The Bisho massacre occurred on 7 September 1992 in Bisho, in the nominally independent homeland of Ciskei in South Africa. Twenty-eight African National Congress supporters and one soldier were shot dead by the Ciskei Defence Force during a protest march when they attempted to enter Bisho to demand its reincorporation into South Africa during the final years of apartheid. September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Bhisho, formerly known as Bisho, is the capital of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. ... A homeland is the concept of the territory to which one belongs; usually, the country in which a particular nationality was born. ... Ciskei Flag of Ciskei Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. ... For political parties with similar names in other countries, see Northern Rhodesian African National Congress and Zambian African National Congress. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ...

Background

Bisho (now spelled Bhisho) was the capital of the Ciskei, a nominally independent homeland or bantustan for the Xhosa people in South Africa. The system of racially segregated homelands had been a core of apartheid, but between 1990 and 1994, negotiations were taking place between the government of South Africa and the African National Congress (ANC) to end the apartheid system. Ciskei Flag of Ciskei Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. ... Map of the black homelands in South Africa as of 1986 Map of the black homelands in Namibia as of 1978 Bantustan is a territory designated as a tribal homeland for black South Africans and Namibians during the apartheid era. ... The Xhosa people are a group of peoples of Bantu origins living in south-east South Africa. ...

With multi-racial democratic elections as the likely outcome of the negotiations, the ANC wished to organise and mobilise its supporters in the Ciskei, particularly as it lay in the Eastern Cape area, a traditional stronghold for ANC supporters. However, its military leader Brigadier Oupa Gqozo resisted this and prevented the ANC from organising. The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. ... Joshua Oupa Gqozo (10 March 1952 - ) was a former Ciskei military ruler. ...

Protest march and massacre

On September 3, the ANC sent a memorandum to President F.W. de Klerk demanding that he replace Gqozo with an interim administration which would permit free democratic activity in Ciskei, but De Klerk refused, on the grounds that the Ciskei did not fall under South Africa’s jurisdiction.^[1] At the time, negotiations had broken down, with the ANC withdrawing following the Boipatong massacre and accusing De Klerk's government of fomenting the violence. September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... President F.W. de Klerk Frederik Willem de Klerk (born March 18, 1936) is a former President of South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994. ...

As a result, the ANC began a campaign of "mass action", organising a protest march to occupy Bisho and force Gqozo's resignation. Gqozo sought a court interdict to prevent the march, and the magistrate ruled that it could take place at the homeland's independence stadium, outside Bisho, but could not enter the capital. The ANC refused to recognise the jurisdiction of the Ciskei court.

On September 7, about 80 000 protesters gathered outside Bisho, signalling the wide opposition to Gqozo's rule. The meeting was led by senior ANC leaders including South African Communist Party Secretary General Chris Hani, Cyril Ramaphosa, Steve Tshwete and Ronnie Kasrils. September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... SACP symbol South African Communist Party (SACP) is a political party in South Africa. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African lawyer, trade union leader, activist, politician and businessman. ... Ronald Kasrils (commonly known as Ronnie Kasrils or Red Ronnie) (born November 15, 1938) has been the South African Minister for Intelligence Services since 29 April 2004. ...

When Kasrils led a group trying to break through the Ciskei Defence Force lines to enter Bisho, Ciskei Defence Force soldiers opened fire on the marchers with automatic weapons, killing 28 marchers and one soldier, and injuring over 200. More than 425 rounds were fired, the first fusillade lasting one-and-a-half minutes, and the second lasting a minute.^[2]

Various inquiries agreed that the order to fire came from Colonel Vakele Archibald Mkosana, who incorrectly told his commanders by radio that his troops were under fire, and was given permission to return fire. Rifleman Mzamile Thomas Gonya was also found to have opened fire with a grenade launcher, killing one marcher.^[3]

Goldstone Commission

The Goldstone Commission was tasked with investigating the massacre, and Justice Richard Goldstone condemned Gqozo for preventing political activity in Ciskei as well as for the lethal brutality of the Ciskei Defence Force troops. It dismised his claim that the demonstrators had fired first, and it was later found that a Ciskei soldier who died during the shooting had been shot by a fellow soldier. It recommended strong action against Gqozo and those responsible. It also condemned Ronnie Kasrils for his irresponsible action in leading marchers breaking through the razor wire and provoking the forces into opening fire.^[4] Richard J. Goldstone, (born October 26, 1938), South African judge and international war crimes prosecutor. ...

Aftermath

Ultimately, the massacre led to new negotiations between the ANC and the government. Nelson Mandela met De Klerk on 26 September and signed a Record of Understanding, establishing an independent body to oversee police operations.^[5] Mandela redirects here. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gqozo remained in power in Ciskei but resigned shortly before the elections of 27 April 1994. 1994 General Election results, National Assembly African National Congress (ANC) 12,237,655 62. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

A granite monument was erected on the site of the massacre, outside Independence Stadium, off Maitland Road between Bhisho and King William's Town. It was unveiled by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1997. The victims were buried in Ginsberg township outside King William's Town. King Williams Town, a town of South Africa, in the Eastern Cape province and on the Buffalo River, 50 kilometers, 42 miles by rail or about 40 minutes motorway drive W.N.W. of the Indian Ocean port of East London. ... The Most Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu (born 7 October 1931) is a South African cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. ...

Truth Commission hearing and prosecution

Only two applications for amnesty for the massacre were received by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, from Colonel Mkosana, who gave the order to open fire, and Rifleman Gonya, who fired a grenade launcher. Gqozo agreed to testify before the TRC, but failed to appear after being admitted to a psychiatric hospital suffering from depression.^[6][7]

In 2000, both Mkosana and Gonya were denied amnesty on the grounds that their actions were reckless and disproportionate and not associated with a political motive.^[8]

Following their failure to receive amnesty, Mkosana and Gonya were charged with one count of murder and Mkosana with 28 counts of culpable homicide. They were found not guilty on all charges on the grounds of self-defence.^[3][9]

References