Ÿþm Icrosoft W
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A camnpaign A camnpaign initiated by The Africa-und. Bil Cosby Honorary Charman Durnisani S. Kumrao Coordinawr November, 1989 Dear Friend, Apartheid continues to crush human rights in South Africa. The facts contradict the de Klerk regime's efforts to give the impression that South Africa has become kinder and gentler in 1989. Enclosed is recent information from the Human Rights Commission in South Africa which reveals the true state of affairs. They appeal to us particularly to build campaigns in the coming months on assassinations, political prisoners, and vigilante violence. While the number of people officially detained has fallen under 100 for the first time since the State of Emergency began in 1986, the number of people in detention in their own homes, by virtue of bannings and restrictions is nearly 700. The severity of these restrictions coupled with their effect on the safety of both the restrictees and their families should focus attention on an entire nation in captivity, and one increasingly at risk of assault, abduction and assassination. Indeed some of these restrictees have been killed while trying to obey their restriction orders. There is growing evidence that this is a government sanctioned campaign to assassinate its political opponents. It has claimed 15 lives since January 1988. As the Apartheid Death machine expands its scope, it continues its more traditional functions: 154 people have been executed since the beginning of 1988 and there are 88 political prisoners now on Death Row. December 10th in Human Rights Day, we urge you to join us in making the Apartheid Death bachine a public issue. South Africa will not stop these violations as long as they are ignored. * Write a letter to your local editor highlighting the continuing horror of apartheid. Call for a halt to all apartheid executions. Demand comprehensive economic sanctions. Make the regime think twice about its perceived impunity. * Hold an event in your community such as a church service, vigil or campus teach in as a reminder that efforts to reform Apartheid have been only skin deep. We have a complete list of names of people on Death Row available in our office. Please write and let us know what action you take. Sincerely Adotei Akwei Research Director The Africa Fund, 198 Broadway NewYork, N.Y 10038 (212) 982-1210 TUden J. LeMelle Mairman Jennifer Davis Exemujve Dwoctor No, Jomo, the .,li! ,nn't g" tl l via l40 t leeRl1,50 (SoIh Afic: Rt.33 . 17c GS * Etswhr': R.I ext t cat THE The paper for a changing South Africa Volume 5, Number 41 Friday October 20 1989 to Thursday October 26 19S9 Eleventh-hour confession of 1(an about to hang ... Death-row policeman tells of SB 'hit-squad' BY IVOR POWELL A FORMER security policeman on death row yesterday claimed he was part of a police death-squad that brutally killed leading human rights activist Griffiths Mxengc. butana Almond Nofomela, who was granted a last-minute stay of execution last night, claimed in an affidavit that he was one of four South African security policemen who killed Mxenge under orders from senior officers in the force eight years ago. Nofomela said in the affidavit that he was partially responsible fur eight other political killings ordered by superior officers and that all hut orte of the victinis were connected to the African National Congress. It was utnclear at th time of goitng to prcss whether the confession was genuine, or merely -/ a well-hatched plot Il escape tile inoose %&ailing for Nolonicla curly this morning. if ia is Shown to bc trile, it will he the first niajor ticd ito emerge froin the series I of political assassii lions in receit yCars. ," " 0Ili his affidavit Noto * incla gave a detailed ti scription of ike Nileligc kctlu aitil itg ttc IxilicC olflitcrs HK luhdict a tIrc.igthield j c ii tain. According to siles ii Nat.l, Noiucitla's acCOUill ties Closely with.die fa, is )t Ih case., Justice Minister Kohlce Coctsec grained Notu ncila a last-nlullUle stay oh cccutiot, ysc.rtlay evening after l.awyers for I lucia klighi, hu;i subniiitcd cite afl'idivit ill ail urgen appi tiuiui0t for tihe laclging to be haied. The lc lcIcv c ill reniaici in forte uciI hcliegioci. Ia' sli invetigallc the killiig cit tt setile at I Jilltit Sl iijc .c.. diuni oit Novec citer 14, 1981 was a jCe sta'niI brulal ile. ilie h)lirttii muli ) c il sit, l l i, d witlh knivcs, tics Itirt i ci i as Cul ld h.11 C.11 i%off. flis body was lucuid tile IICXl icirilllg is ill., 21cm gash across lite lcioal, 45 talb i ounu,. and a cished skull. Two fiercc dogs dtial Msxcnge kept hl Iccli, timt' had bhcIl poicocicil a few days cu ett ,c Griffils Muceuge's wile, ViC clra. '.ar, siai dead a few years later Ul dte t- ii - e t1yo cc lv home. Both killings remain unsttvet Nofomela, 32, who was based at securli' branch headquarters in Pretoria, claimed ie was sent to Ourban by senior officers in the L_ .... TO PAGE 2 Policeman's hit-squad claims company of three other "colleagues'. OFrom PAGE 1 The instructions given to the four were to "eliminate" Mxeng "for his carried an butchering him badly," he activities within the ANC", and to said in fte afidavit. make the crime look like arobbery. "We removed Mxenge's items of In the affidavit, be described the value like his money and watch in orjourney to Durbar, and how he poi- der to simulate a robbery". soned the MWenge dogs. Theythen took Mxenge's car to The assassins, Nofomela said, Umlazi police station, and later Noscouted out the Mienge home and the onela drove it to Piet Retief in the route which Griffiths took on his company of a senior white police ofway home from work. ficer, stripped it and set it alight ner "In the meantime I went to the the Swaziland border. house and threw the (poisoned) meat Notomela claimed that be and his into the yard as planned." fellow assassins were each paid Hovftver they were unable to get R1 000. He was told he night be Mxenge until several days later, needed at a later date to kill Mxmge's when they faked a breakdown at a wife, but he was not given further orpoint they knew he would pass on ders in this regard. his way back home from work. He claimed to have taken part in a "Mxenge stopped behind the bakkie series of police killings on ANC tar(where the four were waiting) mad gets, four of them in Swaziland, one asked whether he could help us. I in Maser and one in Botswana. opened the car and I said 'Yes Nofomela said he was visited on please'. He then switched off his ig- death row on a number of occasions nition ad at the same tm I pulled by security branch policemen who asmy firearm, a Makarv pistoL" ireid him that steps were being taken Nofomela then describes how they on his behalf and he would be saved took Mxgcng to Umlazi Stadium and from the noose. But. losing faith on hacked him to death. , receiving his notice of execution last "We then all sLabed him evcW Friday, he sent a message to Lawyers times. He immedially died and we for Human Rights. P0 Box 32723 Braamfontein 2017 Johannesburg lu -IlP South Africa I r> IF(, Qr1(RUrM Phone: (011) 403-4450/1 CO M T- Fax: 339-1422 2 November, 1989. Unlock Apartheid's Jails, The Africa Fund, Dear Friends, First of all, we would like to thank you for the support and the interest you show in South African affairs. We would urge you to take seriously the contents of this mailing and hope that your efforts in respect of Human Rights issues in South Africa be renewed. A new trend has emerged in South Africa in the last couple of months - there have been certain changes, such as the low numbers in detention and the release of some high profile political prisoners. The strategies of the state may have changed but its intentions remain the same. The HRC has noted a marked increase in politically related trials, and subsequent convictions, over the past year. The situation with regard to death row prisoners is serious and despite calls for a halt to executions and calls for a judicial enquiry into the use of the death sentence there seems little likelihood that either of these are being taken seriously. The situation with regard to assassinations and attacks on individuals is as serious. There have been numerous calls for a judicial enquiry into unsolved assassination attacks and attempted assassinations. These calss have gone unheeded, although numbers increase and assassinations and attacks on individuals continue. We will continue to monitor and work towards the upholding of the articles as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We are encouraged by the many others - both individuals and groups - who are also striving to this end. Again with thanks and best wishes. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Commissioners: Reverend Frank Chikane, Dr Max Coleman, Professor John Dugard ' Mrs Sheena Duncan, Father Smangaliso Mkhalshwa LIST OF PERSONS ON DEATH ROW FOR POLITICALLY-RELATED REASONS Dickson MADIKANE Patrick MANGINDA Zwelenkosi MJO Oupa Josias MBONANE (stay of execution 5/25/89) Gilindoda GXEXWA Nico Ledube MNYAMANA Clifford ? Abraham ZEYO Vusumsi JACK Mxolisi NCAPAYI Mthetheleli MNCUBE Stanford LELEMPE Mthetheleli LUCAS Mandla MNGOMEZULU (executed 5/25/89) Absolom NKOBELA (appealed 8/18/89) Mpande Joseph MAHLALELA Phutumile DLABATHI Jerry MOLEBENG Mkhuseli MDEPHA Mangena BOESMAN (executed 9/29/89) Ringo FARLAND Patrick MOLEFE George MAUNGEDZO Nelson BOSS Steven Mnyamazeli DYAMANI Ting Ting MASANGO Leonard SHEEHANA Eric Tros GUBULA Myner Gudlani BOVU Andrew LEKHANYANE Zonga ZABENDLINI Boy JAFTA Gideon MADLONGOLWANE Albert TYWILI Phumzile MAYAPHI Mabongo JAMELA