SAfrican anti-apartheid activist Masango, accused in apartheid treason trial, dies at 51

South African anti-apartheid activist dies at 51

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s governing party says Frans “Ting-Ting” Masango, an anti-apartheid activist once sentenced to death for treason, has died.

The 51-year-old African National Congress lawmaker died Friday in Pretoria after battling diabetes.

Masango was one of several activists from an underground ANC military unit who were captured and charged with murder and treason.

He was sentenced to death in 1989 following the historic “Delmas Four” trial and was released in 1991 after the ANC was unbanned.

The ANC said in a statement Monday that South Africa would not be the democracy it is today without the “selfless sacrifices” of activists like Masango.