By: Zilungile Mkhize
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the approval by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, for an inquest into the 1993 killing of five children by members of the apartheid-era South African Defence Force (SADF) in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape.
The victims, aged between 12 and 17, were shot and killed at the home of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) activist, Sigqibo Mpendulo.
According to the NPA’s regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, the SADF had claimed responsibility for the killings, alleging that the children were linked to the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA), the armed wing of the PAC.
The incident occurred during a turbulent period in the early 1990s, when political violence and state repression intensified in the lead-up to South Africa’s first democratic elections. The inquest aims to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and determine whether any individuals can be held accountable.
