Final resting place for Lucas
IT IS a bitter-sweet day for the family of the late Michael Lucas. The 21-year-old political prisoner was executed by the apartheid government in 1988.
After 29 years his remains will officially be returned to his family by Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Michael Masutha in Oudtshoorn today.
This forms part of implementation of recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Lucas was a United Democratic Front-activist (UDF) from Oudtshoorn.
He was sentenced to death on August 21, 1987 in the Cape Town Supreme Court for the murder of a bus inspector, William Blaauw.
Lucas was hanged at Pretoria Central Prison on March 25, 1988. He was buried the same day in a pauper’s grave in the Mamelodi Cemetery in Pretoria. Masutha said: “This hero refused to grovel to a regime that trampled on the rights of the majority. Today we will enable the family to give comrade Lucas the proper and dignified burial that he deserves.”
Former UDF activist Nomaindia Mfeketo said: “I hope everyone can have fulfilment to know where their loved one was buried.
“Those who died were selfless, they knew they could die or go to prison tomorrow. We have to remember their blood as the water of the trees of freedom.”
Madeleine Fullard, head of The Missing Persons Task Team, said: “We are very happy to be taking Michael home and to reunite him with his family.”