Mpumalanga to honour human rights activist with statue

MBOMBELA – Mpumalanga Province continues to honor the people who played a role in the liberation struggle of the country. This time is the turn of Vusumuzi Mkhize.

Saul, as he was affectionately known in the political circles, was one of the gallant human rights activists who played a significant role in the attainment of freedom in the country.

The province will honour him with the unveiling of a statue and renaming Driefontein to Saul Mkhizeville on March 7. The two-day activities will start with a memorial lecture on Friday, March 6 at eMkhondo Civic Centre, starting at 18:00.

“As part of commemorating our liberation history and heritage, we will be unveiling the statue of Saul Mkhize, one of our heroes who was killed in 1983 by the apartheid regime for resisting forceful removal from Driefontein in Mkhondo Municipality,” announced Premier David Mabuza during the State of the Province Address.

Born on June 6, 1935 in Driefontein, Saul was an accountant working in Johannesburg and was moved by the plight of his community during the forced removals and relocations of black people in Driefontein. He formed the Board of the Village in order to oppose the move.

The body later changed to Council Board of Directors of which he was elected the chairperson. In his efforts to fight the removals, he wrote to Dr Koornhof, highlighting the plight of the community. The committee was determined to oppose the removal of the community, as they were legitimate holders of title deeds dating back to 1912.

Mkhize died on April 2, 1983, at the hands of security police and his death was mourned across the country with Black Sash leading demonstrations.