Media Statements

Minister Masutha to handover exhumed remains of 17 hanged PAC Paarl Political Activists

20 March 2018

As part of commemorating Human Rights Month this March, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Adv. Michael Masutha will, on behalf of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), officially hand over the remains of 17 Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) Paarl political activists in Queenstown, (Eastern Cape), this week.

All 17 PAC members were hanged at the Pretoria Central Prison gallows, now known as Kgosi Mampuru for incidents that took place during the period of intense political turmoil in the Eastern Cape between1963 and 1967.

The handover is part of the gallows project which entails the exhumation, handover and reburial of the remains of 83 political prisoners who were hanged at the Kgosi Mampuru gallows and buried in unmarked graves. A total of 130 political prisoners were hanged at the gallows between 1960 and 1990.
Members of the media are invited as follows: 

Date:              23 March 2018
Venue:           Mzingisi Skweyiya Hall, Queenstown 
Time:             09:00

For media confirmations contact: Suzan Mphuthi on 083 672 5805 or e-mail: SMphuthi@justice.gov.za  

Issued by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development  

Enquiries:
Mr Steve Mahlangu
Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services
079 878 7587
Mediaenquiries@justice.gov.za