City honours fallen heroes with monument
“The loss of innocent lives at the hands of a brutal system must never be forgotten,"
During a council meeting on March 31, the City of Ekurhuleni adopted a motion to build a monument at a park in Daveyton in honour of the victims of the Daveyton massacre.
Thirteen people, including a nine-year-old girl, were killed by members of the South African National Defence Force on March 24, 1991, while others were wounded during a political gathering in the fight against the unjust laws of apartheid.
Amabutho, a Xhosa group aligned with the ANC from Daveyton, have been vocal for years in calling on the government to recognise and honour their “fallen soldiers” who died during the massacre.
According to ANC Caucus chief whip Pelisa Nkunjana, they welcome the victory of the motion being carried with the unanimous support of the council.
She said the decision to submit this motion was not in any way meant to understate or undermine the significance of other massacres that may have befallen the people of Ekurhuleni but rather because the Daveyton Massacre remains one of the most painful yet lesser-acknowledged events in South Africa’s struggle history.
“The loss of innocent lives at the hands of a brutal system must never be forgotten, and as this council, we carry the responsibility of ensuring that their memory is honoured with dignity and purpose.
“We believe that honouring the victims of the Daveyton Massacre through a formal commemoration will strengthen reconciliation efforts among the bereaved families, survivors, and the broader community.”
Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has issued a statement rejecting the council’s decision.
According to councillor Jennifer Glover, VF Plus was the only party in the City of Ekurhuleni council that opposed the ANC’s motion to erect the monument.
“The motion also proposed that case studies be conducted of similar incidents, which may include street name changes. The party is not opposed to erecting monuments or statues for the right reasons, but at the moment, the Ekurhuleni metro does not have the funds to incur expenses for a motion that is purely politically motivated.
“Service delivery must come first. The MMC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Bridget Thusi, said that the council does not have the money to fund such a project,” said Glover.
The 34th commemoration of the massacre recently took place at Nomathamsanqa Park (Marivate Park) in Daveyton, where Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Nkunjana, and MMC for Community Safety in Ekurhuleni, Sizakele Masuku, were in attendance.
