Tribute to the Father of Tembisa

By Gauteng’s MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi

The shield that stood between us and the brutality of the apartheid forces has fallen.

The wall that protected us from going to jail and being killed by apartheid forces has collapsed. The reverend who prayed for us is no more. The Father of Tembisa, Reverend Alpheus Makgale Mapheto (95), who is the father of the late gallant fighter of Umkhonto we Sizwe Andrew Ranjo Mapheto, is no more.

He died in his sleep at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria after a long illness.

In Rev Mapheto we had a father who took care of all us during difficult and painful days. Those he took under his wing included Bheki Khumalo, Oupa Bodibe, Ali Tleane, Simon Mamabolo, Figo Madlala, Amon Msane. He went beyond the borders of Tembisa to ensure he visited political prisoners, in particular the Delmas Trial, where Popo Molefe, Terror Lekota , Bavumile Vilakazi and other political prisoners stood trial.

He boasted that he had never missed a single day of this trial, which dragged on for years. He was a well known figure at Robben Island, where people like Former Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Figo Madlala and others were incarcerated.

Rev Mapheto was prominent in the establishment of the South African Council of Churches. He further launched various community projects, such as the Koinonia, Tembisa Careers Centre and many other initiatives that ensured human development.

But it was in the 1980’s that Rev Mapheto became our Bishop Mpilo Tutu. While it was not fashionable to see church leaders at political events, Rev Mapheto was literally the People’s Reverend.

He led our marches against the bucket toilet system and the hated Black Local Authorities imposed on us by the apartheid regime. I remember vividly one of the marches to demand the release of students, youth and other political leaders.

It was a massive march of almost 20 000 people, when the police confronted us between Makhulong and Tshepo Sections in Tembisa.

The heavily armed police gave us five minutes to disperse but the Reverend protested and confronted the commander, stating it was impossible to end such a big gathering in five minutes.

When the commander insisted, the Reverend diplomatically defied the commander by requesting that everyone pray. While we were praying, the police unleashed their brutality towards the marchers and thousands were injured. One of my closest friends, the late May Thamane, drank paraffin in a hideout house, mistaking it for water to limit the effects of tear gas. It was here that Dr Gwati Moses Thindisa converted his surgery to a hospital to cater for the thousands of injured comrades.

But it was the march to Vusimuzi Hostel that Rev Mapheto and the late Albertina Sisulu stopped a massacre that would have exceeded the scale of the Sharpeville murders of the 1960’s.

It was during the height of apartheid-sponsored violence between the Mass Democratic Movement and the Inkatha Freedom Party. Our people were tired of the IFP-sponsored ‘Toaster Gang’ that ‘jack rolled’ girls as well as train killings and violence against the residents of Tembisa.

After the former leader of the then South African Youth Congress, Peter Mokaba, had addressed almost 35 000 people packed into the Makhulong Stadium, we defied all odds and decided that we would destroy the Vusimuzi Hostel brick by brick, underestimating the power of the hostel dwellers, who we now know, were sponsored with weapons to kill us.

As young lions, we defied everyone and led our people to leave the stadium to head towards the hostel. Rev Mapheto and other leaders, sensing a danger, cleverly called the late Albertina Sisulu to urgently address us as the leader of the United Democratic Front. As we were a few blocks away from the hostel, Rev Mapheto introduced Ms Sisulu to us. It was this address that prevented a catastrophe, as we learnt later that the hostel dwellers had armed themselves and were waiting for us to arrive. It was this event that demonstrated how Rev Mapheto loved us and Tembisa. It is indeed sad that this lion will roar no more.

Rev Mapheto, in you we had a father, a priest, a grandfather but above all, we had a revolutionary priest who shaped us to be what we are today. As we open new schools and hospitals,your name will forever remain in our mind.

We will continue with the revolution and be assured, we will never disappoint to build the better South Africa you so dearly cherished.

Hamba Kahle, soldier of our people, the People’s Priest and the Father of Tembisa.

Rev Mapheto’s memorial service will be held at the Rabasotho Hall on Thursday at 5pm. The funeral will be on Saturday, 10am, at the Rabasotho Hall.

He will be buried at Heros Acre Emfihlweni Cemetry at 1pm.