Mamelodi massacre families call for foundation, monument
The commemoration service is held every year and costs a lot of money but the victims’ families have nothing to show for it and are still affected.
The families of the 13 protesters killed in Mamelodi 38 years ago prefer a foundation and monument that will uplift youth, instead of annual commemorations.
The 13 slain unarmed peaceful demonstrators were among more than 8 000 residents of Mamelodi who had participated in a march to protest high rental charges to the then Mamelodi Town Council on November 21, 1985.
One of the victims was three-month-old Trocia Ndlovu, who lost her life after inhaling teargas that was thrown in her home. Some of the people who were protesting on the day had fled into her home.
The family of Jacob Dipuo Songo (19) said protesters were confronted by apartheid police, who ordered them to disperse.
Jacob’s younger brother Victor said they were fighting for liberation.
He said the day was not about service delivery, but liberation from apartheid.
“The annual commemoration service is held every year, but families are still affected. Starting a foundation will help uplift affected families,” said Victor.
He said most of the people shot and killed were breadwinners and the third generations are still affected.
“The foundation should present scholarships and bursaries to uplift families. It should also benefit unemployed Mamelodi youth with skills,” he said.
The Songo family claimed a lot of money was spent on annual commemoration services but today they had nothing to show for it.
“A monument will preserve the history of Mamelodi, not annual events where a lot of money is spent,” added Victor.
“The commemoration service will continue, but let’s do something that will benefit the community of Mamelodi and stop enriching ourselves with annual commemorations.”
Victor said his brother died after completing matric with six distinctions and that he also was a sportsman.
He said Jacob played soccer, softball and table tennis and he used to follow him to the sports grounds.
However, on the fatal day, his brother was acting differently compared to other days, as he turned him away and told him to go home.
“I knew something was up, but did not know he was going to participate in the march,” said Victor.
Aunt Johannah Mpopi Songo recalled when they were coming back from buying stock and found Mamelodi in smoke.
She said they were told Jacob was among the victims.
The march had started in the morning from Mamelodi East and proceeded to the then Mamelodi Town Council, where the marchers were confronted by apartheid police.
“When it was clear that the protesters won’t budge, the apartheid police started shooting at them with live ammunition,” said Johannah.
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