Fallen struggle fighter’s mom wants a house

Duduza – In a private discussion, late Monty Motloung’s mother, Martha Masiela (81), pleaded with the speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, to build her a house.

The speaker was visiting the families of different fallen struggle fighters earlier this month as part of the 67 minutes in honour of the late struggle icon, Nelson Mandela.

The elderly woman says she doesn’t have a house and is still staying at her parents’ home.

“I have been pleading for a house with different leaders in the ruling party who visit me annually.

“They only make promises and vanish; we never hear from them again.

“I have previously applied for a RDP house but I am still waiting,” she says.

Gogo Masilela says she is hoping that the speaker of parliament will live up to her promises.

“I can no longer take empty promises I am fed every time we get visitors.

“I am a pensioner and can’t afford to build myself a house from my pension grant,” she says.

Mbete says they have listened to the elderly woman’s needs and they will help where they can.

“Monty played a big role in fighting for the freedom of this country alongside Solomon Mahlangu.

“He was part of the group that was the leadership of Nelson Mandela who was the first commander-in-chief of uMkhondo we Sizwe.

“It is only fair that during this period we remember those who worked closely with him to fight for the liberation of this country,” she says.

“In January 1977, Motloung left for Swaziland with his friend Sam Kenneth Mnisi to join the banned African National Congress (ANC).

“He was one of the young people who were elected in Angola to be trained in the use of explosives and military combat.

“He was part of a group of ten who prepared for operations in the country on the first anniversary of June 16.

“He got injured during a shooting with the apartheid security police while on their way to Soweto.

“Together with Solomon they surrounded the police and during their detention they were brutally tortured.

Monty was declared unfit to stand trial and was released from prison in 1992.

He was still suffering from the wounds inflicted during the detention and his health continued to deteriorate until he died in 2006.

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