History Matters Blog :

Andrew Zondo is executed

Date: 9 September, 1986

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Andrew Sibusiso Zondo was executed after he was found guilty of a bomb attack in a shopping centre in Amanzimtoti where three adults and two children were killed. Zondo was a member of the African National Congress (ANC)'s Butterfly Unit of its armed wing Umkhonto weSizwe (MK).  

On 20 December 1985, the South African security forces carried out a cross border raid in Lesotho that killed nine people. In retaliation for the raid, Zondo and other members of MK placed a bomb in a shopping centre at Amanzimtoti on 23 December 1985. Three adults and two children were killed, and 40 others were injured as a result of the bomb explosion. Zondo was arrested on 29 December 1985 and charged with 5 counts of murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death on each of the five counts and refused leave to appeal. The main state witness in his trial was Mr X (Thembinkosi Mofokeng) who was alleged to be Zondo's accomplice, was granted immunity from prosecution. Zondo was executed on 09 September 1986 at the age of 19.

 

References:

  1. Fatima Meer, (1987), The Trial of Andrew Zondo, A sociological insight, Johannesburg.

  2. J.C Buthelezi, (2002),  Dalibunga Rholihlahla Nelson Mandela An ecological Study, (Canada), p.552

  3. Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau; Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds) (1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood).

  4. Author, 1986, South Africa, Black, 19, Guilty of Shopping Bombing' [online], available at www.nytimes.com/[accessed: 26 August 2010]

  5. Author, (unknown), 2007, 'DA, IFP take renaming battle to the streets' [online], available at http://www.iol.co.za/ [accessed: 26 August 2010]

  6. Author, (SAPA), 1996, 'Judges should appear before the Truth Commission', [online], available at www.justice.gov.za/  [accessed: 26 August 2010]

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