The 12th of May marks the Mshenguville Massacre. On that fateful day, in 1991, 28 people were massacred in Mshenguville (now Swaneville), Kagiso. Though the day is not widely recognised, it remains etched in our memories.
Sadly, the 12th of May 2016 has come and gone. Quietly. There was no laying of wreaths. No commemoration. No messages from our esteemed leaders across the board, i.e. politicians, civic and church leaders. This is sad, to say the least.
Early this year, I made an appeal for the 12th of May to be recognised. I was then given the impression (if not an assurance) that it would be different this year. But alas, it was the same as in other years. The more things change the more they remain the same.
This day forms part of our history and it needs to be recognised. But it won’t happen if we sit and hope for a miracle. The citizens of Mogale City need to do something to make sure that it is commemorated.
I have appointed myself to fight for this day to be recognised and commemorated. And it will be. I know that’s a bold statement for an individual who has no power and influence in his community. But I am very determined.
So I publicly commit myself that come 2017 or 2018, this day will be recognised. This is our history and we must make sure it remains alive. I know our political leaders will support the move, which will be revealed in good time.
As citizens, we should not expect our political leaders to do everything for us. They are human beings, just like us. Where they are lacking, we need to complement them. Where we are lacking, they too should support us.
We need to form a formidable partnership with our leaders in order to take the City forward. That doesn’t mean we should lower our guard and stop being critical of them. We should always remain vigilant. But we must always remember that we all have the same goal: to help better our City.
Lastly, let’s keep the memory of our fallen heroes alive. This will help us pass down our history to our kids. It is our responsibility to make sure it happens, not the government’s alone. We can do it. Yes, we can!
