On 26 July 1993 members of APLA opened fire on a congregation in St James Church in Kenilworth, in Cape Town, killing 11 people and injuring 50 others.
[1] According to 1997 TRC Final Report on the 1993 Mthatha Raid, "The State Security Council (SSC) had discussed the increase in bases and APLA attacks originating from Transkei in August 1993.
During September, the SADF received information from the SAP regarding the use of the Mpendulo residence as an APLA arms facility and base from which attacks in the Eastern and Western Cape were launched.
General Meiring indicated that he relied on then director of operations Brigadier Castleman, and a senior staff officer for intelligence, Colonel Gibson for the planning of the raid at the Mpendulo residence.
Further, the reconnaissance mission withdrew at approximately 20h00 on 7 October, hours after authority had been given "to conduct a limited strike on the house" in order "to neutralise the target".
"[1] This authorisation emanated from a meeting of the SSC attended by, inter alia, Ministers Kriel, Coetsee, Pik Botha and then State President F. W. de Klerk.
The post-apartheid South African cabinet led by the then Justice Minister Dullah Omar compensated the families of the deceased and the payment of R238 000 to all the claimants.
The commission further found the failure of the SANDF to produce the weapons allegedly seized at the Mpendulo residence for forensic examination as proof that they did not exist.