MKMVA cleans up graves of fallen comrades on Youth Day
While others were wearing school uniforms in the name of celebrating Youth Day on June 16, uMkhonto Wesizwe (MKMVA) in partnership with youth from Thokoza and the surroundings went to clean up the graves of the MKMVA fallen heroes.
Mchacho Mngomezulu, one of the survivors of the struggle against apartheid, said most of their comrades died at a young age.
“We have decided to celebrate the day in a different way – showing respect to our fallen comrades by cleaning up their graves. We have identified 110 graves and have invited 150 of their parents. Some parents have died. We managed to show the parents who are still alive and who have managed to celebrate with us their loss is also ours,” said Mngomezulu.
Mngomezulu said most of the comrades died a painful death.
“They were shot by the third force who were defending apartheid,” he added.
The youth who wanted to learn more about the fallen heroes of the struggle against apartheid came in their numbers to celebrate the day with MKMVA.
After the cleaning up of the graveyard, about 270 people who attended moved to Mnguni Park where lunch was served and where young people were addressed by previous leaders of the ANC from Thokoza, such as Duma Nkosi (former Ekurhuleni mayor and former ANC chairperson in Thokoza) and Mahlomula Mabote (former chief whip of Ekurhuleni).
Mngomezulu said Mnguni Park was part of the battlefield during apartheid.
“Most of our comrades whom we are remembering today were killed there by the third force.”
He said he would like this initiative to be done every year.
“The last time this was done was in 1997 and we would like to continue with this every year. We would also like to have a gala dinner and a political lecture whereby young people will be taught more about the struggle against apartheid and about the things the ANC has done for the country,” concluded Mngomezulu.
