Ashley Kriel

Ashley Kriel, a 20-year-old, coloured South African activist, was killed by police in Cape Town on 9 July 1987[1][2] for his role in advocating anti-apartheid actions. In 1999, Jeffrey Benzien was granted an amnesty by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission for his part in the killing.[3]

Ashley Kriel
Born
Ashely Kriel

October 17, 1966
DiedJuly 9, 1987(1987-07-09) (aged 20)
Athlone, Cape Town
Cause of deathShot
NationalitySouth African
Occupationstudent
Known forAnti-apartheid activism

On his release from prison in February 1990, Nelson Mandela acknowledged Ashley Kriel's sacrifice for the anti-apartheid struggle.[4][5]

In his memory, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation and the University of the Western Cape created the annual Ashley Kriel Memorial Youth Lecture[6] to highlight youth leadership challenges throughout the country.

Death

The circumstances around Kriel's death have never been clearly established. According to Benzien, a security policeman known for his "wet-bag" torture of activists, he was shot by accident during a scuffle. However, forensic scientist David Klatzow believes Kriel was shot from a distance while handcuffed. His sister Michel returned to the house and found blood in numerous places, inside and outside, including on a spade, and believes he was tortured. In spite of the doubts around Benzien's testimony, he was granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[7][8]

The Ashley Kriel Youth Leadership Development Project

The project was established because of the inspiration from Cape Town youth leader Ashley Kriel who was killed by the apartheid regime in the 1980s. He is recognised as representative of students and youth of the 1980s from the Cape Flats in the Western Cape. Ashley Kriel is a symbol of youths bringing about social change in and out of the Western Cape.[9]

The program involves youth in many various platforms, including physical and electronic, the project also promotes debate about youth leadership and development. By connecting a cross-section of youth from different societies, the project aims to develop young future leaders.[10]

Memory Box Initiative

Projects are combined to focus on the fostering of conversation and the sharing of personal narratives and community histories in Worcester, as means of furthering reconciliation and the impact on the IJRs Ashley Kriel Youth Leadership Development Project and Schools' Oral History.

The project aims to provide a platform whereby stories of community members in Worcester can be explored through different aspects of Arts and Theatre-based activities that create space for dialogue, peace-building, social justice and public participation.

The key element throughout the projects is the closing of the generational gap between youth and generations from different eras within the community's history, including the former anti-apartheid activists with the aim of encouraging the connection between the two eras by sharing experiences and memories.

References
  1. JOHN D. BATTERSBY, Labor Federation Backs Anti-Pretoria Rebels, New York Times, 19 July 1987
  2. Police Fire Tear Gas Into Crowd at a Funeral in South Africa, New York Times, 19 July 1987
  3. TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION AMNESTY COMMITTEE, APPLICATION IN TERMS OF SECTION 18 OF THE PROMOTION OF NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION ACT NO. 34 OF 1995. JEFFREY THEODORE BENZIEN APPLICANT
  4. SOUTH AFRICA'S NEW ERA; Transcript of Mandela's Speech at Cape Town City Hall: 'Africa It Is Ours!, New York Times, 12 February 1990
  5. Nelson Mandela's address on his release from prison
  6. Ashley Kriel Memorial Youth Lecture
  7. Gasant Abarder (4 March 2016). "The world will know the story of Ashley Kriel". Independent Online. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. Gadeeja Abbas (4 March 2016). "Ashley Kriel: 'It was murder'". Independent Online. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  9. "Freedom to create change: A collection of young voices" (PDF). Institute of Justice and Reconciliation. Institute of Justice and Reconciliation. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  10. Hirsch, Matthew. "Project building bridges between communities". Atlantic Sun. Atlantic Sun. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
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