WeeklySA_AdminHang: Nearly 130 individuals were hanged for politically motivated offences between 1960 and 1990…
By WSAM Reporter
The 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 who were hanged on death row for politically – related offences.
The solemn ceremony was held at the Orlando Communal Hall in Soweto on Saturday morning.
This significant event, the handover and reburial of activists Benjamin Malesella Moloise and Abram Zakhele Mngomezulu, marked an important milestone in South Africa’s ongoing journey towards healing, justice, and reconciliation.
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 activist of ANC, was convicted in 1983 and executed in 1985 for the 1982 assassination of security policeman, Warrant Officer Phillipus Selepe in Mamelodi, Pretoria.. He initially denied any involvement, claiming his confession was made under duress. The ANC consistently maintained his innocence.
Selepe was gunned down at the gate of his house on his return from visiting family members in the area. His body was riddled with bullets fired from an AK47 assault rifle. Although Moloise admitted in court during his trial to having killed Selepe – on the instructions of certain ANC guerrillas – the ANC maintained that he was not the killer.
Selepe’s death was an apparent revenge because he was one of the investigating officers in the treason trial of the Moroka Three – Simon Mogoerane, Jerry Mosololi and Marcus Motaung – members of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC, who were convicted and later executed at Pretoria Central prison on June 9, 1983. They were buried at the Mamelodi Cemetery in Pretoria.
Mngomezulu, also an activist of the ANC, was executed on 25 May 1989 after being convicted for the 1987 murder of Mandla Khoza during a rent boycott protest in Soweto. He was sentenced to death, while four teenage co-accused received prison terms ranging from eight to fifteen years.
The ceremony formally returned the remains to their families, offering long-overdue closure and recognition of the ultimate sacrifices made in the struggle for freedom.
The Department, on behalf of the State, said they remained firmly committed to advancing justice, fostering national healing, and preserving the dignity of those who paid the highest price in the fight against apartheid.
MIRROR Briefs
KIDNAPPER’S HOUSE TORCHED
The South African Police Services (SAPS) are investigating the burning down of convicted child trafficker, Racquel ‘’ Kelly’’ Smith’s house hours after she was also convicted of kidnapping .
The incident happened after Western Cape High Judge, Nathan Erasmus, convicted her, her partner, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, of kidnapping and trafficking six-year -old Joshlin Smith. The trio were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing proceedings expected to he held on Friday.
SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant – colonel, Malcolm Pojie, confirmed that the house in Middelpos, Saldanha, was torched on Friday.
“We can confirm that Saldanha SAPS registered an arson case for investigation after Kelly Smith’s Middelpos dwelling was destroyed by a fire. An adult female had been taken in for questioning.” Joshlin was reported missing from her Middelpos home on February 19, 2024. Her disappearance sparked a large-scale manhunt and a months-long investigation that culminated in the arrest of the trio. The matter was postponed to Friday when the court would sit in Cape Town to map out sentencing proceedings. At that juncture, the prosecutors and defence would lead evidence on aggravation and mitigation of sentences. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
TRIO FACE LIFE IN PRISON
Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and their friend Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn who were found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking six-year old Joshlin Smith in the Western Cape High Court, face possible life imprisonment after being convicted on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.
The State succeeded in proving its case beyond reasonable doubt and for Judge Nathan Erasmus to convict the three accused including Smith, the mother of the missing girl – the central figure in the case who masterminded the child’s disappearance.
The three faced charges stemming from Joshlin’s disappearance on 19 February, 2024 from the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay. They had pleaded not guilty. The State had maintained that the accused “sold, delivered or exchanged” Joshlin, a Grade 1 pupil at Diazville Primary, for money. State witness, Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard, who was initially one of the accused, detailed how Joshlin’s mother plotted to sell the six-year-old to a sangoma for R20,000.
The highly anticipated judgment was delivered at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, bringing to a close a harrowing case that had shaken the West Coast community and captured national attention.
The case has been postponed to next week Friday. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
44 ILLEGALS RESCUED
The South African Police Service has rescued 44 illegal immigrants, believed to be Ethiopians, who were found locked in a house in Parkmore, Sandton. They were taken to the local police station to be processed by the Department of Home Affairs. “An investigation is underway to establish how they came to the country and ended up being locked inside the house,” the South African Police Service said in a statement.
It is reported that private security officers, who were conducting routine patrols in the area received a complaint about people who were causing a noise disturbance at the house in question.
The complaint was then escalated to the local police station and police proceeded to the scene. On arrival, police discovered 44 males, who were locked at the backrooms of the main house.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that all males, aged between 15 and 22, were Ethiopian nationals, who were illegal in the country. It is alleged that they were kept against their will in the house.
“The possibility that these individuals were trafficked into the country cannot be ruled out and forms part of the investigation,” the police said. – SAnews
WARDERS IN MURDER RAP
Four Goodwood Correctional Services warders have been suspended following the death of an inmate, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed. The suspension comes after Quinton Fortuin’s body was discovered in the mortuary bearing multiple stab wounds and dog bites. The incident which occurred in February, resulted in desperate inmates writing letters begging for an investigation into the alleged actions by the Emergency Support Team (EST).
According to two of the letters received, Fortuin, who was a ‘’general ‘’of the 26s gang, was allegedly embroiled in an argument with warders and he stabbed one of them. The inmates claim that during the scuffle, the EST locked Fortuin in a single cell where they allegedly continuously beat him before setting dogs to bite him. National Commissioner of DCS, Makgothi Thobakgale, said there were no compelling reasons not to suspend the prison warders and an internal investigation was ongoing. The SA Police Service were investigating a murder docket following Fortuin’s death. He was declared dead on arrival at a medical facility on the evening of February 15.
Thobakgale acknowledged that while there were honest officials working in dangerous conditions, there were also “ gang members… in uniform”. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
