Family and friends gathered to celebrate a former of uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veteran Association (MKMVA) soldier, Bendekile Davids Ndwango’s life as he turns 82-years-old.
The 82-year-old from Phola Park, Thokoza, celebrated his birthday in the presence of his former MK veteran friends, ANC members, church and community members and his loved ones.
Ndwango said he is grateful to have reached this age, adding that many people who grew up in their conditions hardly reach that age and more to those who were part of the struggle because of the effects suffered in the wars.
While highlighting his life journey during the apartheid struggle, Ndwango said what people refer to as struggle today is nothing compared to theirs.
“Our struggle was difficult and had dire repercussions. Some things needed to be done, even though we did not like what we were doing. We focused on making it happen because we knew where we were coming from and where we wanted to go.
The MK veteran said he joined the struggle two years after passing standard six in 1955.
In Mach 1957 he joined the African National Congress (ANC) after he met five men, whom he did not wish to reveal their identities.
He said the five men were living with Madaphane, his principal at Nontangana Primary School who was also his father’s brother.
“I saw them when they arrived in the afternoon and you could tell that they are not from around the area. “But within two or three days they had completely changed. They became ugly and completely different from when I first saw them.
“They always carried blankets, fastened their pants with ropes and always carried fighting sticks. They hang out at a spot, drink beers day and night every day while singing.”
His curiosity led him to raise questions to Madaphane to understand who the five men are, however, Madaphane did not respond.
“I could see that he was scared and did not push for a response. On the following day, he called me and told me that the men I was asking about wanted to see me tomorrow evening.”
He said he went there the following evening. When he arrived they showed him many papers and maps and asked if he went to school and his knowledge of geography, history and the land.
“They taught me many things like how the land and mine operate and as they were telling me these things I remembered the history and geography.”
Ndwango said he was told not to tell anyone what they mentioned to him.
“They told me they were leading the march against Bantu Education and Afrikaans language in Cape Town. At that time, I heard talks that Afrikaans would become the official language in schools, and the Royal Education would also fall under Bantu Education.
“We did not want Afrikaans as the principal language, and that is when I joined them. I was with them the entire year before going to work at the mine,”
In 1958 he moved to Klerksdorp to work at Stillfountein Gold Mines.
He said when he got to the city he experienced everything he was taught and how white people treated black people like nothing.
The 82-year-old recalled how they used to organize protests against the oppression of Black people in mines and the tribal wars between Xhosas and Zulus.
Ndwango was the MKMVA commander between August 19, 1990, and 1994, after Nelson Mandela was democratically elected to become President.
Simo Ngwango (72) described Ndwango as a stubborn person who believes in his views, and in most cases he is right.
“You can’t change his mind once he’s made it up. What I love about him is that he strives and commits to achieving what he sets his mind to. “May he continue growing older and stronger, he worked very hard for the country,” he said.
The organizer of the birthday event, Portia Mkhosi, was adopted by Ngwango after both her parents passed away.
“I would like to thank him for the love he showed my siblings and me because he had the courage to take care of us. He became a parent to us. I wish him a long life. May he continue being a blessing,” said Mkhosi.
Ngwango got married three times. His first marriage was in 1964, and he was blessed with 16 children.
