Kwa-Thema – Kwa-Thema was named after struggle stalwart Richard Victor Selope Thema who spent his lifetime fighting for human rights.
On Friday, the stalwart was honoured by the Selope Thema Foundation and the ANC through a lecture at the Kwa-Thema Hall.
Born in 1886, Selope Thema grew to be a journalist and also got involved in politics.
His grandson Phekane Ramarumo, who is also the chairperson of the foundation, said, “A lot of people don’t know the history of Selope Thema or how Kwa-Thema came about. We have a history from 1912 to 1929 which is not recorded correctly.”
Ramarumo said during the 1930 to 1940 land removals when black people were being removed from Payneville and other mineral-rich areas to Kwa-Thema, Thema used to call community meetings at the Indaba Tree where he would mobilise support to fight against the apartheid regime.
He said Thema used to be at the forefront of fighting for the people to get proper infrastructure, water and electricity.
The lecture was attended by the foundation members, the family, ANC members and two kings from Limpopo.
During the lecture, family member Elizabeth Thema said Thema was one of the founders of the ANC and the second secretary general of the organisation.
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She said Thema loved the people and dedicated his life to fighting for what he believed in. The Ga-Mamabolo Chief Richard Mmatlala Mamabolo said Thema was born and raised in Ga-Mamabolo.
He said Thema loved education as he fought for himself to be educated.
“I heard earlier today during the wreath-laying that Thema also contributed to the writing of chapter two of the Constitution. Section 29 in the chapter is education. This shows that he loved education, hence it was included,” he said.
He also added that it would be an injustice to the name if there is no school or street in Ga-Mamabolo named after Thema.
“As Thema came to Gauteng to look for better opportunities, I’d like for us, the government, family and the foundation to meet and apply for exhumation so that we take the remains of Thema home where he grew up,” he said.
The keynote address was done by the former premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, who spoke on Thema’s political involvement.
Makhura said Thema was the branch secretary of the then South African Native National Congress (SANNC) in Pietersburg before he moved to the then Transvaal.
“When I was the provincial secretary of the ANC, I used to pride myself on walking in the footsteps of two giants who came from the East Rand who were the provincial secretaries of the Transvaal, one being David Bopape and the other being Selope Thema. Selope then became the second secretary general of the movement,” Makhura said.
Makhura mentioned that Thema was instrumental in the changing of the name of the organisation from SANNC to the ANC and that he was part of those who came up with the constitution of the said organisation.
Thema died in 1955 and is buried in the West Park Cemetery.
