Historic Botha Sigcau Building Fire Rekindles Traumatic Memories of 1990 Transkei Military Coup Attempt

Fire at Mthatha's Botha Sigcau Building revives memories of the 1990 Transkei coup attempt and the final moments of Lieutenant Colonel Craig Duli.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 9:02 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from EWN

The Physical Destruction of a Provincial Landmark

A severe conflagration has gutted the Botha Sigcau Building in Mthatha, leaving one of the town's oldest and tallest structures in ruins. As provincial authorities and forensic investigators continue their search for the cause of the fire, the local community is grappling with the loss of a site that functioned as both a primary workplace and a symbol of regional history. Named after the late Amapondo King and the inaugural ruler of the Transkei government, the building has long stood as a monument to the area's political heritage. However, for some residents, the smoke rising from the site represents the resurfacing of a deeply suppressed and violent historical chapter.

A Catalyst for Intergenerational Trauma

For the family of the late Lieutenant Colonel Craig Duli, the destruction of the building is particularly distressing. In November 1990, Duli led a failed military attempt to overthrow the Transkei government, an event that culminated in his capture within the very walls that were recently consumed by flames. The family has noted that the fire has acted as a psychological trigger, bringing back the vivid details of the military operation and Duli’s subsequent death at a military base shortly after his apprehension. According to family representatives, the building was inextricably linked to their father's final hours, making its physical collapse a fresh emotional blow.

The Widow’s Decade of Recovery

Nontobeko Duli, the widow of the late Lieutenant Colonel, shared the profound personal toll the building has taken on her life over the past three decades. She revealed that for ten years following the events of November 22, 1990, she was unable to even walk past the structure, often taking long detours to avoid the sight of the place where her husband was last seen alive. According to Nontobeko, the building served as a permanent reminder of the day she lost her partner, and the recent fire has forced a painful confrontation with memories she has spent years trying to process.