Undeterred brother continues Nicky ‘Ntsizwa’ Hlongwane’s memory
ALEXANDRA – Jwara's memorialising of award-winning liberation brother needs support.
An Alex man is keeping his reverence for his late brother’s exploits during the country’s liberation struggle alive through a memorial site he has been developing since 2017.
David Jwara’s commitment featured in the Alex News article ‘This is a sacred site’ [Week ending 16 March 2018] continues to develop the site for a shrine in Tsutsumani in honour of Nelson Nicky ‘Ntsizwa’ Hlongwane whose role in the MK’s G5 unit, through acts of sabotage on key state points like police and power stations, instilled terror in the then Apartheid establishment. He, unfortunately, passed away in Swaziland in 1986. His remains were repatriated and reburied at West Park Cemetery in 2017 with full military honours following his posthumous conferment of medals for bravery and role in the liberation struggle by former presidents late Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma.
“The awards were for his selfless dedication with other illustrious cadres of the movement to the national liberation he didn’t live to see due to a motor vehicle accident,” Jwara said of his brother.
The statue will be within a service site that will include an internet café to promote communication as well as a library with local and international books on freedom and liberation to preserve the history, spirit and memory of interrelated liberation struggles in the region and globally.
A former MK cadre himself, Jwara used to be an artist and will use the site for music classes to children and the youth in honour of Ntsizwa’s own musical legacy when he was a member of various 70s bands.
Jwara hopes to complete the project next year using his own limited resources. “Similar to the liberation struggle I joined without paying a subscription, I will soldier on through dedication and sacrifice.
“Also, doing so in response to calls by particularly the departments of Arts and Cultures and, Sports and Recreation for the preservation of our national heritage for benefit of posterity,” he said urging the state to fund such efforts and as a reminder to those who during Ntsizwa’s reburial committed to honour, preserve and promote his and others’ selfless legacies countrywide.
He urged for the contributions to help speed up the completion of the project for which all the paperwork has been done through his organisation, NPO Inkululeko Arts and Information Communication Centre.
The initiative will also be accessed by tourists keen to update or deepen their memory of the struggle, its role in addressing social ills, share comparative information on international liberation struggles for which he hopes to get appropriate literature and speakers wishing to spread the message of international solidarity.
He commended the encouragement from neighbours who he said will gain through their children’s improved knowledge of the importance of history to their lives. He urged local artists to start a movement to promote their interest. “It’s the only vehicle to promote our cultural heritage and, attract children who are our future.”
In readiness for the impending oversight responsibility for the completed project, Jwara attends accredited courses to equip himself with organisational, financial and other managerial skills.
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