Gcina's children were also active in the movement: all four of her sons were ultimately recruited into the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.[2][3] While they were children, she had taught them about the Freedom Charter (also banned by the government) using a copy handwritten from memory by a relative.[2] Three of her sons – Mthetheleli, Mkhululi and Mziwoxolo – died while stationed with MK, two in combat and one in an accident at a military camp.[4][6] In addition, Gcina's brother was Sipho Hashe, one of the PEBCO Three who disappeared in 1985, presumably into police custody; in the 1990s, it was confirmed that he had been murdered by the police's Security Branch.[6][7]
Gcina herself was detained on several occasions, including during the state of emergency of 1985 and later from June 1986 to June 1987.[3][8] After her initial release in 1985, she was a witness in a class-action lawsuit against the state in which she testified to having been severely tortured in detention.[9][10] Later, at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a Security Branch agent applied for – and was refused – amnesty for having petrol-bombed her home.[8]
Gcina died on 27 May 2021 after a long illness.[2][3] President Cyril Ramaphosa granted her a special provincial official funeral, which was held in Port Elizabeth, by then renamed Gqerberha.[5][13]