A research report presented at the ongoing Highgate Hotel massacre inquest has said the Azanian People’s Liberation Army, the former armed wing of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, was not behind the attack on the hotel bar 32 years ago.
Five people were killed and seven were wounded.
The report, commissioned by the Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr law firm, ruled out Apla’s involvement. Its data, among other sources, came from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings.
Testifying at the inquest in East London on Monday, Robert John Tyrell, a senior programmes officer for research at the Foundation for Human Rights, which represents the victims and families of the massacre, said the Highgate Hotel was a target Apla could attack.
“Based on analysis, we believe it is unlikely that the Highgate massacre would fit into the modus operandi of either a confirmed or unconfirmed Apla attack.
“Though there are similarities with other Apla attacks, particularly with respect to the choice of target and the number of perpetrators, we feel this is substantially outweighed by the anomalous choice of weapons and the failure to claim responsibility,” Tyrell said.
Earlier in the inquest, former Apla director of operations Letlapa Mphahlele vehemently denied they were involved in the attack.
Instead, Mphahlele, who became director of operations in 1991, testified he believed the state had been behind the May 1 1993 attack, when balaclava-clad gunmen unleashed a volley of AK-47 gunfire in the bar.
It was reported at the time that The Citizen newspaper had received a call from a person who identified himself as Carl Zimbiri of the internal high command of Apla, claiming responsibility.
This has always been strongly denied by Apla. Several witnesses including survivors have also told the inquest Apla was not involved in the attack.
The case was eventually referred to the NPA by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The inquest is being held to determine if anyone should be held criminally liable.
Tyrell said their research was based on information. The attack seemed “quite well planned”, but the use of teargas grenades stood out as Apla never used them.
“Looking at the data ... I’m confident in saying the data does not fit the modus operandi of Apla.
“The number of perpetrators does fit the general pattern of Apla.
“Apla members came forward in the [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] hearings and said that they had done similar types of things, by which I mean they weren’t afraid to come and [claim responsibility].
“So the fact there was no claim of responsibility does not fit the general pattern ...
“Essentially, Apla tended to claim responsibility. They claimed responsibility for 36 of the 64 attacks on our database, many of them involving multiple casualties.”
Tyrell said Apla claimed responsibility for 15 of the 19 incidents that involved targets of a similar nature.
“The fact they did not is anomalous. It doesn’t fit the modus.
“The weapons used in the attack, specifically the AK-47s and teargas, don’t fit the general pattern of confirmed attacks.
“Our report indicates that this didn’t match the way Apla operated in the time period.
“It didn’t match the weapons used. They didn’t claim responsibility. I don’t think Apla did this.”
The inquest continues on Tuesday.
Daily Dispatch
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