Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
6 AUGUST 1997
STATEMENT FROM THE TRC ON BODY OF ANC ACTIVISTS THAT WAS EXHUMED AT IXOPO NEAR RICHMOND IN KWAZULU/NATAL ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6
Remains of yet another ANC activists were exhumed in KwaZulu-Natal this afternoon (Wednesday August 6) by police and pathologists who were led to the grave by the investigators of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Durban.
The remains were those of Blessing Ninela who was arrested by members of the security branch in 1989, and subsequently tortured and murdered. His interrogators then place his body on a railway line near Bulwer and blown into pieces with a limpet mine.
The body of Ninela, whose entire face had been blown off beyond recognition with one hand also missing, was found the following. He could not be identified and was buried at Ixopo near Richmond as a few weeks later.
Some of the policemen who were responsible for the murder have subsequently applied for amnesty in connection with this killing and information contained in their applications and thorough investigations by TRC investigation led police and pathologists to where Mr Nineni has lied buried as a pauper for the past eight years.
His family has been notified and pathologists are in the process of positively identify the body as that of Mr Nineni.
For more information contact Mdu Lembede on 082 4588464