14 June 1985

Thami Mnyele, Artist and MK cadre assassinated

Thamsanqa ‘Thami’ ka Mnyele was a talented graphic artist and a political activist. Due to his political activities, Mnyele was forced to leave his family in Alexander, becoming exiled in Botswana. He became very active in the African National Congress’ (ANC) military wing Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK). On June 14, 1985, Thami Mnyele was shot dead by South African Defence Force (SADF) soldiers outside his home in Gaborone.

He was due to move to Lusaka the next day and large collections of his works that were packed into a portfolio were taken by the SADF. A week later, Security Police Major Craig Williamson displayed the portfolio and the works in it on SABC television, as evidence of Thami’s  ‘terrorist’ activities. To date, these works have not been recovered from the security police.

Stalwart anti-apartheid campaigner of South Africa, Albertina Sisulu, wife of African National Congress (ANC) leader Walter Sisulu, was placed under a banning order for the fifth time since 1963. She is the person in South Africa who has served the longest under banning orders by the regime.