Media Advisory

Minister Lamola to lead the handover and reburial ceremony of the human remains of the last Mamelodi Ten Activist

28 September 2023

On Friday, September 29, 2023, Mr Ronald Lamola (MP), the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, will lead the handover and reburial ceremony of the human remains belonging to the last Mamelodi Ten student activist. The event will take place at Solomon Mahlangu Square in Mamelodi, Pretoria. 

Ten young teenage student activists from Mamelodi were abducted and killed on June 26 1986, in a planned joint operation by the Northern Transvaal Security Police and the South African Defence Force's Special Forces. The ten were persuaded by Joe Mamasela, posing as an MK operative, to leave the country for military training. 

However, they were taken to an area near Nietverdient where they were reportedly injected with chemicals to make them sleep and then placed into a kombi set alight. All ten were severely burnt and were later buried as unidentified paupers at the Winterveld cemetery. The Missing Persons Task Team (MPTT) located and exhumed nine of the ten bodies in 2005. 

This was followed by the handover ceremony of the remains, which was coordinated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Unit in September 2008. 

In 2018 and 2019, the MPTT recommended excavation at the cemetery and was able to locate the last body during the exhumation process conducted on Thursday, December 19 2019. 

The handover ceremony of the tenth body will take place on September 29 2023, and will be buried alongside the other nine student activists at Mamelodi. 

The names of the Mamelodi Ten are Jeremiah Ntuli, Morris Kabini, Jeremiah Magagula, Steven Makena, Rooibaard Geldenhuys, Samuel Masilela, Thomas Phiri, Elliot Sathege, Phillip Sibanyoni and Abram Makolane. 

Members of the media are invited as follows: 
DATE: September 29 2023 
TIME: 10h00 
VENUE: Solomon Mahlangu Square, Mamelodi Pretoria 

For media confirmations, contact Solly Kganyago at 063 4897073 or Victor Mateane Phala on 084 888 5162.

Enquiries:  
Mr. Chrispin Phiri 
Spokesperson: Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services 
081 781 2261 

Issued by the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services