ANC statement on the commemoration of Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Khayinga, and Zinakile Mkaba
6 November 2024
The African National Congress (ANC) marks November 6 as a sacred day of remembrance, honouring the fearless and etemal soldiers of the national democratic struggle, Comrades Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Khayinga, and Zinakile Mkaba who were executed on this day in 1964 by the brutal apartheid regime.
Their deaths in the dim corridors of Pretoria Central Prison, now known as Kgosi Mampuru Il Correctional Facility, bear a powerful testimony to their unwavering commitment to the liberation of South Africa. These martyrs embodied a conquering revolutionary spirit that defied the oppressive forces that sought to break the resolve of our freedom fighters. They were not simply freedom fighters; they were disciplined, principled, and uncompromising architects of our freedom. Choosing to write their exemplary legacy with their own blood, they left us an inspiring story that calls for our own renewal. Their legacy demands a commitment to martyrdom over betrayal, defiance over submission, service to the people over self, and truth over lies and deception.
Comrade Vuyisile Mini embodied the very essence of what it means to be a revolutionary and his actions were guided by his love for the people. As a commander of the Eastern Cape High Command of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and a worker-leader for SACTU, the predecessor to COSATU, Mini was both the spear and the shield of the oppressed. A union organiser and protector of the working class, he forged bonds among dockworkers in Port Elizabeth, organising them to stand against the apartheid state and exploitative capital. Mini's dedication to the working class transcended the political, it was his life's purpose that he understood as a calling to fight until liberation was won through his life ended as the price paid as the sacrifice.
In his final days, the apartheid regime attempted to break him, hoping he would betray his comrades and the revolution. Yet Mini remained firm, a pillar of courage, refusing every opportunity to betray his comrades or his cause. He recalled these dark moments with dignity and clarity: