Cosas four: ANC expresses support for apartheid-era murder victims

The African National Congress (ANC) and some of its members will be in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, as a show of support for the families of the so-called Cosas four.

Tlhomedi Ephraim Mfalapitsa, a 67-year-old man, faces three counts of murder for the killing of three Congress of South African Students (Cosas) members, Eustice “Bimbo” Madikela, Ntshingo Mataboge and Fanyana Nhlapho, in 1982. Another member of the student movement, Zandisile Musi managed to survive the attack.

“The African National Congress (ANC), Head of Organising and Mass Mobilisation Comrade Nomvula Mokonyane, together with members of the ANC in Gauteng, the ANC Women’s League and the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) will be at the Gauteng South High Court tomorrow morning to support the families of the COSAS Three plus One,” the ANC said in a short statement.

According to the ANC, Musi recently succumbed to COVID-19.

“This act of callous brutality touched the conscience of our nation and moved all freedom-loving South Africans to intensify the struggle against apartheid”

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe

NPA confident in apartheid-era case

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is confident it has a watertight case, despite the incident having occurred nearly four decades before.

Mfalapitsa was a member of uMkhonto We Sizwe and defected by joining the Security Branch police and worked against his former comrades in the ANC.

“After joining the Security Branch police, Mfalapitsa established contact with Musi, who wanted to leave the country and join uMkhonto We Sizwe. The two discussed possibilities of Musi leaving the country with Mfalapitsa whom he still regarded as a member of MK, as the accused’s defection to the Security Branch was a closely guarded secret,” said NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.

Mfalapitsa was working at the notorious Vlakplaas police station – where most Askari’s were based – at the time Musi approached him and he informed his superiors about the plans of the youngsters.

“He was then allegedly ordered by Jan Carel Coetzee, a commander at Vlakplaas to lure Musi and the deceased to an explosive infested pumphouse at a mine near Krugersdorp, under the guise of giving them training,” said the NPA.