LIZO NGQUNGWANA
Imprisoned for Life
(Original biographical information included with his bracelet in 1987)
When Lizo Ngqungwana and 14 fellow accused entered the dock of the Cape Town Supreme Court on April 21, 1987, the main charge was one of ‘terrorism” rather than the charge of treason which had been suggested at earlier court hearings. With Lizo (26), were Cecil Esau (25), Thembinkosi Mzukwa (26), Joseph Ngoma (28), Temba Tshibika (38), Sazi Veldtman (32), Mthetho Myamya (24), Neville van der Rheede (26), Gladwin Mabengeza (36), Cyril Ntabeni (36), and Norman Macanda (29).
The accused faced alternative charges of membership in the ANC, and participating in its activities or furthering its aims. The charges arose from the alleged operation of a number of ANC cells in the Western Cape area under the overall control of Ngqungwana, Accused Number 1, who was described as Western Cape military commander for the ANC’s armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). The group’s activities included armed actions as well as importing arms and ammunition. Most of the accused had been in custody since April 1986.
The court heard details of the arrest of the men, many of whom were assaulted or tortured. Ngqungwana was strangled with a belt, kicked and hit with a gun butt. Myamya was forced to lie on the floor. He was interrogated by one policeman while another pinned his head to the ground with his boot. Afterwards his clothes were soaked with blood.
The trial came to an abrupt end on May 29th when 13 of the defendants changed their pleas. The remaining accused, van der Rheede and Tshibika, were acquitted. Six pleaded guilty to terrorism; Ngqungwana admitted being the regional MK commander; Mzukwa admitted two hand-grenade attacks in 1985 – on Langa police station and on a casspir (an armored police vehicle); Ngoma admitted undergoing military training and planting two mines at Mowbray railway station in 1986 to mark May Day; Veldtman, Michels and Esau admitted transporting, storing and hiding arms and explosives.
Ngqungwana was sentenced to life imprisonment. All of the accused outlined their experiences of oppression under apartheid. Many of them, as school students, had lived through the nationwide uprising of 1976. Ngoma and Michels both told of seeing school friends shot dead during peaceful protests.
The convicted combatants described the ANC’s policy of avoiding civilian casualties wherever possible, a view supported by expert defence witness Professor Colin Bundy. Ngqungwana declared, “I do not believe this should be made an issue by the state which itself daily injures and kills unarmed defenseless civilians.”
_____________
The source of this information is International Defence and Aid’s newsletter, Focus, #72, Sept-Oct., 1987. We appreciate their permission to use this material.
The accused faced alternative charges of membership in the ANC, and participating in its activities or furthering its aims. The charges arose from the alleged operation of a number of ANC cells in the Western Cape area under the overall control of Ngqungwana, Accused Number 1, who was described as Western Cape military commander for the ANC’s armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). The group’s activities included armed actions as well as importing arms and ammunition. Most of the accused had been in custody since April 1986.
The court heard details of the arrest of the men, many of whom were assaulted or tortured. Ngqungwana was strangled with a belt, kicked and hit with a gun butt. Myamya was forced to lie on the floor. He was interrogated by one policeman while another pinned his head to the ground with his boot. Afterwards his clothes were soaked with blood.
The trial came to an abrupt end on May 29th when 13 of the defendants changed their pleas. The remaining accused, van der Rheede and Tshibika, were acquitted. Six pleaded guilty to terrorism; Ngqungwana admitted being the regional MK commander; Mzukwa admitted two hand-grenade attacks in 1985 – on Langa police station and on a casspir (an armored police vehicle); Ngoma admitted undergoing military training and planting two mines at Mowbray railway station in 1986 to mark May Day; Veldtman, Michels and Esau admitted transporting, storing and hiding arms and explosives.
Ngqungwana was sentenced to life imprisonment. All of the accused outlined their experiences of oppression under apartheid. Many of them, as school students, had lived through the nationwide uprising of 1976. Ngoma and Michels both told of seeing school friends shot dead during peaceful protests.
The convicted combatants described the ANC’s policy of avoiding civilian casualties wherever possible, a view supported by expert defence witness Professor Colin Bundy. Ngqungwana declared, “I do not believe this should be made an issue by the state which itself daily injures and kills unarmed defenseless civilians.”
_____________
The source of this information is International Defence and Aid’s newsletter, Focus, #72, Sept-Oct., 1987. We appreciate their permission to use this material.