Issued by: Northwest Communication Service
ADDRESS BY: NORTH WEST AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS CHAIRPERSON COMRADE POPO MOLEFE AT THE UNVEILING OF A MEMORIAL FOR FALLEN UMKHONTO WE SIZWE CADRES, STINKWATER, 20 OCTOBER 1996
As it was the case with many other nations that could no longer endure oppression, a time came in the life of black South Africans to make one of two choices:
- to capitulate, or - to fight back
On 16 December 1961, the African National Congress and its allies in the broad democratic movement took the decision to form a people's army, Umkhonto we Sizwe, whose immediate and sole task was to hit back in defence of our people, and to wage the offensive in pursuit of the goals of human dignity and freedom.
It was no coincidence that MK was formed on Dingaans Day. It was so formed to carry on the warrior traditions of our people under the conditions of modern guerilla warfare.
Jerry Mosolodi, Benjamin Moloise, Simon Mogoerane, Marcus Motaung and many other young compatriots, answered the national call to rise and fight back against the dragon that was feeding on the blood of our people. In the proud tradition developed by Sekhukhuni, Bamgbata, Sol Plaatje, Joe Slovo, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, they performed the sacred duty to liberate their own people against oppression by our own people.
By joining MK, they decided to serve in the forefront of the liberation struggle, to meet the enemy and engage the oppressed head-on.
For this act of bravery and patriotism, this decision to put national interest above individual safety, made them to pay the ultimate cost at the hands of the oppressive apartheid courts.
Despite unparallel protest worldwide, despite brave campaigning within South Africa by community and church leaders, the illegitimate racist regime carried out its intension to hang Mogoerane, Motaung, Moloise and Mosolodi.
The judicial murders of these brave volunteers were carried out in an attempt to affirm the power of the apartheid state. But for the people of South Africa, the executions were a call to battle. The sacrifices paid by our soldiers proved an inspiration to our people as a whole.
It is that sacrifice which inspired the mother of one of them, Sara Mosolodi, to say to her son the night before he was due to be executed:
"Go well my son. I love you. I am proud of you, because you're to die for your people. We'll meet where you are going. You must know the struggle will not end, even after your death".
They became an inspiration to the youth in this country, both before they died and after. They filled thousands more of our best sons and daughters with a stronger dedication, and a determination to take the place of those who had fallen.
Many other compatriots followed in their footprints and died in the streets of Winterveldt, Johannesburg, Bisho, Messina and other corners of the country in pursuit of the same goals.
We have democracy and all the constitutional freedoms that go with it, thanks to such brave combatants as the comrades in whose honour we are assembled today. This tree of liberation was planted, matured and promoted by the blood of there martyrs.
The finest tribute we can pay to Benjamin Moloise and his comrades is to continue their struggle in meeting the challenges that are facing the people in whose defence they laid their lives. Let us enter the new trendes in a new terrain of struggle - the implementation of the RDP towards a better life for all.
As we erect this memorial in their name and in recognition of their contributions, we must make the conscious decision to protect and advance the freedoms and the democracy they fell before they could see.
We must carry out our patriotic obligation to expand the frontiers of freedom to make life better for disadvantaged sectors of our population, women, the youth, the disabled, and the rural masses. We must continue to mobilize our people and our resources to engage the remaining enemy:
- poverty - illiteracy, and - underdevelopment
Among others, we must not be content with just a theoretical understanding of the issues that face our society, but we must actively participate in the structures and activities of the ANC and the mass democratic movement.
We must understand that the government is the creature of the struggles of Benjamin Moloise and his comrades. Just as their struggles were part of a broader campaign to liberate the people, so is the government an instrument in the hands of the people to remove the legacy of past neglect, denial and oppression.
Essentially, we must strengthen the political authority of the struggle, the peoplehe national vision of reconstruction and development. We must ensure that we influence the policies and programmes of the government through our involvement in the political structures.
It would be a national tragedy if the country were to "slide" back into the type of life black South Africans were having during the time of Moloise. Even if apartheid can never come back in its legal form, the country must not be allowed to become a quasi-apartheid state, where a few people enjoy a good life at the expense of the majority.
Progress, prosperity, freedom and sustained development are what Benjamin Moloise, Simon Mogoerane, Nelson Hlongwane, Marcus Motaung and Jerry Mosolodi wanted for this country. Their struggle and that of millions of South Africans should be continued on a different terrain.
VIVA!!
Contact: Modise 082 5584 087