Mamelodi massacre protesters commemorated
The food parcels were organised by Tshwane regional mall and were also donated to over 120 indigenous families in Mamelodi.
The families of the 13 protesters killed in Mamelodi 35 years ago, received food parcels during a commemoration service held at Tshwane regional mall on Sunday.
The food parcels were organised by Tshwane regional mall and were also donated to over 120 indigenous families in Mamelodi.
On 21 November 1985, 8 000 residents from Mamelodi marched on the then Mamelodi town council to protest against high rent. Thirteen were killed and many others injured during the demonstration. Among the victims was a three-month-old baby.
The commemoration started at Mamelodi West cemetery with South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) members together with families of the victims including community members were cleaning the graves of the fallen victims on Friday morning.
Tshwane Regional mall centre manager Tshepo Maja said the mall started last year to commemorate the day and honour affected families by hosting a special day and handing out food parcels.
“The event is reminding us of what happened on the day. Elders were fighting the rent issues and we all want to see our elders enjoy their grant money and not spend it on rent,” said Maja.
“We as the mall feel that the rent issues are worrying because they give our elders sleepless nights and we wished we could do something to help, however, we are not the municipality and we are pleading with the municipality to cancel all their debt,” said Maja.
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Mamelodi Sanco’s Alpheus Sealetsa said they often see residents of Mamelodi coming to their offices carrying their rent bills and crying because they don’t know what to do or how to pay the bill because it is too high.
“We feel that the city of Tshwane is undermining residents of Mamelodi and disrespecting the community and it is not right. It is bad because people died fighting for rent and even today it still has not been resolved,” said Sealetsa.
The residents have protested to Tshwane House twice last year and claimed they still did not get any response.
Steerman Monageng said the commemoration and celebrating their fallen heroes will continue for many years to come.
Lenna Ndlovu (62), who was part of the protest, lost her three-month-old baby and even today it still hurts her.
Her baby lost her life after inhaling teargas that was thrown in her home by police because people who were protesting ran into her home.
She said senior citizens peacefully marched to Mamelodi town council to protest against high rent and lost their lives.
Ndlovu said she was heart-broken, because even today the issue of rent had not yet been resolved. “In fact, it has gotten worse.”
Another victim, Doctor Msiza (53) said he lost his mother, Elizabeth Msizi (44) on that day.
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