uMkhonto we Sizwe Military veterans rebury Nicky Hlongane.
If the African National Congress wants to regain the public’s trust, it was told it needed to resuscitate its previous style of selfless leadership in society and governance.
The ANC was also warned that it risked its demise which has already begun with the loss of some major constituencies in the past local government elections.
Read: Alex ANC military vet bemourns division in the party
This was said on 20 May at the Alex campus of the Central Johannesburg College at the reburial ceremony of Alex-born Nicky Hlongwane, an uMkhonto we Sizwe operative. Hlongwane died in car accident in 1986 in Swaziland, where he was exhumed. The ceremony was attended by his family, Alex residents, government officials including ministers Obed Bapela, Lindiwe Zulu, Ayanda Dlodlo, former city of Joburg mayor Parks Tau, MK veterans and SANDF officials.
The ceremony turned into a sombre introspection on the state of governance; disunity in the party; and corruption permeating government, which speakers said eroded the party’s former glory.
uMkhonto we Sizwe military veterans sing in honour of a departed comrade.
His former commander during the struggle, Lieutenant General Len Rasekgatla, lauded Hlongwane’s bravery which earned him a Presidential Order of Mendi for Bravery posthumously. “His and others like Solomon Mahlangu’s struggle contributions were the epitome of selfless commitment which should not be in vain. The current shenanigans of self-enrichment and corruption through tenders and fighting for positions dents their contributions to the struggle and the party’s image, which the public knows to be a brand of selfless leadership.
“The party is challenged to revert to its values which are supreme, and to which its members and leaders are beholden through an oath they signed.” Rasekgatla urged leaders to ensure their actions were beyond reproach in his honour, other heroes and the leaders’ predecessors.
“The story of the struggle will be incomplete without mention of his solid contribution to the freedom society… through his commitment… which includes evading arrest after leading a unit that attacked among others, the Moroka, Orlando, Booysens and Wonderboom police stations,” shattering the regime’s image as an invincible fortress.
uMkhonto we Sizwe military veterans honour Nicky Hlongwane at his reburial.
MK veteran Nontokozo Moloi lauded Hlongwane and others for sacrificing their youth and family for the struggle and eventual freedom, which she said should be nurtured infinitely. “Their heroism should be documented for posterity and used to remind and encourage future generations to guard their freedom jealously as the journey ahead is still long.”
She lamented other challenges which she said were self-inflicted by members failing to uphold the party’s ethos and values in branches where meetings are dominated by the pursuit of self-enrichment. Moloi urged for unity and improved discipline among party members.
She also called for heroes and veterans to be honoured and supported through inter-ministerial programmes, and for party members to contribute their skills to society through community initiatives including adopting schools and hospitals.
Obed Bapela urged for unity, love, trust and respect as ideals for party members to uphold in honour of their departed heroes like Hlongwane and others.
He was reburied in the Heroes’ Acre at Westpark Cemetery. He is survived by his two sons.
