A Village Destroyed

The case against Patsolo Xhego, Mtalatala Xhego, Bawkazi Magqinkani, Light Magqikani, Maliza Vulindlela, Bekapansi Vulindlela, Bennet Mpetu, Sadunge Vulindlela, Weduwedu Nokula, Nqaba Memani, Sihelegu Vulindlela, Siwana Mlahleki, Manini Mzanywa, Luse Mtembekwane, Nkwenkwe Gaqa, Poli Mili, Bonase Vulindlela, Mbaco Xhego, Nto Nkani, Natokolo Mhlabeni, Tuse Nzanywa and Tswepe Nonyukela.

Sometime in August 1964 the Executive Council met in Pretoria to decide the fate of 22 men from Mputi Village in the Umtata District in the Transkei. Together with Tembeni Swelindawa, the 22 had been sentenced to death a year earlier for the murder of two construction workers and the family of one of them who were involved in the building of a new national road from Umtata to Engcobo. Tembeni Swelindawa had died of natural causes on Pretoria's death row in October 1963, so it was the fate of 22 that lay in the hands of State President Charles Robberts Swart, Prime Minister Hendrik Frensch Verwoed, Justice Minister Balthazar Johannes Vorster and an unknown number of other Ministers. To decide whether to grant clemency or not, the politicians had a number of reports at their disposal, including one from Vorster, in which he suggested that clemency be granted to ten of the convicted me, while the other 12 should be hanged. The Executive Council followed Vorster's recommendations and commuted the death sentence of Patsolo Xhego, Weduwedu Nokula, Manini Mzanywa, Luse Mtembekwane, Nkwenkwe Gaqa, Mbaco Xhego, Nto Nkani, Natokolo Mhlabeni, Tuse Nzanywa and Tswepe Nonyukela to life in imprisonment. At the same time, they decided that Mtalatala Xhego, Bawkazi Magqinkani, Light Magqikani, Maliza Vulindlela, Bekapansi Vulindlela, Bennet Mpetu, Sadunge Vulindlela, Nqaba Memani, Sihelegu Vulindlela, Siwana Mlahleki, Poli Mili and Bonase Vulindlela should hang. Thus, Executive Council Resolution 1614 of August 1964 decided that 12 Mputi village resident should hang, while were reprieved. What the ministers presumably did not not know or did not care about - at the time of their meeting, was that Mtalatala Xhego, Bawkazi Magqinkani, Light Magqikani, Maliza Vulindlela, Bekapansi Vulindlela, Bennet Mpetu, Sadunge Vulindlela, Nqaba Memani, Sihelegu Vulindlela, Siwana Mlahleki, Poli Mili and Bonase Vulindlela had already been taken from their cells in Pretoria to the gallows on July 3 a full month before the Executive Council met to decide their fate! Luse Mtembekwane should hang. Mtalatala Xhego, Bawkazi Magqinkani, Light Magqikani, Maliza Vulindlela, Bekapansi Vulindlela, Bennet Mpetu, Sadunge

Vulindlela, Nqaba Memani, Sihelegu Vulindlela, Mlahleki, Poli Mili and Bonase Vulindlela should hang. ten others ,,

Siwana

The case against Patsolo Xhego, Mtalatala Xhego, Bawkazi Magqinkani, Light Magqikani, Maliza Vulindlela, Bekapansi Vulindlela, Bennet Mpetu, Sadunge Vulindlela, Weduwedu Nokula, Nqaba Memani, Sihelegu Vulindlela, Siwana Mlahleki, Manini Mzanywa, Luse Mtembekwane, Mkwenkwe Gaqa, Poli Mili, Bonase Vulindlela, Mbaco Xhego, Nto Nkani, Natokolo Mhlabeni, Tuse Nzanywa and Tswepe Nonyukela.

Balthazar Johannes Vorster

Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd

Charles Robberts Swart

Charles Robberts Swart

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