City Rocks massacre commemoration cancelled
The Winterveldt massacre commemoration was cancelled after the metro failed to make good on a promise of financial assistance.
Residents of Winterveldt have accused Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa of not keeping his promises after funds he had pledged to the City Rocks massacre commemoration last month, did not materialise.
The residents said this had led to the cancellation of the commemoration but mayoral spokesperson Blessing Manale has denied such an offer was made.
Organisers, Amos Mahlangu and Gilbert Mahlangu claimed Ramokgopa promised funds to the commemoration during his visit to Winterveldt last year.
Remember the Winterveldt massacre?
— 🌚 (@Tsepotbh) May 15, 2014
“Ramokgopa made the promise in front of all the residents of Makgatho,” said Amos.
Gilbert concurred adding: “We wanted to honour those who died for our freedom.”
The two said the mayor had also promised financial assistance to the families of the dead.
“All we want is for the mayor to help us honour these unsung heroes, we cannot fix the problems the mothers and fathers whose children died fighting for freedom ,” said Gilbert.
They also bemoaned the pace of development in the area claiming it should have been put ahead of other areas because of its history.
“There are no recreational parks which explained the high rate of crime and abuse of nyaope,” said Gilbert.
“There are no houses, no tarred roads despite people settling here 60 years ago.
“This [area] should have been government’s priority as it holds so much history in our community. But people won’t forget that horrible day.”
https://twitter.com/MariusMR/status/707905605332312066
Manale said the mayor remained committed to his promise, and families had not seen any action because he needed to follow normal processes for giving assistance to victims.
“We made a call for victims, survivors and orphans of military veterans and struggle stalwarts to approach our office with specific requests for bursaries, job opportunities, rates rebates etc.”
“We were never invited to any meeting, and we anticipated the community to formalise an organising committee which would invite us to their meetings,” he said insisting that there was never a request to fund the commemoration.
“The metro is not in the business of commemorating every occurrence.”
On 26 March 1986, residents of Winterveldt protesting against the Bophuthatswana police brutality met at City Rocks stadium.
Police attacked firing indiscriminately into the crowd killing 11 and injuring more than 200.
Winterveldt residents have always disputed the official number of the dead claiming it stood at more than 200 because many people had been missing since that day, presumed dead.
Also read:
Metro denies unfair dismissal of 200 cops
Metro cop found dead in car | Rekord Moot – Pretoria
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