Fallen comrades are remembered
During the memorial lecture, Mahlobo said the lives of those who were killed by the apartheid forces were worth commemorating.
KANYAMAZANE – “After years of hardships and the the struggle to topple the apartheid regime, South Africa is now a better place to live in than it was 20 years ago.”
This was said by the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Mr David Mahlobo in his address last week at the local community hall during the commemoration of the Lowveld Massacre in 1986.
This year marks the 28th anniversary of the death of Mandla Lekhuleni, Connie Sibiya, Mandla Shabangu and Saul Mkhabela at the hands of law-enforcement agencies of the apartheid regime.
During the memorial lecture, Mahlobo said the lives of those who were killed by the apartheid forces were worth commemorating and as the country geared up for elections, people should always remember where they came from and how democracy was attained.
“We are here to look back and also to tell you as a family that we will never forget your loved ones because they sacrificed their lives for our democracy. We will remember them with jubilation. Today it is no longer a crime to be a black African as it used to be.”
This comes after what started as the isolated execution of a learner named Lekhuleni by the apartheid security forces, during sporadic student protests, which escalated into racial killings.
On the day of Lekhuleni’s funeral the police fired rubber bullets and teargas at the mourners while the army drove their vehicle into the crowd of mourners, killing Sibiya.
And as a result scores of people were injured while others were arrested and charged with public violence following street battles between the youth and security forces.
When the people gave support to those who were arrested, the army and police opened fire on the crowd that had gathered outside the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court, killing two more people, Shabangu and Mkhabela.
Learners of Buhlebuyeta Primary School, rendered a theatrical play depicting the injustices that learners had to go through during the apartheid era. Mahlobo said those like Sibiya died for equal and better education and as a result education didn’t cost anything.
He added that if individuals wanted to invest in the development of the country they should invest in education because that was where the future lay.
