OUPA RONALD MADONDO INQUEST FINALISED
23 SEPTEMBER 2025
OUPA RONALD MADONDO INQUEST FINALISED
Oupa Ronald Madondo (Madondo) was born on 20 May 1948 in Sophiatown, Johannesburg. Due to the forced removals from Sophiatown, his family was relocated to Dube, Soweto, in 1958. He was recruited into the African National Congress (ANC) in the early 1970’s. Madondo was arrested on two separate occasions being June of 1978 and September of 1979.
Shortly after his release from prison in September 1979, he was kidnapped by members of the Security Branch (SB) and was never seen again by his family, friends, acquaintances and/or the community of Dube, Soweto, nor his ANC comrades. In 1996, five people applied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for amnesty in respect of the kidnapping and murder of a person only known as Scorpio/Scorpion. The amnesty applicants were Johan Martin van Zyl, Donald Spence Gold, Schalk Jan Visser, Gerhardus Stephanus Schoon and Disre Carr. The challenge before the TRC was to determine the identity of Scorpio/Scorpion. The applicants were granted this amnesty; however, the identity of this person could not be determined. As a result of the TRC’s inability to determine the identity of Scorpio/Scorpion, this matter was amongst those referred to the NPA for further investigation.
In 2021, the National Prosecution Authority in KZN under the guidance of the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (Adv Dunywa) and DPCI in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) were requested to revisit the matter by the family. Through prosecutor-guided investigations the team began an investigation into the identity of Scorpio/Scorpion. Upon completion of investigations, a prosecutorial decision was made to institute a formal inquest in terms of the Inquest Act 58 of 1959 to determine, amongst other things, the identity of Scorpio/Scorpion. These inquest proceedings were held at Pongola Magistrates Court as Madondo was killed within that jurisdiction. During the proceedings, the court heard, amongst others, evidence from members of the Madondo family, acquaintances of Madondo, members of the ANC as well as former members of the Security Branch.
On 27 August 2025, the inquest court, handed down judgment, finding that Oupa Ronald Madondo used the pseudo name Scorpio/Scorpion. He was kidnapped, killed and his body detonated around the Jozini dam in the latter half of 1980. His death was caused by the five amnesty applicants, namely van Zyl and the others. However, as per the provisions of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 34 of 1995, the amnesty applicants who had been granted amnesty by the TRC, were immune from prosecution on the charges of kidnapping and murder. As a result, there could be no prosecution instituted. The Madondo family has expressed their appreciation regarding the work of the team who worked together to respond to their request and the outcome and have further expressed that the inquest judgment has brought them closure.
The NPA and its partners, working together with the affected families, will endeavour to address the atrocities of the past and assist in providing closure to the families of the victims of these crimes.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229