The body of Eric Mntonga, co-director of the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (IDASA) in the border region, was found on a dirt road near King William's Town in the Eastern Cape, a day after he had been detained at the Mdantsane police station in the Ciskei. Six high ranking Ciskei police officers were arrested in the wake of Mntonga's death. They were given sentences ranging from two to twelve years for culpable homicide and defeating the ends of justice. Oliver Tambo, president of the African National Congress (ANC) also held P.W. Botha's regime and its agents responsible for Mntonga's death.
eventREF E-0012702Revised
Event record
Eric Mntonga is found dead
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
OR Tambo held President PW Botha and his cabinet personally responsible for Mntonga's death Image source
How we know this
- 01South African Institute of Race Relations. (1989). Race Relations Survey 1988/89, Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations, p. 100.
- 02David Zucchino, (1987), 'Activist's Murder Cows A S. African Township', in Philly, 25 August [Online], Available at: www.philly.com [Accessed: 24 July 2013]
- 03Dirk Coetzee, (1990), 'TRC Final Report: Vol 2, Chapter 5, Section 25, pp. 446, paragraph 170-178', in SABC Truth Commission, 11 November [Online], Available at: www.sabc.co.za [Accessed: 24 July 2013]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Eric Mntonga is found dead. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012702
South African History Online (2011) 'Eric Mntonga is found dead', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012702 (Accessed: 7 November 2026).
South African History Online, Eric Mntonga is found dead [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012702, (accessed 7 November 2026).
"Eric Mntonga is found dead." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012702. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "Eric Mntonga is found dead." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012702.
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