THANK YOU FOR THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE YOU PLAYED IN OUR LIBERATION
I am born of the late 80’s, with no personal experience of what the political struggle is, I’ve seen it on television, heard on the radio stations happening close to home. The mere results of Bisho Massacre under leadership of Oupa Gqozo in the formerly known Ciskei, I have heard people sing struggle songs, the vibe and marching in the latest years of struggle. If what I read in the history books about political struggle is true, for which it is, then I know how hard it has been to have lived in those days. I felt it too through the power of written word. African people sung struggle songs to evoke what is built within us, spirit of fighting, of togetherness to oppose against indecency and discrimination, to fight inequalityagainst those who held power in their capacity and used it in their selfishness to make African people inferior, and particular black people.
Today! post apartheid, I am one of those who still sing thesongs to fight against the system of our brothers whom who have the state of authority, as the blood continue to shed in the streets of BANTU for recognition that; we are too, deserve economical freedom, and equal share in the land of birth. We fight against political suicide, it is they, the people we fought along with in unity, so we could defy and bury apartheid six feet under, and to bring us the freedom we once had and yearned, so that we may live in peace and harmony. I am using ‘we’ cause I felt it too, from the hand of NelsonMandela in the “long walk to freedom, the pain as I teary read the seven days of detention of Steve Biko, before I read in the words of, “I write what I like”. I’ve heard the story of amother who hoped to see her son (Mbuyisa Makhubo) after he carried an injured 13 year Hector Pieterson, to one day come back home alive, I’ve given birth to a young girl, that make me feel the pain that Thabo Mbeki felt on his son’sdisappearance cause I am a parent too. I am using ‘we’ cause I put myself in those shoes of the soldier who died in CAR,post apartheid, I imagine not the pain of growing without a parent rather the trauma experienced by Chris Hani’s childrenas he breathe by the wounds of a pistol right in his home, these are just few numbers too many of those that never get publicized.
Crumbled in the days of apartheid, death has always been expected for the activists, whom who thread and cradle in the face of death making enemies, somehow at risk of betrayal, sell-out by so-called fellow comrade and assassinated by of particular regime, nonetheless politically, to execute anyone standing in the way of freedom of the oppressed according one’s description of freedom in their own terms, as nobody was bigger than the struggle. The whites had their definition of freedom; African saw it different to their kind of acclaimedfreedom. No wonder comrade Tambo said “it is our responsibility to break down the barriers of division and create a country where there will be neither Whites nor Blacks, just South Africans, free and united in diversity” I quote. It is therefore today we thank those who have contributed their life and time in the common African dream. Mission accomplished!
One would be lost in wander of what South Africa is today,thank to the compatriot who made it their mandate to align forces with other foreign continent to see South African liberation attained. Today it is a proudly multi lingual countryof different beliefs and citizens whom who sleep, walk, talk, and die in the country. It is now a more united, independent, democratic nation than the age of time, with its state and ownership, its interest lies from the story that mother GcinaMhlophe portrays, the praises shared by Zolani Mkiva, and other great poets, the traditional composed African tunes from those of Tiyo Soga, and Enoch Sontonga, to the waves on air of our African radio stations, the story that John Kani and Mbongeni Ngema depict around the world, to the journalist that keep us informed and alert in freedom of speech, the controversy of political groups, active youth programs thatkept the variety of intellectuals , the packed shelves of national libraries that infuse of the newly birth of South Africa, history, wealthy stories, from the old traditional healers to the Christian prophets who keeps the Rituals, Culture and Christianity alive, the sanity in a life of a man. Makes no wonder why SA is so strong in body. Well done cadres!
It is with great humility, great honor and overwhelming to have shared the 20 years of democracy parallel to the 50 years of our counterpart Tanzania formerly known as Tanganyika after it was colonized by Germany 1884. A country that formed African Association 1948, which began calling for constitutional reforms that reflected African interests, went on to criticize racial discrimination, calling for the Africanisationof the civil service and increased expenditure for educational loans under the leadership of Julius Nyerere in the 50’s. Its contribution speaks volumes as the use Radio Tanzaniapartially shared publication with the likes of the ANC and PAC to broadcast messages to the country. Tanzania became apoint of contact and transit for the ANC in exile, with NelsonMandela’s visit to the country to seek financial and military assistance to enable MK to wage the armed struggle. As MK camps in Tanzania 60’s and 70’s for cadres training, set upsupport of the liberation committee headquarters by the OAUaccording to foreign relations of South Africa duringapartheid. You mark 50 years of democracy and within that there was South African unrest.
Thank you Dar–es Salaam for worthily receiving comradesfrom the ANC when they were banned in South Africa, accommodating and educating the children of South African exiles, thank you Tanzania, for letting them cluster, crowding, and loiter in your doorstep as refugees, for feeding them, for being a faculty of excellence in defense of South African liberation. A luta Continua!
Thank you Botswana and Rhodesia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Libya for being a home to MK soldier’s host theircamps for the armed wing, the role played in training andissue material resource to execute the liberation struggles of soldiers, also for being a bridge, harbouring the comrades, joining force with Frene Ginwala to send Guerrilla trainees in an undergoing military training in China, Cuba and EasternEuropean countries to seek military training facilities.
If it was a letter I’d say; “Dear comrades of the struggle;Thank you, thank you, and deeply thank you for looking over our shoulders, for carrying us through while everything seemed dark and painful. We had hopes, high and yet uncertain, as we lost track of getting there while fumbling through the road of protest and uprising and all other sorts of fight. The dream seemed so far, fainted as we fought tirelessly; underground meetings were you camouflaged u, allowed the facilities/resources to be at the best of use without particularly aiming for something in return, only in the name of peace, and equality. I thank you for having eyes and heart beyond our dreams, for instilling belief when life went astray, put us before the needs of your own people, risking the life of the communities we settled in. God! You people, are of wonder, pondering heart. I thank that you’ve brought in a democratic country where other countries are still struggling. The hand of God the hand that gives is blessed and shall receive in multiples, Salute!
Yours sincerely!
The beneficiary
I have imagined the journey of the comrades who travelled the world of anger, hatred and despair; from this heart I’ve suffered the heartache of the warrior woman and man who fell shot in the veldt of this mother continent as they suffer the cause of liberation. My achieved dreams are made out of tears and bloodshed of those who suffered the cause of freedom.the bleed of internal and external wounds, the dust and air we inhale that comes from the blood and ashes of those who died, brutally murdered, discovered and buried, and those who perished and their body never been located… we have dreamt and wish the mandate of those who died trying however selflessly fighting for a future they would never be part of, the new bill of rights and constitutions that will suit the next generation to come.
We, the youth of South Africa we owe it to do good, dream and achieve big and make sure your effort don’t go wasted. we owe the goodness of our heart, our being to the future of the new far-reached country, to work hard, dream big as to not to return the hands of time, freedom of expression has allowed us to say and write of any concerns in a manner of our own comfort and yet battling to express the gratitude, to the fellow cadres of freedom and their countries at large, veterans of African soil…
Thank you revolutionaries, for paving the way, trimmed and watered the lawn so green that will thread freely in the land of birth.
Thank you South Africa for giving birth To Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Steve Biko, Solomon Mahlangu, Walter Sisulu,Govern Mbeki, Chris Hani and other fellow South African and their spouses… the list is endless.
The marriage never broke off, as Nkwameh Nkrumah once state “I cannot believe in the impossibility of achieving African union anymore than I could ever have thought of the impossibility of attaining African freedom… Africa must unite we have before us not only an opportunity but historic duty”
In the words of comrade Mandela ‘it is in our hands’ now that we tighten up the relationship with other countries byattracting the role of foreign investment, and amending the clause of doing business in Africa. According to Bowman’s Gilfillan Africa Group; there are few restrictions on investment for foreign investment, “investment is actively encouraged in all sectors of the economy. Although there are certain ownership and control restrictions on foreign shareholders, and specific authorizations can be required in regulated sectors, companies can issue shares for non cash consideration (including assets and service rendered)” I quote.
Managing the volume of imports, by emphasis of great value of export from the country and continue working close with the likes of UK as it remains one of the top two investors in the South African economy is a best way ahead. However amore of a practically approach is crucial, youth should command the growth campaign, and gather the hungry willingsoldiers of economy, get their hands dirty and learn the ranks through building more societies in communities abroad like the current ‘South African Chamber of Commerce in America’ to equip their current knowledge about the right procedures and guidelines, broaden their horizon and access information about the common interests of both parties (African and foreign countries), excessive networking that will lead on opening doors of sponsors and potential investors,assisting them, youth to become philanthropist of tomorrow.
Big cities are flooded of those who relocate from the rural to seek employment, and some are being used as cheap labour.Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa took note of unemployment during his speech on June 16 commemoration, he estimate more than ‘third’ of South African youth is unemployed, that means government has a responsibility to enhance the work of existing NATIONAL EMPOWERMENT FUND, NYDA, UMSOBOMVU YOUTH FUND and according to South African medical journal the country is hard heavy on Alcohol abuse as the scarcity of employment and training skills has resulted in abuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances.
Like any country, we are now experiencing difficulties on the economy sector as the mining sector experiencing a significant ongoing labour unrest, impact on the broader economy as the job losses, also the social demand to banLabour brokers and the corruption in the governance. It is a national crisis where inflation has taken over the previous years, gas and food prices going up daily while a number of people held business on the palm of their hand.There’s a need for well educated, engineers for example, who can utilize the existing sources, from as small as a drawing board, thorough research to big offices of thetargeted investors and sponsors, sell the idea using the power of word, critical thinking, and assurance of good outcome to business owners.
Other aspect is the crisis of health, HIV/AIDS, TB, hittinghard in the presence of poverty. The fight against hungersimple depends on the production of food rather than processing, focusing on herds, grazing, and soil through installation of regular irrigation facilities like treadle pumps in rural areas were most people are starved while they have riches in their backyards. Department of agriculture and Development, entrepreneurs, youth and public schools from the affected areas need to come to the party as well becauseFarming is an unpredictable business venture, risky; nobody is willing to throw in their money where there are no guarantees of a positive turn over. With climate change, natural disastrous like hot seasons, heavy rain falls, diseases on animals and poor feeding schemes. Emphasis to supply more of mechanism and all the necessary equipment to create farms that are productive and efficient, also encourage youth to go back home (rural) after graduation to force a meaning to jobless members of communities whom who reside in rural areas. Take advantages of the Business opportunities in agriculture, Africa is wealthy; with fertile soil and minerals,our infrastructure is of world class…
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