PAC Welcomes Justice Minister’s Approval for Inquest into 1993 Apartheid-Era Killing of Five Children in Mthatha

PAC Welcomes Justice Minister’s Approval for Inquest into 1993 Apartheid-Era Killing of Five Children in Mthatha. The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania has hailed the decision by Mmamoloko Kubayi to probe the tragic deaths of the young victims gunned down by the apartheid army at the home of activist Sigqibo Mpendulo, expressing hope that it will uncover the truth and bring long-awaited closure to grieving families amid concerns over the slow progress of such cases.

Tragic Details of the 1993 Mthatha Raid

The heartbreaking incident took place on the night of 8 October 1993, when soldiers from the South African Defence Force stormed a house at number 47 AC Jordan Street in Northcrest, Mthatha, in the former Transkei homeland. The five children, all linked to the Pan Africanist Congress and its armed wing, the Azanian People’s Liberation Army, were fast asleep when the troops opened fire. They were preparing for their final exams, a simple act of daily life shattered by violence.

The victims were twins Samora and Sadat Mpendulo, both aged 17 and sons of PAC activist Sigqibo Mpendulo; Mzwandile Mfeya, 12; Sandiso Yose, 12; and Thando Mtembu, 17. According to eyewitness accounts and later investigations, the boys were shot multiple times in their beds, with no chance to defend themselves. The SADF later issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted an alleged APLA arms storage facility and training base. However, no weapons were found, and the raid was widely condemned as excessive and unjustified.

Former state president FW de Klerk authorised the operation but described the deaths as a “tragic accident” in public statements. He admitted to approving the raid based on intelligence reports but claimed the soldiers believed the house held armed insurgents. Despite this, human rights groups and the PAC labelled it a deliberate act of terror against black youth fighting for freedom. The boys were not hardened fighters but schoolchildren with dreams, caught in the crossfire of apartheid’s dying days.

Recent Approval Sparks Hope for Justice

On 8 September 2025, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi gave the green light for a joint inquest into the killings, following a request from the National Prosecuting Authority’s Priority Crimes Litigation Unit. The NPA, which reviews apartheid-era cases flagged by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, welcomed the move as a step towards accountability. This unit has been pushing to reopen cold cases where amnesty was denied or evidence was incomplete, aiming to deliver justice for victims’ families after decades of silence.

The inquest will look into the circumstances of the deaths, including who gave the orders, who carried them out and any possible cover-ups. It forms part of a wider effort by the government to address unresolved apartheid crimes, similar to recent probes into the Cradock Four, Pebco Three and other high-profile cases. For instance, in July 2025, Kubayi reopened the inquest into the Pebco Three’s murders, and in June 2025, she attended the Cradock Four hearings, showing a pattern of renewed focus on healing old wounds.

Kubayi has also finalised regulations for compensating apartheid victims, announced in July 2025, which could provide financial support to affected families. These steps reflect growing pressure from civil society and political groups to speed up prosecutions and offer reparations, ensuring the past is not forgotten.

PAC’s Response and Calls for Swift Action

The PAC has been quick to praise the approval but voiced worries about the overall slow pace of apartheid-era inquests and prosecutions. Party President Mzwanele Nyhontso highlighted the emotional toll on survivors and the need for real answers. “We also hope that this inquest will bring closure to the families of the deceased. We also hope that for the first time, we will be able to know who pulled the trigger and killed these children in that house. We also hope that we will know who collaborated with them and led them straight to the house where these kids were sleeping, so we are hoping for the best,” he said.

Nyhontso pointed out that many similar cases linger without resolution, eroding public trust in the justice system. The PAC, founded in 1959 as a breakaway from the ANC to push for Africanist ideals and land return, has long fought for recognition of its members’ sacrifices. This inquest could shine a light on collaborators—possibly informers within communities—who guided the SADF to the house, a common tactic in apartheid’s dirty war.

Heartfelt Perspectives from Affected Families

For the families, the inquest stirs mixed feelings of hope and pain. Sigqibo Mpendulo, the father of the twins and owner of the raided home, has spoken out over the years about his loss. In interviews, he described how the killings destroyed his family—his wife passed away 10 years later, unable to cope with the grief. “Inquest won’t bring back my children,” he said recently, but he welcomes any chance to hold perpetrators accountable.

Mpendulo has called for charges against De Klerk, who never fully apologised beyond calling it an accident. In 2007, he pushed for legal action, and in 2021, after De Klerk’s death, he lamented the lack of closure. Other families, like those of Mfeya, Yose and Mtembu, echo this, sharing stories of shattered lives and unanswered questions. The TRC hearings in the 1990s offered some details but no prosecutions, leaving a void that this inquest might fill.

Historical Context of Apartheid Violence

The Mthatha raid was one of many brutal acts in the early 1990s, as apartheid crumbled amid negotiations for democracy. The SADF often targeted PAC and APLA strongholds in the Transkei, a homeland seen as a base for resistance. Just months earlier, APLA attacks like the St James Church massacre in Cape Town killed 11 people, heightening tensions and prompting retaliatory raids.
The TRC’s final report condemned the killings as “gross human rights violations,” finding no justification for shooting sleeping children. It noted the raid’s authorisation at the highest levels and recommended further probes, but amnesty applications from soldiers were rejected or incomplete. This era saw thousands die in political violence, with children often caught in the middle—similar raids in other areas killed more young lives, underscoring the regime’s desperation.

Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape, was a hotbed for PAC activity, with its rural setting offering cover for anti-apartheid fighters. The raid not only took lives but also sowed fear, aiming to crush resistance before the 1994 elections.

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