The story of how the Mpondo people rose up in protest in 1960 against state interference in their affairs will be recounted during a three-day human rights violations hearing in Lusikisiki this week.
Eastern Cape TRC spokesman Phila Ngqumba said up to 100 people were expected to testify during the hearing, which will also look at human rights abuses perpetrated in Eastern Pondoland during the reign of former Transkei ruler Kaiser Matanzima.
According to a commission research document, the Pondoland revolt in the districts of Lusikisiki, Flagstaff, Bizana, Tabankulu and Mount Ayliff was triggered by opposition to the introduction of Bantu Authorities.
The Mpondos were also unhappy about government's appointment of Chief Botha Sigcau - Public Enterprises Minister Stella Sigcau's father - as their paramount chief.
The rebels formed an "Intaba" (mountain) committee and retreated to the safety of the hills, where they set up a rival administration and burnt the huts of government informers.
Government responded swiftly by sending armoured units and aircraft to crush resistance. This led to a police assault on the rebel headquarters at Ngquza Hill, situated between Bizana and Lusikisiki, on June 6 1960.
Two aircraft and a helicopter dropped teargas and smoke-bombs on the crowd. Police fired on the crowd, killing at least 11 people.
Government declared a state of emergency and thousands of men and women were jailed. Twenty others were sentenced to death for their part in the revolt.
Government also banished and imprisoned most of the rebel leaders while a heavy police presence in Eastern Pondoland helped subdue the Mpondo people.
Ngqumba said survivors of the revolt would testify on Monday while the remainder of the hearing would focus on the abuses perpetrated in Eastern Pondoland under Matanzima's government.