Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) members from the Moses Mabhida Region today saluted the first Commander-in-Chief of the African National Congress (ANC) military wing Nelson Mandela in a fond farewell at the site where he was captured before being imprisoned for 27 years.
At the capture site outside Howick, in KwaZulu-Natal, members of the MKMVA sang liberation songs and remembered the iconic leader who founded uMkhonto WeSizwe as a tool to deal with the brutality mated out by the apartheid government against the liberation movement and its leaders.
Chairperson of MKMVA in the Moses Mabhida Region Jerry Vilakazi said the veterans come to the capture site to pay their respects to their founding father Mandela, and to thank him for his visionary leadership in building a united South Africa.
“As former solders, we just wanted to say farewell to our Commander-in-Chief through song and dance in the same manner that we sang and danced in the training camps,” said Vilakazi.
Umgungundlovu District mayor Yussuf Bhamjee thanked members of the MKMVA for their selfless dedication to the struggle for freedom, and being exemplary soldiers through discipline and perseverance.
Other members of the command structure present were Deputy Chairperson Thabo Bdlovu, Muzi Mthiyane (treasurer) and additional members Sibusiso Sithole, Alfred Ndlovu, Sibongile Mkhize, Mthunzi Ndlovu.
Local and international tourists joined in with the spontaneous singing of the South African national anthem.
May his soul rest in peace!
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