LIMPOPO – Several politicians and comrades, including Genl Siphiwe Nyanda, Solly Maphaila, former Premier of Limpopo, Ngoako Ramathlodi and the current Premier, Stan Chupu Mathabatha attended the burial, which started at the Makonde sports grounds, observing strict Covid-19 regulations. Mathabatha described the late freedom fighter as a selfless leader and a true embodiment of the spirit of freedom.

He delivered the eulogy and thanked the President, Cyril Ramaphosa for his decision to afford Malada a special funeral. “During his lifetime, Malada established the David Malada Foundation, which is partly in recognition of his contribution to South Africa in the struggle for democracy and nation-building. “We will work with the foundation to ensure that his contribution to the liberation of the country is never forgotten and we will institutionalise his memory,” said the Premier.

Reading the obituary, David Musetha, the secretary of the David Malada Foundation said Malada, who was born and raised in Makonde, became conscious of the pain and suffering inflicted by the Apartheid regime on the black majority and decided to pick up arms and fight for the cause of the people. “This led him to skipping the country to join the people’s army, Umkhondo We Sizwe in exile. He received military training in Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique and Cuba and upon completing military training, Cde Dambuza then led many successful battles against South African Defense Force on the borders of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Swaziland with the most famous attack being the bombing of Sibasa Police Station in 1981 and the 1986 Tshipise battle that left several army members dead,” said Musetha.

Malada died on Thursday, 20 August in his home in Polokwane after a short illness. He was buried on Saturday, 29 August in Makonde village’s cemetery and is survived by his wife, Jacqueline and two children, Thanyani and Lesedi. capvoice@nmgroup.co.za