Disappearance-affected families explain, "Being a family member of a disappeared person is a kind of daily torture. There can be no rest, no mourning, no closure as long as the truth has not emerged. This search for the truth is extremely frustrating and painful and family members are alone in their despair."

Today, 10 members of families affected by an enforced disappearance will gather in Khulumani's Khotso House office for a ceremony of remembering their loved ones and sharing their continuing struggle to find more information towards the resolution of these cases.

In terms of the United Nations Convention to Protect All Persons from an Enforced Disappearance which the South African government has yet to ratify and to domesticate, an enforced disappearance is a continuing crime.

Today we remember the powerful artwork created by Judith Mason who honoured the comrade Phila Ndwandwe whose exhumed body was found with panties made of blue plastic in her attempt to protect her dignity. In her tribute, Judith Mason wrote, our weapons were your silence and a piece of rubbish. Finding that bag and wearing it until you were disinterred is such a frugal, common-sensical, house-wifey thing to do, an ordinary act...At some level you shamed your captors, and they did not compound their abuse by stripping you a second time. Yet they killed you. We only know your story because a sniggering man remembered how brave you were. Memorials to your courage are everywhere; they blow about in the streets and drift on the tide and cling to thorn-bushes. This dress is made from some of them. Hamba kahle. Umkhonto.

Today we commit to continuing the struggle to find out the truth of what happened to the 1,200 people whose records are on Khulumani's Database and to work to keep this issue alive in the ongoing struggle for justice for victims of the past. We salute the families of the disappeared for the unrelenting commitment to keeping on looking for the truth. May your search be fulfilled. We join the following families today in expressing solidarity for this struggle: Mrs Julia Ngcobo, Mrs Rebecca Mlambo, Mrs Debora Pato, Mrs Lindiwe Cindi, Mrs Maria Mavuso, Mr Dumisane Khumalo, Mrs Sarah Xhola, Mrs Mary Thusi, and Mrs Emelina Ngubeni.

For more information, please call Khulumani's Disappearances Investigator, Mr Dumisane Khumalo on 082 213 5604 or Khulumani's Gauteng Coordinator, Ms Nomarussia Bonase 082 751 9903