November 6 marks the day on which Wilson Khayingo, Vuyisile Mini and Zinakile Mkaba were executed by the apartheid regime in 1964 and the next year in February Nolali Mpentse, Daniel Ndongeni and Samuel Jonas were hanged.
These were leading members of ANC , SACTU (South African Congress of Trade Unions) and the Eastern Cape Region High Command of Umkhonto Wesizwe, who were persecuted for the valiant contribution they made to the struggle to overthrow the apartheid regime.
We also honour other fallen martyrs on this day of the Nelson Mandela Metro, including Zola Nqini, Phakamile Mpongishe, Ligwa Mdlankomo, Fikile Marwanqa, George Botha, Lilian Diedericks, Nomkhosi Mini, Fikile Kobese, John Gomomo, Nomvume Mnyazi …….too many to name.
In 1961 after the banning of the ANC, MK in Port Elizabeth had structured itself into various underground units and the apex structure was the Eastern Cape Regional High Command. One of the small units within the High Command was the Sabotage Task Team, whose members were Govan Mbeki, Harold Strachan, Joseph Jack, and Benson Fihla. Their job was to make the explosives; and below them was a smaller cell, whose members planted and detonated the bombs
The Sabotage Task Team would pass the explosives to a small Technical Team of three people, namely Wilson Khayingo, Zinakele Mkaba and Robert Mbanjwa whose task was to plant and detonate Bombs.
In 1962 Robert Mbanjwa left the country for exile and was replaced by Vuyisile Mini.
Khayingo, Mkaba and Mini were later arrested and charged with 17 counts of sabotage, burning down houses, cutting telephone wires, unlawful possession of bombs and breaking into and entering an explosives place and theft of firearms, dynamite and detonators from Frazer’s Quarries and one count of murder. They were charged for the assassination of siphon mange who was an MK operative who had turned state witness and was to testify in a sabotage trial in 1963. The three were sentenced to death and were hanged on 6 November 1964 at the Pretoria Central Prison.
This year’s 59th Anniversary of Khayingo, Mkaba and Mini is also aimed at launching the book written by Benson Fihla called “The Urban Guerilla who danced to Freedom” he was in the same MK Eastern Cape Regional High Command with Mini, Khayingo and Mkaba.
The event to commemorate the 59 Anniversary of the hanging of Khayingo, Mkaba and Mini will be held today , Monday 6 November 2023 starting 09:00 with wreath laying at Paapenkuil Cemetery in Gelvandale and at 10:00 proceed to eMlotheni Memorial Park in New Brighton.
The guest speaker will be the Deputy President of the ANC Veterans League , Comrade Mavuso Msimango .
ISSUED BY :
Cde Mzolisi Dyasi
Convener – ANC Veterans League Nelson Mandela Region
Mobile No :083 495 1423
