Gradings

A group of youth activists between the ages of 16 and 23, members of both the Cape Youth Congress (Cayco) and uMkhonto we Sizwe who later after their assassination became known as the Gugulethu 7 where Mandla Simon Mxinwa, Zanisile Zenith Mjobo, Zola Alfred Swelani, Godfrey Jabulani Miya, Christopher Piet, Themba Mlifi and Zabonke John Konile.

During the mid-1980s there was a rise in the number of uMkhonto we Sizwe operatives. In response, the Security Branch with assistance of Vlakplaas, a government death squad, led teams ordered to intervene with anti-apartheid operations. The Gugulethu 7 were planning an attack for 3 March 1986, however they were ambushed. On that morning, 25 heavily armed police were briefed and deployed to Gugulethu. Allegedly, grenades were thrown by the Gugulethu 7 and police started firing from all sides. However, witnesses said some of the seven were shot with their hands in the air trying to surrender.

The Gugulethu 7 hold importance in the community, in the pattern of South Africa's history and has strong and special association with the life and work of the young men who were killed. The site and context of Gugulethu displays significance in terms of historical, social and cultural value associated with political unrest, police shootings, deaths, protests and massively attended funerals, all of which illustrates a historic period which holds importance in the history of South Africa.