Chalmers, Eastern Cape
17 July 2007
The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Missing Persons Task Team is
conducting investigations to trace the whereabouts of persons who disappeared
in political circumstances under apartheid and, where possible, to recover
remains for the affected families. This was one of the recommendations of the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
These cases include several Eastern Cape activists who were abducted and
killed by the Eastern Cape security police, including the following:
* Sipho Mthimkhulu and Topsy Madaka, who were abducted and killed by the
Eastern Cape security police in April 1982
* the Pebco 3, namely Sipho Hashe, Champion Galela and Qaqawuli Godolozi, who
were abducted and killed in May 1986.
In both of the above instances, the perpetrators told the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission's (TRC's) amnesty committee that the individuals had
been abducted , interrogated, shot and killed and their remains burnt on wood
fires fuelled by diesel at Post Chalmers, an abandoned police station near
Cradock in the Eastern Cape. The perpetrators also asserted that the ashes of
these burnt remains had been scraped into black plastic bags and thrown into
the Fish River.
The Missing Persons Task Team, accompanied by archaeology and anthropology
forensic specialists, has conducted investigations and excavations at the Post
Chalmers site.
Significant quantities of burnt human bone material and other artefacts were
uncovered at the site.
A septic tank (sewage drain) was also drained and a large quantity of burnt
human bone fragments were recovered from its contents.
Given the quantity of burnt remains recovered thus far, indications are that
the burnt remains were thrown into the septic tank and not the Fish River as
claimed by the perpetrators. There are other items of evidence which differ
from the account presented by the perpetrators.
All human remains and items gathered will be subjected to further forensic
examination.
The NPA will be conducting ongoing investigations and further excavations at
the site.
Tlali Tlali
Deputy Spokesperson
Cell: 082 333 3880
Issued by: National Prosecuting Authority
17 July 2007
Source: National Prosecuting Authority (http://www.npa.gov.za)
