At dawn on 9 June 1983 Simon MOGOERANE (23), Jerry MOSOLOLI (25) and Marcus MOTAUNG (27) were hanged in Pretoria. In spite of a flood of eleventh-hour appeals for clemency from all over the world, including a unanimous appeal by the UN Security Council, the government decided that the death sentences imposed on the three ANC combatants in August 1982 should be carried out.
In a statement made after the executions the ANC said that the men were prisoners of war and that 'the example and sacrifice of the three men would serve as a call to battle'.
The three had been executed for participating in armed actions which included attacks on three police stations in which four policemen died.
After their conviction they petitioned the State President for clemency. The rejection of the petition was announced on 6 June.
At the same time death sentences on another three ANC guerillas were commuted by the State President: they were Antony TSOTSOBE (27), Johannes SHABANGU (27) and David MOISE (23). The armed actions they were involved in included the sabotage of the Sasol oil installation in June 1980.
Within hours of the execution memorial services were held throughout South Africa and in many other countries.
The spirit of resistance and widespread support for the three, evident in many ways, was expressed in the words of Sarah Mosololi, mother of Jerry Mosololi, shortly before his execution; 'Go well, my son, I love you. I am proud of you because you are to die for your people. We'll meet you where you are going. You must know that the struggle will not end even after your death.'
