Struggle victims moved to Heroes' Acre
2006-09-07
THE remains of nine MK soldiers from Paarl were reinterred in the Heroes’ Acre in the Parys Cemetery in Paarl on Wednesday last.
The nine coffins with the remains of Themba Moko (32), Sonia Titana (31), Themba Titana (32), Mkhuseli Mrali (28), Mlingesi Tyelingane (33), Smangeles Mbenenge (28), Baba Julius Litsoane (34), Tiny Mnyazi (32) and Zandisile Mjobo (21) were brought in a solemn procession from the Khumbula Healing Centre in Mbekweni to the cemetery.
“This is all as a result of the great initiatives and sacrifices that were made by the Khumbula Healing Centre in partnership with the Drakenstein Municipality that we have arrived at honouring the sacrifices that were made by the young men and women that are lying here today,” said Mayor Charmaine Manuel.
“These are the youngsters who said to themselves ‘nothing will stop us in our quest to fight for the freedom of our people’.
“This is clearly explained in the words of the late Solomon Mahlangu when he gallantly went to the gallows saying ‘My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom’.
“We did not receive our freedom from sudden change of heart by the oppressors, but because people like Solomon Mahlangu together with others in our liberation movement were prepared to pay the ultimate price to rid our people of the evil policies of apartheid.
“As we reap the fruits of freedom we have a moral obligation to honour the cadres of our liberation armies in appropriate ways.
“We must honour their memories and celebrate their lives, never forgetting or betraying the ideals that they died for.
“I must also take the opportunity to thank those that are still with us today, you the brave cadres who were prepared in the darkest days of apartheid to leave your loved ones behind and join the liberation forces on foreign soil.
“This is the beginning of a huge task that is lying in front of us; the task of bringing home the remains of those gallant fighters that are still lying in various countries outside our borders and those who are still spread in some other parts of South Africa.
“This is part of a mission that the late comrade Chris Hani left unfinished when his life was unexpectedly taken away by the forces evil and the enemies of the national democratic revolution.
“He promised the people of Paarl that he would start a process of bringing their children’s remains back to their country of birth.
“In conclusion I want to say that it is our solemn duty to ensure that the cries of our fallen heroes bring reconciliation and peace in our country, and may their spirit help to create a country that is a true reflection of our strategic priority of building a united nation.”
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