Campaigns against death sentences and executions
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Campaigns against death sentences and executions
Particularly alarming were death sentences imposed under the "sabotage act" of 1962, and other arbitrary laws, for political offences. Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Khayinga and Zinakile Mkaba, three leaders of the African National Congress and the South African Congress of Trade Unions in Port Elizabeth, were sentenced to death in March 1964. (Mini was also a composer and singer and had written many popular freedom songs). The indictment referred to a petrol bomb attack on the house of an informer which resulted in his death, but none of them was charged with direct participation in the attack.
Washington Bongco, an ANC leader in East London, was similarly sentenced to death in the same month under the "sabotage act".
A campaign against death sentences and executions was launched by the UN Special Committee and the World Campaign. The UN Security Council, in June 1964, called on South Africa to renounce the execution of any persons sentenced to death for their opposition to apartheid. Appeals for clemency were sent by a number of governments, trade unions and other organisations. But the three men in Port Elizabeth were hanged on November 6, 1964, and Mr. Bongco in February 1965.
Many campaigns against detentions and trials of opponents of apartheid and against death sentences have been launched since then by the anti-apartheid movements and other organisations, with the support of the UN Special Committee. They concerned a number of freedom fighters who have been executed: Solomon Mahlangu (executed on April 6, 1979); Jerry Mosololi, Marcus Motoung and Thelle Mogoerane (June 9, 1983); Benjamin Moloise, (October 18, 1985); Sipho Xulu, Clarence Payi and Sibuyiso Zondo (September 9, 1986); and Moises Jantjies and Wellington Melies (September 1987). Campaigns were successful in other cases: freedom fighters were spared the death sentence, or won appeals, or, as in the case of James Mange, had the sentences commuted because of international pressure.
The "no apartheid executions" campaign had to be greatly expanded in the past few years because of numerous trials with the threat of death sentences. The death sentences against the "Sharpeville Six" and the cases of thirty or more political prisoners on the death row are currently matters of acute concern.
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