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MKMVA Media Release, 10 October 2008 Briefing on the Mamelodi 10 In 1986, a group of 10 township youth activists who were part of our movement, were enticed by the Security Police into thinking they were to join Umkhonto we Sizwe and undergo military training. This was not to be realised, because an ambush had been prepared and organised by the askari Constable Joe Mamasela, who was posing as an agent of MK. The Mamelodi 10 were lured to their brutal and inhumane fate by the apartheid regime agents. They were injected with a chemical to make them unconscious. They were then bundled into a minibus and driven to Bophutatswana were they were placed in a minibus with a limpet mine and an AK 47. An accident was staged and the minibus was set alight. Their bodies were burnt severely that identification was difficult. The Mamelodi 10 had been found and will be reburied this weekend Sunday, 12th October 2008. The comrades who are being reburied are: 1. Steve Makema 2. Jeremiah Magagula 3. Kabimi Morries 4. Jeremiah Zondi Ntuli 5. Rooibaard Geldenhuys 6. Samuel Masilela 7. Thomas Phiri 8. Elliot Sathekge 9. Abram Makolane 10. Sipho Phillip Sibanyoni When excavation began in 2005, five bodies were recovered and later in the year another five bodies were exhumed. The process to do individual DNA linkages proved to be a difficult one as the remains had aged and the bones had been burnt beyond testing capabilities. In 2006 the remains were sent to a laboratory in the USA and no profiles emerged thus making it difficult to link any of the exhumed bones to the families that had waited for so many years to find closure on this issue. One o the bodies were not consistent with the characteristics of the event and the age profile excluded him from the group. More than 100 hundred remains were excavated in order to find the 10th comrade. In 2007 the remains were sent to the University of the Western Cape where further attempts were made to find and match the DNA profiles with the families. This exercise too proved futile. In 2008 another scientist from the USA as brought in for the last attempt and that time the families were quite happy to go ahead with the burial and that when the 10th remains were found they would perform the exercise to inter the bones of that comrade. The families decided that the wait had been too long and all agreed that the reburial should take place, taking into account the fact that some of the parents had grown too old to wait any longer. The families are happy that finally their loved ones can be laid to rest. However, it must be noted that the Department of Justice has not assisted the process. It has failed to adequately and appropriately use the TRC Fund, which was established to deal with reparations. The remains were exhumed in 2005 and the process to perform DNA linkages with living relatives. For more information contact Kebby Maphatsoe (MKMVA National Chairperson) 083 584 0238. Please also receive below the Programme for the Reburial on Sunday. The media is invited. PHASE 1 PROGRAM: RE-BURIAL OF THE MAMELODI 10 v VIP's arrive - Executive Mayor of Tshwane to receive VIP guests v Welcome - Executive Mayor of Tshwane - Dr. Gwen Ramokgopa v Opening Prayers- Religious Clergy v Speakers: o Cosas o Family Representatives o Father Makhatswa ( Priest to Mamelodi 10) o ANC Youth League o MKMVA National Chairperson Mr Kebby Maphatsoe o The Premier of Gauteng-Honorable Mr Mashatile v Handing over of Death Certificates to families v Tribute-The President of the Republic of South Africa- Kgalema Motlanthe v Sermon-Rev Joe Maphatsoe v Closing Prayers PHASE 2 PROGRAM: CEMETERY v Families arrive at cemetery v Bodies carried to Mass Grave v Flags be taken off by MKMVA members and presented to families v Lowering of Coffins- Trumpeter (last post) v Burial Rites-Religious Clergy v Families show last respects v Closing of Mass Grave PHASE 3 PROGRAM: UNVEILING OF MASS TOMBSTONE OF MAMELODI TEN v Prayer v Reading of Tombstone v Unveiling - Rev Joe Maphatsoe v Vote of thanks on behalf of " Mamelodi Ten" families v Benediction v National Anthem v Retrieve to Solomon Mahlangu Square --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [EMAIL PROTECTED] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [EMAIL PROTECTED] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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