‘POLITICAL upheavals that once ravaged Zululand communities, particularly in areas such as eSikhaleni, Nseleni, Ngwelezana, Matshana Reserve and other parts of Umkhanyakude District should never be allowed to return.
‘As a society we need spiritual healing to close that unfortunate chapter of the bloodshed once and for all.’
This was the conviction of ANC’s Musa Dladla Women’s League Deputy Chairperson Thembeka Mchunu, when delivering a keynote address at Empangeni Civic Centre last week, in an event, honouring veterans who played a pivotal role in bringing about peace and stability in violent-torn areas.
‘Inasmuch as this event is a fitting tributes to those veterans we are honouring today, still there is a danger of seeing history repeating itself, if this project is left incomplete.’
Black on black violence
‘This initiative should serve to remind us never to go back where we come from.
‘We come from a painful history, with black-on-black violence, where a brother would kill another brother for nothing.
‘We need spiritual healing to close this chapter. We also need as black people to decolonise our mindset from oppression.
‘The mere fact that there is now school violence, drug abuse, the killings of women and children and of course internal political killings, does send a message that we have unfinished business,’ she said.
Mchunu also gave a word of praise to the organisers of the event, Makhubanothuli Trading, for having the courage to document the political history of Empangeni.
‘How I wish this could become an annual event, supported by all stakeholders including the government,’ she said.
Ringleaders of what was called the Lower Umfolozi Peace Committee, Canon Hamilton Mbatha and his ‘Shangaan’ partner, John Mabuyakhulu shared their experiences of how difficult it was to forge peace between two rival political parties, the ANC and IFP.
Massacre
The event was also attended by the Executive Director for Heritage Development Trust, Prof Musawenkosi Khulekani Xulu, who gave a brief background of the political violence.
‘I have noted massacres like the one that happened on 16 February in 1992 when 12 people identified as ANC supporters were killed in eSikhaleni Township.
‘Similarly on Sunday 2 August the same year, 11 people identified as IFP supporters were killed in the same township.
‘In the midst of that, there were heroes and heroines who believed in peace,’ he said.
Event convener and director of Makhubanothuli Trading, Kwanele Mbatha said they felt it was imperative to honour those veterans who contributed to the peace and development the region now enjoys.
‘It is sad that some of them are no longer here with us. It would have been nice to see them receiving these awards, while they were still alive.’
Among those who were honoured with certificates were Canon Hamilton Mbatha, John Mabuyakhulu, Prof Hosea Fakude, Alois Kunene, Dominic Mayise, Ntokozo Khumalo, Madlinyoka Ntanzi, Sipho Lukhele, S Cele, Elphas Mbatha, Zebedee Mtshali, SAPS members, Taxi Associations, Ngwelezana business woman Mrs Mngadi, Department of Health, Department of Education and the Zululand Observer newspaper.
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