the memorial service of the late Regional Commissioner of Correctional
Services, Siyabulela Mlombile, Pretoria
10 May 2006
Today we have been âsummonedâ to this venue not because of our choice but
the choice of the Almighty who determines our fate. If we had a choice we would
not be here today and if our fellow colleague, Siyabulela had a choice, he
would be here amongst us.
The absence of choice in determining our ultimate fate in life makes us fear
the reality of confronting the end of life with the naked eye. Whilst we have a
choice in deciding what we want to eat, buy, wear, read, etc. We however cannot
choose how, where and when to depart forever from this life. For though we love
this precious gift called life, we however fear its end.
Siyabulela was a great colleague, comrade and hero who sacrificed many
choices he had in life, including his life, so that he could actively fight for
the liberation of this country. The choice of sacrificing your own life for the
freedom of other people provides us with deep insight into the quality and
calibre of the person Siyabulela was.
Whilst many of us would have chosen to passively confront the enemy without
necessarily joining the armed struggle at his age in 1980, he instead opted or
chose to actively engage the enemy militarily without any fear of losing his
life in the process. This is the cadreship that we need in Correctional
Services - people who are willing to make sacrifices and take selfless
decisions to advance the objectives of the Department without expecting
favours.
You do not need to personally have known Siyabulela to be able to understand
that such a person was generous, selfless, fearless and deathâdefying. His
decision to join the ranks of the African National Congress (ANC) and uMkhonto
We Sizwe (MK) in exile in 1980 at the height of apartheid repression of the
masses of our people is indicative of the gallant fighter and also a peopleâs
person he was. It is the love and soft spot he had for his people and his
country that transformed Siyabulela into a gallant fighter who defied death to
liberate his country from the yoke of oppression.
This is the choice that somehow defines his character. The discipline he
showed, the dedication he displayed, the commitment he demonstrated and the
loyalty with which he executed his duties draws us a picture of a resilient
cadre of the ANC who was an embodiment of the values of the movement he so much
dedicated his life to. These are the values we need to internalise as the new
generation of cadres of Correctional Services by serving this Department with
discipline, dedication, commitment, loyalty and integrity.
We are gathered here not to mourn the passing of yet another precious life
but to celebrate the legacy of Siyabulela. Siyabulela has showed us the way,
let us all follow suit and emulate him. Let his legacy not be in vain.
Allow me at this juncture to relate a true story often told about those who
had been in the ranks of MK to illustrate the invincible life of a cadre of
Siyabulela calibre. Many interesting stories are told of how cadres would
portray their invincibility and heroism in the language they spoke in the camps
and an example in this instance is that whenever a commander fell asleep on
duty, his fellow cadres would cover up from juniors by using expressions such
as âthe commander or the guerilla never falls asleep, but is always in deep
thought â ukhomanda iguerilla akalali, uyakhomayza or uyacingaâ. The other one
which most of us might be familiar with relates to the expression used to
describe the passing on of a cadre, it is often said that the âspear has fallen
- uMkhonto uwile, iQhawe lihambile.â Indeed Siyabulela, the commander, the
guerilla, the spear, the martyr and the hero, is not dead but is in deep
thought! His is no more but his spirit lives on!
It is for this reason that a poet of all times, Melinda Sue Pacho wrote the
following poem:
I Did Not Die
Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumnâs rain.
When you awaken in the morningâs hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.
(Melinda Sue Pacho)
Indeed Siyabulela too did not die!
People like Siyabulela who have made great impressions and profound strides
in their work, are very difficult to erase from our memories. They always
remain part of the institutional memory and therefore become living martyrs and
legends. We have lost a man of outstanding integrity and great stature. He was
a great elephant â Indlovu enkuluâ¦â¦Inkalakatha!
To his wife and three children, I wish to say: âningakhali â do not weep,
for this man has paid his duesâ. Whilst we are in deep mourning with the
family, we also say this is not the time to cry but to celebrate Siyabulelaâs
legacy and life. He has made us proud. Lala Ngoxolo Qabane. Rest in peace, our
beloved comrade.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Correctional Services
10 May 2006
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za/)
