File
The Foundation for Human Rights says the long-awaited inquest into the May 1993 Highgate Hotel massacre in East London will take place from next Monday.
The probe into the deaths of Boyce Wheeler, Derek Whitfield, Stanley Hacking, Deon Harris and Douglas Gates, will start at the East London Special Tribunal in Vincent.
The Foundation for Human Rights said the identities of the attackers and their motives remain unknown, despite more than three decades of advocacy by survivors and families for justice and closure.
Seven other people survived the shooting but had sustained serious injuries.
They were Neville Beling, Karl Weber, Billy Baling, Nkosinathi Gontshi (now deceased), Doreen Roussouw (also now deceased), Megan Boucher, and Charles Bodington.
“The inquest marks a significant step forward in uncovering the truth behind the massacre,” the Foundation said.
In his testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1997, Weber said that he and friends had just ordered their first drink at the Highgate Hotel when they heard what he said sounded like automatic firearms, and after that “a bang as if a hand grenade or something had gone off”.
Weber said at that time someone shouted that we were under attack and “before any of us could fall down or take cover”, a guy standing at the entrance door had an AK 47 on his hip and “he was swinging the firearm around and sprayed bullets throughout the bar.”
Another survivor, Neville Beling told the TRC that he had suffered injuries to his left arm, as well as internal injuries.
He also told the Commission about hearing gunfire, an explosion and teargas filling the bar before the shooting stopped.
