Communal Hall in Soweto. In a media statement, the NPA said that they commend the hard work of the Missing Persons Task Team and the TRC Unit in bringing closure to the families of these anti-apartheid activists. They said that this milestone marks an important step towards healing, justice, and reconciliation in South Africa. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Soweto commemorates the reburial of anti-apartheid activists Moloise and Mngomezulu
A solemn and historic handover and reburial ceremony is under way for the exhumed remains of political activists who were hanged on death row for politically related offences. Image: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development / Facebook The handover and reburial ceremony of anti-apartheid activists, Benjamin Malesella Moloise and Abraham Zakhele Mngomezulu, is under way in Soweto today after the remains of the Struggle heroes were exhumed. The political activists, who were hanged on death row for politically related offences, were buried without their families' consent in pauper graves in October 1985 and May 1989. The ceremony forms part of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development's (DoJ&CD) Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Unit's recommendations, which includes creating appropriate memorials, offering medical support, aiding affected communities, and providing educational bursaries to descendants of apartheid-era victims. Malesella Benjamin Moloise was convicted in 1983 and executed in 1985 for the 1982 assassination of a security policeman. Image: South African History Online DoJ&CD Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, presided over the solemn and historic handover and reburial ceremony held at the Orlando Communal Hall in Soweto. The department said the significant event marks an important milestone in South Africa's ongoing journey towards healing, justice, and reconciliation. 'The department, on behalf of the State, remains firmly committed to advancing justice, fostering national healing, and preserving the dignity of those who paid the highest price in the fight against apartheid,' the DoJ&CD said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Between 1960 and 1990, at least 130 individuals were executed on death row for politically motivated offences. Image: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development / Facebook Between 1960 and 1990, at least 130 individuals were executed on death row for politically motivated offences. At the time, the state withheld their remains, denying families the opportunity to mourn and bury their loved ones with dignity. These individuals were interred as paupers in cemeteries around Tshwane, without the knowledge or consent of their families. Moloise, an ANC activist, was convicted in 1983 and executed in 1985 for the 1982 assassination of a security policeman. He denied any involvement, claiming his confession was made under duress. The ANC has consistently maintained his innocence. Anti-apartheid activists, Benjamin Malesella Moloise and Abraham Zakhele Mngomezulu's remains were exhumed in Tshwane. Image: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development / Facebook
