NPA satisfied with enquiry into 1993 Highgate Hotel

Highgate Hotel

Cape Town — The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is pleased with the progress made with the enquiry into the 1993 High Hotel massacre that claimed the lives of five people.

The inquest follows the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Barry Madolo’s decision to determine whether anyone can be held criminally liable for the attack, The Citizen reported.

On the fateful night, in the period leading up to the 1994 elections in South Africa, unknown armed gunmen opened fire at the Highgate Hotel bars in East London, killing Derek John Whitfield, Deon Harris, Douglas Gates, Boyce Michael Wheeler, and Stanley Hacking.

Seven others were wounded in the attack. They included Neville Beling, Karl Weber, Billy Baling, Megan Boucher, Charles Bodington, Nkosinathi Alfred Gontshi (now deceased) and Doreen Roussouw (now deceased).

The NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the inquest into the shooting at the hotel started the previous Monday and continued until Friday. The NPA, who was referred the case by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), said it was pleased with the progress made into the massacre.

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Twelve witnesses gave their testimonies before Judge Denzil Potgieter during a special tribunal in East London. Among the witnesses included the investigating officer from the Hawks, survivors, families of the deceased, PIs and ballistic experts.

It is believed that a phone call was made before the attack from Cal Zimbiri, who was a member of the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA) but it has not been proven. APLA director of operations, Letlapa Mphahlele denied any knowledge of their involvement in the attack.

According to TimesLIVE, three survivors and two family members of the victims gave their testimonies at the TRC hearings. However, no amnesty applications were made by suspected perpetrators.  

It was initially believed the erstwhile armed wing of the PAC was responsible for the attack, but subsequent investigations did not confirm this.

“The NPA also notes with concern allegations made by some of the witnesses against some of its officials. These allegations will be dealt with during the inquest to make sure their names and that of the organisation are cleared,” Tyali said.

Last month, two survivors of the massacre, Neville Beling and Karl Weber, and other families and survivors of apartheid-era crimes brought an application in the Pretoria high court against President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government, seeking constitutional damages for the government’s failure to adequately investigate and prosecute apartheid-era political crimes after the TRC process.

Others in the application include the family members of the “Cradock Four”, Richard and Irene Motasi, Caiphus Nyoka, the “Pebco Three”, the “Cosas Four”, Nokuthula Simelane, Rick Turner, Musawakhe “Sbho” Phewa, Hoosen Haffejee, Mxolisi “Dicky” Jacobs, Imam Abdullah Haron, Deon Harris, Matthews “Mojo” Mabelane, Ntombikayise Priscilla Kubheka, Ignatius “Iggy” Mthebule and Nicholas Ramatua “Boiki” Tlhapi.

Tyali said the NPA hoped the inquisitorial exercise of the inquest will assist in providing much-needed closure to the families of the victims, the survivors and the public.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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