“Three and half decades later, and the sound of a bomb exploding is still fresh in my memory.”
These are the chilling words of 76-year-old Adams Mission resident, Khoti Ndlela, who was one of the survivors in the bomb blast that shook the Amanzimtoti town for years to come.
It was 23 December 1985, and Ndlela, like many other people, went to work at Sanlam Centre. According to Ndlela, there was a festive buzz in the air as people were hoping to complete their work early and head off to the nearest shopping centre for some last minute Christmas shopping.
Ndlela said she heard an explosion and the earth began so shake. “The next minute, people were screaming and running in all directions. I was on the second floor and a stampede ensued to get out of the building as soon as possible. There was a complete frenzy. People were looking for their friends among the debris and some were stunned by the events,” Ndlela said.
She remembered the absolute chaos that unfolded. “The police and emergency personnel arrived and assisted the severely injured people. There was blood everywhere. It was terrible,” she added.
The bomb, planted by Andrew Zondo, killed five people and two children. According to media reports, more than 40 people were injured that day.
This incident left many residents traumatised for years to come.
This incident left many residents traumatised for years to come.
Dianne Austin, 67, from Amanzimtoti was working as a manager at SAA Travel at that time. She said the memory of the little girl, who was carried out by a paramedic, haunted her for many years. She said the bomb was planted in a dustbin right outside her office.
“I remember that I had just left the office to head to town when I heard on the radio that a bomb exploded at Sanlam Centre. I immediately turned around because I had left three of my employees at the office. When I got, all three of them sustained serious injuries, but they all survived. There were bodies lying on the floor of the centre and there was blood everywhere,” said Dianne.
“Although I was lucky enough to escape the bomb, I will never forget that day. Every time I drive passed the building, I remember that day. My heart goes out to the families of the people who died or were seriously injured.”
According to a front page article in the SUN, a mother and a child were among the dead. About 10 shops were severely damaged and the complex was cordoned off until debris was cleared. The scene at the centre shortly after the blast was one of total confusion, as some shoppers fled the area in panic while others, who were stunned by the blast, wandered aimlessly around the mall.
Andrew Zondo
The man behind the bombing, Andrew Zondo, was later arrested for this heinous act. Zondo was born at KwaMashu in 1966. He joined the ANC military wing, Mkhonto WeSizwe in Angola when he was 16-years-old. He was trained to strengthen the military wing of South Africa in retaliation of the ruling government. Zondo specialised in the making of weapons and bombs. It was said that Zondo left his family behind when he left this country to go to Angola. There he developed a keen interest in politics.
The man behind the bombing, Andrew Zondo, was later arrested for this heinous act. Zondo was born at KwaMashu in 1966. He joined the ANC military wing, Mkhonto WeSizwe in Angola when he was 16-years-old. He was trained to strengthen the military wing of South Africa in retaliation of the ruling government. Zondo specialised in the making of weapons and bombs. It was said that Zondo left his family behind when he left this country to go to Angola. There he developed a keen interest in politics.
The bomb
Zondo, 19 years-old at the time, was seen to look like an ordinary citizen. But, behind his ordinary looks, lurked a man with evil intentions. Together with an accomplice, who was also arrested (name unknown), they planted the bomb hoping that it would kill only white people. Little did he anticipate that his well-thought through plan had loop holes. Domestic workers were also severely injured in the explosion.
Zondo was captured in Lamontville township on 29 December 1985, he was found guilty and he was sentenced to death for the five murders. During his trial, Zondo apparently said that planted the bombs in retaliation to the South African Defence Force raid in Maseru three days earlier where nine people were killed on the border of Maseru.
Author of the book, The trail of Andrew Zondo, by Fatima Meer, wrote that Zondo’s mother, although the family was not present during his execution, requested that she at least be given a death certificate, which she only received during the Truth and reconciliation Commission in 2006. Meer wrote that Zondo’s mother also requested her son’s remains so that she could bury him with dignity. “The mother did not only feel the pain of one son, but also for her other son Mduduzi, who was injured by the police at Zondo’s memorial service at their home in KwaMashu.
Zondo, 20-years-old at the time, was set to be executed at sunset in Pretoria without any family members present.
Zondo, 19 years-old at the time, was seen to look like an ordinary citizen. But, behind his ordinary looks, lurked a man with evil intentions. Together with an accomplice, who was also arrested (name unknown), they planted the bomb hoping that it would kill only white people. Little did he anticipate that his well-thought through plan had loop holes. Domestic workers were also severely injured in the explosion.
Zondo was captured in Lamontville township on 29 December 1985, he was found guilty and he was sentenced to death for the five murders. During his trial, Zondo apparently said that planted the bombs in retaliation to the South African Defence Force raid in Maseru three days earlier where nine people were killed on the border of Maseru.
Author of the book, The trail of Andrew Zondo, by Fatima Meer, wrote that Zondo’s mother, although the family was not present during his execution, requested that she at least be given a death certificate, which she only received during the Truth and reconciliation Commission in 2006. Meer wrote that Zondo’s mother also requested her son’s remains so that she could bury him with dignity. “The mother did not only feel the pain of one son, but also for her other son Mduduzi, who was injured by the police at Zondo’s memorial service at their home in KwaMashu.
Zondo, 20-years-old at the time, was set to be executed at sunset in Pretoria without any family members present.
A bitter pill to swallow
Although the family objected to having Kingsway Road renamed after their son, his father pleaded to name one of the schools in KwaMashu after Zondo. According to reports, the community of Amanzimtoti were highly upset, so much so that they spray-painted over the Andrew Zondo Road sign boards. Thirty-five-years later, and although the road is named after Andre Zondo, it will forever be referred to as Kingsway.
Although the family objected to having Kingsway Road renamed after their son, his father pleaded to name one of the schools in KwaMashu after Zondo. According to reports, the community of Amanzimtoti were highly upset, so much so that they spray-painted over the Andrew Zondo Road sign boards. Thirty-five-years later, and although the road is named after Andre Zondo, it will forever be referred to as Kingsway.
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