LETTER: Has the country reconciled?

• Thabile Mange writes:

During the apartheid era, the 16th of December was marked Dingaan’s Day. After democracy had been ushered in, it was renamed Reconciliation Day. Has the country reconciled? Methinks not.

Every year, on December 16, Advocate Mokgatlhe throws a party for the poor children of Magalies. Not only that, but he also showers them with gifts such as toys, clothes, books, and so on. This was his 16th year doing that.

This year, the former executive mayor used the occasion to also educate children about reconciliation. He invited political leaders from different parties to address the children of Magaliesburg about the above-mentioned subject.

Mogale City Executive Mayor Danny Thupane gave an update on the heritage route in the City. Thupane revealed that the plot to assassinate Chris Hani was planned in Mogale City. The house that was used as a meeting place to plot the assassination will be turned into a heritage site, said the mayor.

The man who murdered South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd, Dimitri Tsafendas, was thrown to the psychiatric hospital Sterkfontein. When Tsafendas passed away, he was buried at the Sterkfontein Cemetery. Thupane said the Mogale council is going to exhume his remains and bury them at the hero’s arch.

The former PAC leader and ex-Apla commander Letlapa Mphahlele was the keynote speaker. Mphahlele talked about forgiveness and reconciliation. He used his story to drive his point home.

Mphahlele said forgiveness is voluntary. He related a story about a white woman who forgave him after Apla had killed her child. The instruction to kill the child came from him, he said. The woman voluntarily forgave him.

There was also a roll of honour for struggle veterans who passed away this year. Names on the roll were those of Frene Ginwala, Mbulelo Musi and Joe Makgotlho, just to mention three. The Musi and Makgotlho families were given the portraits of the deceased. It was an emotional moment.

Former Mogale City Town Clerk, now known as a municipal manager Itumeleng Mokate graced the occasion. So did the SA ambassador in Zambia, George Twala and Duma Nokwe’s elder daughter. Businessman Xolani Qubeka was also there.