Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council
Representative of the Lesotho Government
Executive Mayor of Joe Gqabi District Municipality
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Representatives of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders
Representatives of political parties
Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors
Senior Government officials
Esteemed guests
Abahlali base Mpuma Kapa abalapha, abelali yaku Qhoboshana neziphaluka
Comrades and friends.

Mandibulele uluntu lwalapha e Qhoboshana neelali ezisingqongileyo ngokuzimasa lomcimbi obalulekileyo, ngesidima nesithozela.

Sidibene apha kulomsebenzi obalulekileyo ngenyanga yoo Mama. It is a befitting co-incidence that we hold this event of this day, the 15 of August , the birthday of ANC Stalwart and Former President of the ANC Women’s League Mama Getrude Shope who is 89 years today. We wish her joy and good health on her birthday. Many of her generation around the Qhoboshana village and surrounds harboured many young people who had left Apartheid South Africa to cross the Tele Bridge into exile in Lesotho.

Le mini ke isikhumbuza iziganeko ezibuhlungu zamhlanene, sisengamakheswa kwizwe lethu. Oonyana neentombi zabantu ziwile edabini lenkululeko ukuqiniseka ukuba sikhululekile namhlanje.

U Rhulumente wengcinezelo nomkhosi wakhe bawa kwimizamo nephulo lokusisingela phantsi, naxa sisasibopha amanxeba

Programme Director

Meeting here today to unveil this memorial, in  the 20th year of our democracy brings brings very painful memories about how our two countries have suffered heavy blows and lost many a son and daughter in the many raids that characterised the stance of the then apartheid regime in the Frontline States.

Since its independence in 1966, the Kingdom of Lesotho has had many challenges. Yet at every turn, the resilience of Basotho has ensured that the country moves forward.

South Africa and Lesotho share strong bonds of solidarity and friendship between our peoples. We are bound together by a rich history and making our destinies inextricably linked. We are not only neighbours, we marry each other and speak the same language. Many people even here in my province think I come from Lesotho.

This Beautiful Kingdom of Lesotho and its people played host to many freedom fighters from South Africa.

As descendants of the same ancestry, we sing the same songs and our praise songs salute the same forebears.

Because of these family bonds, which could not be broken by the arbitrary dint of colonialism, many Basotho participated in the struggle against apartheid unflinchingly as this was also their struggle. Some paid the ultimate price while many more still carry the scars of that struggle.

Lesotho, as a country also paid dearly for its principled stance on the side of our struggle for freedom, in the form of sanctions by the Apartheid regime as well as the craven

We all remember quite vividly, the horrific Maseru massacres of 1982, where 42 of our nationals were slaughtered, children, students and refugees and 1985 in which Basotho nationals and South African freedom fighters and their families were butchered in cold blood by the Apartheid forces.

Sadly many of our combatants fell here on the road to freedom.

Our solace today and comfort derives from the knowledge that their struggles were not in vain. Their blood indeed nourished the tree that brought us the fruits of freedom.

Today’s opening of the Bridge as part of our Heritage trail builds on the Agreements signed as early as in 2007 on the Facilitation of Cross Border Movement of Citizens to allow our people to move towards further integration.

NjengoRhulumente sikholelwa ekubeni izikhumbuzo ezinjenge Telle, zizikhumbuzo ngembali yethu ekumele ulutsha nabantwana bethu bayazi. Ukuzakha ke eziziseko ze Heritage, kukubonisa ulutsha indlela eseyihanjiwe ngamagorha namakroti ezwe lethu( Liberation Heritage Route travelled)

These sites also serve as reminders of the values and aspirations of those that were prepared to pay the highest price for the attainment of our freedom. They fought and died so that we may live . They put our “ People First” – Batho Pele!

However programme director, we should not only end at erecting memorials nd unveiling stones to honor our heroes and heroines.

We should carry forward their baton, take over from where they left from.

Umkhombandlela ke maqabane, sewubekiwe!

• U Rhulumente wethu uthi masidale amathuba emisebenzi kuluntu .
• U Rhulumente wethu uthi masiphuhlise ezolimo nezamaphandle.
• U Rhulumente wethu uthi masize nemfundo engcono nezempilo.
• U Rhulumente wethu uthi masilwe nobundlobongela, abantu bahlale ngoxolo.
• URhulumente wethu uthi masakhe amakhaya nemizi esizakukwazi ukukhulisa nokukhusela iintsapho zethu, kubekho nokuhlalisana ngoxolo, kungatyeshelwa mithetho.

Besisoloko simaxhaphetshu ke, singena siphuma kwiinkalo ngenkalo zephondo, oko siqalile ebuRhulumenteni sicela inkxaso kubo bonke abantu( soliciting partnerships) and support and to get everyone in tune with our vision of taking our province forward.

Members of the Executive Council have presented their policy speeches and action plans, basayina nezivumelwano.

Izolo ndidibene nabasebenzi bakaRhulumente ( SMS) abangabaphathi, ukuqinisekisa ukuba nabo abasali ngasemva xa sicula iculo lokuzisa inguqu kubantu bethu.

I shared with them our Government’s vision that we want them to work together with our people, ngokuzithoba, with a much greater sense of urgency and accountability during this Term.

We also made it clear to them that civil servants who do not want to serve our people should stay out of Government.

We are adopting this posture and tone to ensure that we do everything in our power to protect, preserve and nurture our Democracy.

This Freedom was not free, many of our compatriots and our fellow Basotho nationals perished at the hands of evil so that we may Live.

The heroes and heroines who lost their lives, not only here in Telle Bridge but in many other raids such as Botswana and Matola( Mozambique) as well as in other countries in the SADC Region, perished so that future generations can enjoy  a great quality of life without having to suffer the indignity of poverty, underdevelopment and huge inequalities.

Mphathi – mcimbi!

Ndingatsho ngokuzithoba, ndingenaxhala  ukuba kuzakude kwenzeke

We are on course to fundamentally improve the lives of our people and change the face of the Eastern Cape for the better.

I urge the people of Sterkspruit to preserve this memorial site, educate our children and youth about its historic importance and honour the memories of those that perished in the struggle.

I thank you.