The Volkskaas Bank in Silverton. This was the first Volkskaas bank in South Africa. Source: Pretoria News Library

On 25 January 1980 three MK Cadres – Stephen Mafoko, Humphrey Makhubo and Wilfred Madela – were allegedly on their way to carry out a planned MK sabotage mission on petrol depots at Watloo near Mamelodi. En route, ‘the Trio’ realised they were being tailed by the police. In an attempt to escape, they took refuge in a branch of Volkskas Bank in Silverton, Pretoria. They held 25 civilians in the bank hostage, making a number of demands, including a meeting with State President Vorster, the release of Nelson Mandela and a man called Mange, as well as R100 000 in cash and an aircraft to fly them to Maputo.

References

• Magubane, B. (ed) (2007). South Africa Democracy Education Trust: The Road to Freedom, vol. 2, [1970 – 1980]. University of South Africa Press, Pretoria.
• Mokae, G. (Dr) (2004). Robert McBride: A Coloured life. Published by SAHO with Vista University.
• Various newspaper articles chronicling the event from the Pretoria News Library (See feature archive).
• Interview with Ikanyeng ‘George’ Molebatsi (Accused in Silverton and Soekmekaar trial). Interview conducted by Pambili Productions, 2010.
• ‘ANC calls on International community to save lives’ [online] Available at: www.sahistory.org.za (last accessed June 2011)
• ‘TRC told of distress the 1980 Silverton Bank siege had caused’. South African Press Association [Online], Available at: www.justice.gov.za (last accessed June 2011)
• ‘The Liberation Movements from 1960 to 1990’ [Online] Available at: www.stanford.edu (last accessed June 2011)
• ‘Umkhonto we Sizwe Timeline’ [Online], Available at: www.sahistory.org.za (last accessed June 2011)
• ‘Ncimbithi Lubisi: A Biography’. [Online], Available at: sabracelets.org (last accessed June 2011)
back to top