Freedom fighters' remains reburied

22 March 2011 - 10:50
By MICHAEL KIMBERLEY

THE celebration of Human Rights Day was energetically reflected by the memorial service yesterday of six freedom fighters who were killed in Lesotho while in exile more than 25 years ago.

The remains were brought home to East London last month and finally laid to rest at their respective home towns after a service at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane yesterday.

All six deceased were either members of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) or the Azanian People's Liberation Army (Apla) from the Amathole district.

Two, Cassius Barnabus (Apla) and Boniswa Ngcukana (Apla), were killed while crossing the Lesotho border into South Africa in 1985.

Mzukisi Skweyiya (MK) was killed in "suspicious" circumstances in a car accident in 1985. Sipho Notana (MK), Lepota Marayi (MK) and Mzwanele Fazzie (MK) were shot and killed by the SA Defence Force in Maseru in 1982.

The service yesterday was attended by a host of dignitaries that included Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet, Buffalo City mayor Zukisa Faku and Soth African high commissiner in Lesotho Happy Mahlangu.