School to be named after Sam Nzima
Yesterday the deputy president, David Mabuza, announced that a school will be built and named after Sam Nzima in Lillydale.
Speaking during Nzima’s funeral service Mabuza told mourners that he had kept many of his promises to Nzima while he was still alive.
He explained that in one of the service-delivery protests by the people of Bushbuckridge Nzima’s house was damaged as people threw stones at it.
“We discussed this with Nzima and I promised to build him a house. I am happy to see the house today,” Mabuza said to the applause of mourners. He added that it was sad he couldn’t see Nzima sleep in it because of his death. He was content that Nzima had seen it and even taken some pictures in it.
“The house will now belong to mama forever,” he said. Mabuza promised to furnish it and to find experts to build Sam Nzima’s museum where Nzima’s photos will kept. Mabuza added that among other things he had discussed with Nzima was the building of a school. “The issue of the school I will leave with the current premier of Mpumalanga. The school will be named after Sam Nzima,” he said. Mabuza said he was happy with the construction progress of the road that the community had fought for when they damaged Nzima’s house.
Nzima’s tombstone with his famous picture of Hector Peterson lies not far from his house.
