History Matters Blog :

P. W. Botha grants reprieve to the "Sharpeville Six"

sharpevillesharpeville

Date: 23 November, 1988

South African President P. W. Botha granted a reprieve to the "Sharpeville Six" (Reginald Sefatsa, Reid Mokoena, Moses Diniso, Theresa Ramashamole, Duma Khumalo and Francis Mokhesi), who were condemned to death for allegedly being part of a crowd that killed Kuzwayo Jacob Dlamini the deputy Mayor of Sharpeville in September 1984. Botha's reprieve came after his initial decline in 1986,citing that he would be undermining the rule of law.

Click here to read about Justice Minister's intervention with 'Sharpeville Six' case.

Click here to read about the opening of the murder trial involving the 'Sharpeville Six'

References:

  1. This day in history archive from About Africa [online], available at: http://africanhistory.about.com [accessed November 2010]
  2. Timeline 1900's from South African History Online [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za [accessed November 2010]