ANC National Executive Committee statement on the Assassination of Cassius Make and Paul Dikeledi in Swaziland

16 July 1987

Compatriots, the National Executive Committee of our vanguard liberation movement, the ANC, regrets to announce the death of Comrades Cassius Make and Paul Dikeledi who were brutally assassinated by South African agents in Swaziland on 9th July where they had arrived from Maputo on the same day.

Comrade Cassius Make, the youngest member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC, was elected to that body in June 1985 at the national consultative conference of our organization. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Comrade Paul Dikeledi was a dedicated young activist who joined the movement after the 1976 Soweto uprising and has since risen in the ranks of the organization to a prominent position. Comrade Paul also leaves a wife and two children.

Both comrades were brutally murdered when the taxi they were travelling in was ambushed by three white South African agents who were in a car bearing South African registration. The third victim of this dastardly act was a woman named (Eliza Augusta Tinine), a Mozambican citizen who was also traveling in the same taxi. She was killed as she tried to escape the attack.

This incident and numerous others before are a clear indication that the South African racist regime in its desperation is at all times bent on terror and cold-blooded murder against its opponents who are dedicated and committed to the ending of the hated and evil system of apartheid. These actions will be intensified in the aftermath of the recent whites-only elections when Botha and his regime clearly and categorically stressed that they will not negotiate with the ANC but will fight it.

Subsequently, the murder of our comrades, attacks on individuals in the Swazi capital, Mbanane, perpetrated by unknown people claiming to be acting in the name of our organization have been reported. No ANC persons were involved in those incidents. All these actions were clearly carried out by agents of the Pretoria racist regime.

They are intended to divert attention from acts of aggression and assassinations which Pretoria unendingly perpetrates in the neighboring states. They demonstrate a complete contempt and disregard for the sovereignty and independence of the surrounding states whose territories are dealt with by PW Botha as if they were dependent bantustans.

The latest crime carried out by the racist regime in Swaziland emphasizes once again the urgent need for concerted action by the whole world to help put an end to this continuous threat to peace and independence in our subcontinent. We for our part pledge to answer these brutal assassinations of our comrades with the only language which Botha and his regime understand, the language of escalating armed struggle.

Forward to people`s war!