The NPA recovered the bodies of two anti-apartheid activists, who the apartheid regime buried without their families’ consent.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ACTIVISTS?
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.
What do you think this recovery says about South Africa’s ongoing efforts to confront its apartheid past and deliver justice to affected families?
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.
