On 14 June 1986, the Magoo's Bar at the Parade Hotel on the beach-front area of

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

Natal Province The Province of Natal (), commonly called Natal, was a province of South Africa from May 1910 until May 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. During this period rural areas inhabited by the black African population of Natal were organized into ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

was attacked with a car bomb, killing three civilians and injuring 69 others. Robert McBride, a leader in Umkhonto we Sizwe (the paramilitary wing of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

), was convicted of carrying out the attack and sentenced to death, but later reprieved and released.

Bombing

The attack, also known as the Magoo's Bar bombing, was carried out by detonating a car bomb, killing three civilians and injuring 69 others. The bar was targeted as it was claimed to be "frequented by security branch police". Reports sometimes give the name of the bar as the ''Why Not Magoo's Bar'', but in fact the ''Why Not Bar'' and ''Magoo's Bar'' were two different bars attached to the same hotel. Robert McBride was convicted and sentenced to death, but was reprieved while on death row, and released in 1992 by president

F. W. de Klerk Frederik Willem de Klerk (, , 18 March 1936 – 11 November 2021) was a South African politician who served as state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president from 1994 to 1996 in the democratic government. As South A ...

during South Africa's political transition. He has subsequently held a number of prominent positions in the country. After the end of apartheid following the 1994 elections, the

Truth and Reconciliation Committee The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa in 1996 after the end of apartheid. Authorised by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Desmond Tutu, the commission invited witnesse ...

was established in 1996. McBride applied for and received amnesty for his role in the attack. The TRC found that the bombing was a "gross violation of human rights".

References

{{Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), state=expanded 1980s massacres in South Africa 1986 murders in South Africa 1986 in South Africa Explosions in 1986 June 1986 events in Africa Attacks on bars Building bombings in Africa Car and truck bombings in South Africa Crime in Durban

Bombing

See also

References