This included the unveiling of a tombstone in the Rondebult Cemetery, a memorial lecture at Jabulani Dumane Community Hall, and the unveiling of a plaque at the Jabulani Dumani Community Health Centre.
The commemoration was organised by the Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans Association and Vuka (Vosloorus Civic Association), as well as the Dumane family.
From a young age, Dumane had empathy in dealing with requests for assistance from the ANC community and beyond.
Due to the deep segregation in his home town (Vukuzakhe Township in Volksrust, Mpumalanga), entrenched by Apartheid laws, he joined the youth movement in persuading his political conviction in local politics.
He continued his political ambitions by joining the ANC and its military wing Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans Association in exile.
After numerous political achievements and duties, he eventually settled with his sister in Vosloorus and subsequently found a political home in Vuka, and served as chairperson of the SACP (South African Communist Party) branch.
He was deployed by the ANC to serve under the Pre-Interim Local Council from 1993 to 1995; on November 1, 1995, he was elected to serve as a PR councillor.
At the age of 46, while serving as PR councillor in the first non-racial TLC (Transitional Local Council) of Greater Boksburg, Dumane passed away on October 7, 1996, after a long struggle with illness.
Through the Kathorus Special Presidential projects, the Greater Boksburg TLC resolved to build a community hall and community health centre in Vosloorus, which were later used to posthumously confer honour on Dumane, by naming the entire complex Jabulani Dumane. The name, was unveiled by the then Mayor of Boksburg, Clr Eric Mxolisi Xayiya, and the then Provincial MEC for Health, Mondi Gungubele.
According to Vuka chairperson Vusi Dlamini, the latest memorial event was a huge success, as more than 1 000 people attended.
Among the special guests were former chairperson of the Boksburg TLC executive committee Vusi Sikhakhane, Ekurhuleni Mayor Clr Mondi Gungubele, former mayor Eric Xayiya, longtime friends Mandla Zwane and Mike Thusi, and many other former councillors.
“The community has, in the meantime, learned a lot about Jabulani Dumane, as all their questions about him were answered,” said Dlamini.
“They have learnt about history and some saw his [Dumane] face for the first time.
”Vuka’s aim is to write the history of the townships, specifically Vosloorus; we want to make the community aware of who he was and why the community hall and community health centre are named after him.
“We thank the community for supporting the event.”
