MoAfrica Dlova remembered for his hard work and dedication to the Pan African Congress
Dlova was amongst the group that launched the party in 1960 in Orlando Communal Hall.
He is no more but not forgotten, his hard work and dedication to the Pan African Congress are what the party members embrace and celebrate. Fellow Panafricanist of MoAfrica Bhekumuzi Addinton Dlova came out in numbers to bid farewell to one of their giant, leader and a founding member.
Dlova’s fellow founding member John Mohapa said it’s a sad day for all of them. He said the late Dlova loved them and they loved him, has raised them and he left them, but he added that they will continue with the struggle.
“MaAfrica I was so hurt when I heard that this man is no more, I decided to write something down so that whenever I fail to continue due to emotions my fellow Africanists can continue reading,” he said.
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Mohapa shared the memory that he shared with the deceased where he explained that together they were part of different campaigns that were to spread the aims and objectives of the movement which:
• was to rally the African people under the burner of African Nationalism
• to Establish an African Social Democracy
• To unite the African State
• To protect the African Personality
He said they embarked on a status campaign together where they were telling the whites that they are not just blacks but human beings which was called Umzabalazo we Sithunzi. He explained that back then they were treated like tools.
“By then my mother was called a girl, my grandmother was called a girl, my sister was called a girl my grandfather was called a boy, my father was called a boy and my brother was called a boy.
“PAC said this must come to an end and they said when a white person calls you a boy you must respond by saying yes boy and then they were shocked that people are retaliating,” he recalled.
He said the campaign went on until they liberated. He said they took the second campaign together which was the Anti-pass campaign. He said they fought against the Doompass that was dividing them as they were classified by which province the owner came from.
“When you come to Johannesburg to work when the contract is over you were expected to go back home meaning that at the end of the year every black employee must go back home and re-apply,” he said.
He recalled that on March 21, 1960, all males were to leave their pass at home and never to carry them again and said on the day the late Dlova responded to the call together with the late Mangaliso Sobukwe and lead the group to Orlando Police station.
The deceased’s grandson Gugulethu Maqethuka said their grateful to the party members for their support during this time. He said it’s very important that when a person goes he is celebrated by the life he lived.
He explained that his grandfather dedicated his life to the cause of the country because of the love he had for his African people. Maqethuka said most of his family members fought for the liberation of the country.
Dlova’s neighbour Phindile Senye said he knew the deceased when he came from exile and recalled that back then it was a scary thing when someone said they come from exile. She said the stalwart group the community and taught them about politics.
“I remember telling him that I don’t like politics and he said everything is about politics. He used to teach the youth about why they are Africans, what are the benefits of Africans, and what are the benefits of being Africans,” she said.
She described him as user friendly as he accommodated everyone in the community and said he was the father to the community of Orlando.
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