Thulisile Mapongwana
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the formal inquest into the 1993 Highgate Hotel massacre.
The attack on the East London establishment resulted in the deaths of five people, while seven others were wounded and left with life-altering injuries.
Despite the severity of the incident, no arrests were made at the time. Some witnesses have now pointed to the apartheid-era Hammer Unit as the possible perpetrators.
NPA regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, confirmed that the inquest was adjourned on Friday to resume from 24 to 27 March 2025. Twelve witnesses, including survivors, families of the victims, an investigating officer from the Hawks, ballistic experts, and private investigators hired by the victims' families, have given evidence. The inquest also conducted an inspection in loco at the scene of the incident last week.
Speaking on behalf of the survivors, Musa Leteane, Senior Projects Officer for the Foundation of Human Rights, said the inquest had made significant strides in uncovering the truth behind one of the most tragic and unresolved chapters in South Africa's violent history.
“It has been mixed emotions for the families and survivors, but the most important thing is the relief of having the inquest opened after so many years. As more information comes to light, it has also brought up more questions about what happened with the many investigations over the years.”
The formal inquest, which began on January 27, is being conducted under the supervision of Judge Denzil Potgieter at the Special Tribunal in East London. The case gained attention after being referred to the NPA by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to determine whether anyone can be held criminally liable for the attack.
Leteane emphasized the importance of the families being able to share their testimonies, “Being able to be in court to share their testimonies and hear a lot of the information finally be on record has been important for the families, but it has also been vindicating for some of the victims because they have known a lot of these facts. So having them be heard in court has been a huge relief.”
On that fateful night in 1993, months before South Africa’s first democratic elections, armed individuals stormed the Highgate Hotel in East London, targeting patrons with AK-47 rifles. The deceased victims were Stanley Hacking, Douglas William Gates, Royce Michael Wheeler, Deon Wayne Harris, and Deric John Whitfield.
The investigation into the Highgate massacre has faced several challenges. Initially, the armed wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) was suspected of being behind the attack, but subsequent investigations have failed to confirm this claim. The former commander of PAC’s military wing, Lepatla Mphahlele, is expected to fly in from Indonesia to give evidence on 24 March.
Some witnesses have also raised suspicions of the involvement of the Hammer Unit and Vlakplaas Farm officials during the inquest. Despite three survivors and two family members testifying during the TRC hearings, no amnesty applications were made by any suspects.
Leteane said that the survivors were still holding onto hope that those responsible would be held accountable, whether alive or deceased. “At this point, the families are trusting the process and trusting the lawyers and investigation. They are hopeful that the inquest will reveal facts that have been ignored for the past 32 years.”
While the NPA has expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, Tyali noted concerns regarding allegations made against NPA officials during witness testimonies. One survivor, Karl Weber, previously testified that an NPA advocate had instructed him to investigate a potential suspect on his own. “These allegations will be dealt with during the course of the inquest to make sure that their names and that of the organisation are cleared.”
As the inquest continues, the NPA and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, have expressed their gratitude to all those who have come forward with testimony. The NPA remains hopeful that the inquest will not only uncover the truth but also offer closure to the families who have suffered for over three decades.
