By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU- The National Assembly has unanimously carried a motion urging the government to appeal the United Nations (UN) 1983 resolution, which instructed South Africa (SA) to pay reparations for the infamous ‘Maseru Raid’ in December 9,1982.
The motion, moved by the Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM) leader Dr Tšepo Lipholo and seconded by the Basotho National Party (BNP) leader Hon Machesetsa Mofomobe, reignites efforts to seek justice for the tragic attack that culminated into the death of over 40 people in Lesotho, the deceased being both Basotho and South Africans. The movers argue that the SA government has yet to compensate Lesotho for the raid, which targeted African National Congress (ANC) members residing in Maseru at the time during the apartheid era in that country.
According to historical accounts, the massacre of December 9, 1982 by SA forces had targeted the members of ANC. At that time, many South Africans were living in Lesotho, most of whom were registered as refugees as they had fled persecution by the apartheid government. Among the notable ANC members based in Lesotho were Tembi Hani, labeled as the ‘most wanted’ and the ANC chief in Lesotho, as well as a reputed member of the ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, and his wife, Limpho Hani, who served as the secretary of the ANC Women’s League in Lesotho.
The raid’s objective was not only to force ANC members out of Lesotho but also to eliminate them. The attack resulted in the deaths of about twelve Basotho and thirty South Africans.
“The… Buchner and Steijn and Special Forces commandos was (sic) responsible for the raid on Maseru on 9 December 1982. The midnight attack targeted a number of houses and a block of flats in Maseru and resulted in the deaths of forty-two people . Of these, thirty were South African and twelve Basotho citizens. Four of the SADF [South African Defence Force] attackers were wounded in the operation. Amongst the South African casualties were the ANC’s chief representative in Lesotho, Mr Zola Nqini, and three members of the Marwanquana family – Alfred (imprisoned on Robben Island in the 1960s for fifteen years) and two of his teenage children, Mzukisi and Thandiswa. Another ex-Robben Islander, Mr Phakamile Mpongoshe, was killed in the same household. Two Basotho families also lost three family members. They were Ms Anna Hlalele and Mr Motlasi Hlalele and Motlasi’s seventeen-year old brother, Pondo, and Mr Sefata and Ms Mateboho Jafeta and their four-year old son, Teboho.
“Another South African victim was Mr Jobo Titus who had been in Lesotho for only one day after serving an eighteen-year sentence on Robben Island. Another ex-Robben Island prisoner to die was Mr Jackson Trom. After serving a six-year sentence for membership of a banned organisation, Trom had been banished to a remote area of the Transkei. After ten years, he and his family fled to Lesotho. Another of those killed was an active SACP member, Mr Gene Gugushe (aka Stephen Seroto), a refugee from the Soweto uprising. According to General Viljoen, chief of the SADF, five women and two children were killed in the raid. In fact, seven women died. Six of those killed were school-going teenagers. In his statement, General Viljoen described the operation as a “successful raid” on twelve ANC targets which he said were “planning and control headquarters for ANC action against South Africa, Transkei and Ciskei and were used as a springboard for terrorist action”,” reads the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) report.
The UN Security Council through its 527 of 1982, which SA has rejected, condemned the aggression by SA and ordered that the latter should declare publicly that “it was never again going to attack Lesotho, either directly or through its proxies”.
At its 2455th Meeting of June 29, 1983 held in New York, United States, the UN Security Council resolved that SA should pay Lesotho for the aggression it had inflicted on the country, its people and the property.
“The Council demanded that South Africa should pay full and adequate compensation to Lesotho for the damage to life and property resulting from that act of aggression,” reads the Council’s Resolution.
The call for reparations was welcomed by the House albeit some cautioning that the matter is extremely sensitive and should be handled well.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Hon Lejone Mpotjoane conceded that the UN Resolutions are binding.
However, the Minister reiterated that Lesotho owing to her proximity and geographical location to SA, Lesotho should tread carefully on the matter.
The Minister also told the house that this week, both Lesotho and SA technocrats will convene in preparation of the upcoming Bi-National Commission (BNC) scheduled to be held in Maseru next month. It is in this meeting that this issue will also feature among other important issues to be discussed by the Lesotho team and the SA team that will be led by its President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Hon Motlatsi Maqelepo also cautioned that the matter is an opportunity to address other pending issues such as the corridor to the sea, which needs to reach its finality for Lesotho. He added that it can also be an opportune time to teach youth people about the strong relations between the two countries, and even possibly have a museum to attract tourists.
Members of parliament were however adamant that this compensation is long overdue and they do not want this matter to slip in between talks between the two countries. They also discussed engaging relevant portfolio committees of the SA parliament to address the matter.