Activist says young people need to be educated on apartheid crimes

The NGO dedicated to address apartheid crimes, Khulumani Support Group, is urging young people to acquaint themselves about the brutality of the apartheid regime to ensure that such crimes never happen again.

The NGO’s Dr Marjorie Johnson is also advocating for those behind the crimes to be held accountable, instead of authorities going around in circles.

Khulumani Support Group’s remarks come as the Pietermaritzburg High Court is this week hearing the inquest on late anti-apartheid activist and former ANC president, Chief Albert Luthuli, who died after being hit by a train in Groutville in 1967.

Luthuli was known for his firm stance against the racist regime. He won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work, becoming the first South African to receive the accolade in the 1960s.

During today’s proceedings, the high court in Pietermaritzburg heard how the oppressive white regime might have worked with the courts to make Luthuli’s death seem like an accident.

The matter continues tomorrow.

This while a probe into another activist and lawyer, Griffiths Mxenge, who was stabbed to death 45 times by three apartheid police officers in 1981 was postponed to June for witness preparation. Only two people who were involved in his death are still alive.

Other crimes that continue to dog apartheid enforces are the murders of the COSAS 4 and that of the Cradock Four, which is set to get underway on Wednesday.

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Dr Johnson says the brutality Palestinians are currently being subjected to has triggered memories of apartheid.

She believes young people should be empowered with such an unpalatable truth for them to understand how violent the apartheid regime was on black bodies.

 

The Khulumani Support Group represents and supports over 100 000 victims of apartheid and their families.

Dr Johnson has slammed authorities, who she accuses of having purposefully delayed the process of apartheid regime cases being heard in court.

 

She estimates that 25 cases related to apartheid crimes will finally be heard before the courts after a decade of families fighting for justice.

The human rights activist believes this will finally give the activists’ loved ones some form of closure and the answers they yearn for.