7 November 2014
The Department of Military Veterans together with Department of Justice and Correctional Services and the Nelson Mandela Municipality hosted the 50th Anniversary of the Execution of the three struggle stalwarts Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Khayingo and Zinakile Mkaba.
The programme included the visit by the families of the three who were executed to Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility where they will relive the experiences as part of the healing, reconciliation, the building of social cohesion and nation building.
The three freedom fighters and members of Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested on 10 May 1963. In March 1964, they were sentenced to death. Mini, Khayingo and Mkaba were the first members of Umkhonto we Sizwe to be executed in the Pretoria Central Prison (now Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility) on 06 November 1964.
The commemoration started at the place where the three were executed in Gauteng then the programme will then extend to the Eastern Cape wherein a memorial lecture and a commemoration event will be held.
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The initiative of establishing the Department of Military Veterans forms part of government's commitment to support and recognise Military Veterans for their contribution to bring about the realisation of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
A dignified, unified, empowered and self-sufficient military veterans’ community.
To facilitate delivery and co-ordinate all activities that recognise and entrench the restoration of dignity and appreciation of the contribution of Military Veterans to our freedom and nation building.
