MEDIA STATEMENT

 

 

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture would like to pass its sincere sympathy and condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and comrades of the late Mr. Zuko Xabendlini. Mr. Xabendlini was one of the remaining 14 trialists of the Upington 26. His passing leaves only 13 remaining of the famous Upington 26 trial which ended with 14 including himself being commuted to death row and survived after the new negotiated settlement of 1990 provided reprieve from death penalty. Those serving prison terms were later released as political prisoners in the early 1990s.  Mr. Zuko Xabendlini (64) departed this world on Sunday evening, 16 May 2021 after a short illness.

 

Mr. Zuko Xabendlini obtained his high school education at Sam Xhali Secondary School in Cradock and later Mount Fletcher High School in Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape. This was due to the non-availability of high schools for Africans in Upington during that period. He served on the Upington Christian Movement, an underground movement led by a former Umkhonto We Sizwe combatant who was banished to Upington from  Robben Island.

 

 Mr. Xabendlini was an honest man who despised corruption and worked hard for his family. The department is deeply saddened by his passing. He will be remembered for his fearlessness and bravery especially during the difficult and dark days of apartheid. He was during his passing working for the David Kruiper Local Municipality in Upington.

 

Acting Head of Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr. David Mdutyana together with his management team as well as the entire staff would like to offer deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Xabendlini during these difficult times.

 

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 Issued by: Communications Unit

Northern Cape Sport, Arts and Culture Department

Tell: 053 807 4782/ Cell: 078 944 0200