The Mohapi sisters – and their mother and children – have been denied entry to the jail cell at Kei Road police station where Black Consciousness Movement activist Mapetla Mohapi died 41 years ago.
Mohapi was found dead on August 5 1976 after being detained during the June 1976 Soweto Uprisings.
His daughters, Motheba, was just two years old and Konehali seven months old at the time.
The siblings had never visited the police station where their father’s body, along with an alleged forged suicide note was found.
An international handwriting expert had ruled that the note was fraudulent.
Their mother and the activist’s wife, Nohle Mohapi said she was “devastated” by the Kei Road police station commander’s actions, “who showed no compassion when her children asked to see the cell where their father died”.
“Could we not be given the benefit of doubt under the circumstances, because for us this is an emotional issue,” she said.
The distraught mother spent at least two hours outside the police station, pleading with the commissioner and trying to get his consent to enter the premises. They had driven all of 400km from their Port Elizabeth home to visit the cell.
Konehali, who was in the company of daughters, Naledi and Mizuki Gugushe, aged 10 and eight respectively, said she had hoped to experience the family history with her children from a young age.
“There are some things in our history that are not available in history books which is why it is important for us to share stories with our children.”
Motheba said being at the police station, however, had reopened a lot of wounds for them.
“Well, now we won’t get to find out, but being here does give me goosebumps and it does fill my heart with some sadness,” she said. “I guess we should just count ourselves as lucky because we can point out where our father died and we have a graveyard where we know he was buried,” she said.
Nohle said she was disappointed that despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings and reliving the pain of her story, they had not received any closure as to who was responsible for the death of her husband.
Police spokeswoman Captain Siphokazi Mawisa yesterday said the family was suppose to have made an application before visiting the police station.
Mawisa said Mohapi’s former comrades had initially visited the station a few months back and were informed of the rules.
“They were suppose to have written to the cluster commander, who in turn was to submit such application to the province for an approval.”
She said the family had sent an
e-mail yesterday requesting such approval.
—-mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Family’s futile trip to late activist dad’s cell
Mohapi was found dead on August 5 1976 after being detained during the June 1976 Soweto Uprisings.
His daughters, Motheba, was just two years old and Konehali seven months old at the time.
The siblings had never visited the police station where their father’s body, along with an alleged forged suicide note was found.
An international handwriting expert had ruled that the note was fraudulent.
Their mother and the activist’s wife, Nohle Mohapi said she was “devastated” by the Kei Road police station commander’s actions, “who showed no compassion when her children asked to see the cell where their father died”.
“Could we not be given the benefit of doubt under the circumstances, because for us this is an emotional issue,” she said.
The distraught mother spent at least two hours outside the police station, pleading with the commissioner and trying to get his consent to enter the premises. They had driven all of 400km from their Port Elizabeth home to visit the cell.
Konehali, who was in the company of daughters, Naledi and Mizuki Gugushe, aged 10 and eight respectively, said she had hoped to experience the family history with her children from a young age.
“There are some things in our history that are not available in history books which is why it is important for us to share stories with our children.”
Motheba said being at the police station, however, had reopened a lot of wounds for them.
“Well, now we won’t get to find out, but being here does give me goosebumps and it does fill my heart with some sadness,” she said. “I guess we should just count ourselves as lucky because we can point out where our father died and we have a graveyard where we know he was buried,” she said.
Nohle said she was disappointed that despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings and reliving the pain of her story, they had not received any closure as to who was responsible for the death of her husband.
Police spokeswoman Captain Siphokazi Mawisa yesterday said the family was suppose to have made an application before visiting the police station.
Mawisa said Mohapi’s former comrades had initially visited the station a few months back and were informed of the rules.
“They were suppose to have written to the cluster commander, who in turn was to submit such application to the province for an approval.”
She said the family had sent an
e-mail yesterday requesting such approval.
—-mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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