Survivors of the Alex Six-Day War in 1986 gathered on 20 February to commemorate their turbulent experience and to remember the heroes that emerged from the apartheid era atrocity.
The survivors gathered at the graveyard in Alexandra where more than 20 victims of the war were laid to rest. The delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela, accompanied by the provincial leadership of the African National Congress in Gauteng.
The ANC Alex Zone 13 said in a statement that two activists of that time, Anthony Zengele and Mzwandile Ndinisa, accompanied the organisation to help identify the grave of Michael Diradingwe, the first victim of the war, and other martyrs who were killed after him.
The Six-Day War was sparked by the death of Diradingwe when his comrades went on a rampage and looting spree and apartheid police moved into the township to restore order.
“Michael’s death is recognised as the cause… that led to the Six-Day War after a security guard at one shop that was situated on Vincent Tshabalala Road (then London Road) fired a shot at Diradingwe [which killed him] after being accused of stealing from the shop,” Ndinisa said.
The war began during the night vigil for Diradingwe’s funeral when youth activists resolved to loot the store as a way to demonstrate their frustration against the brutal killings of black South Africans and the detention of their senior leaders during the state of emergency.
The victims of the Six-Day War included Jabulani Mkhele, Mxokozeli Mdakane, Abion Xulu and Meisie Tshabalala, to mention but a few.
The 30th anniversary of this event took place at Sankopano Centre, where senior ANC leaders, headed by deputy secretary-general, Jessie Duarte and Reverend Frank Chikane, the ex-adviser to former President Thabo Mbeki, joined the commemoration.
Details: ANC Alex Zone 13, 011 346 2191; 074 441 7563; dkkekana@gmail.com
