Fallen heroes remembered at Orlando Communal Hall

The Department of Military Veterans in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Missing Persons Task Team honoured the memory of the former uMkhonto weSizwe 21 fallen heroes at the Orlando Communal Hall on May 23.

The 21 former Umkhonto we Sizwe operatives who died between 1986 and 1990 were brutally murdered and some were abducted by apartheid security forces.

After all that, they were buried in unmarked graves and some in unknown locations.

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The NPA task team traced and took the remains found in those unmarked graves and conducted DNA analysis for them to identify which remains belonged to which combatants.

“Today is one of those important and historic moments that must go down in the annals of history and we are reminded of the bravery of these individuals who felt a deep obligation to serve and act in the interest of what was best for the country in the fight for liberation,” Deputy President Paul Mashatile said.

The wreath-laying ceremony conducted by respective families of the fallen heroes, military veterans, and government representatives took place in five cemeteries, Tembisa Emfihlweni, Avalon, Ga-Rankuwa, Crystal Park Benoni, and Johannesburg Westpark.

The unveiling ceremony is hoped to bring closure to the families of these heroic combatants who endured pain in the course of the liberation struggle.

Mashatile said, “We will never forget their selflessness, courage and commitment to defending our nation.

“They demonstrated remarkable courage and strength in the face of adversity showing unwavering determination in the most difficult situation.”

He also spoke about how the state is willing to work on the concerns raised by family members regarding veterans’ benefits and that they are ready to support them and improve access to services for military veterans.

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The Deputy President also stated that a task team has been assigned by the President of the country to help families of the deceased heroes and that the search for the former operatives who are laid in unmarked graves continue, not only in Gauteng but in other provinces as well.

“We are committed to providing support to the families of MK veterans in many ways including financial assistance to ensure that they can live fulfilling lives,” explained Mashatile.

“Immediately after liberation, we focused mainly on combatants who were coming back to the country. We integrated them into various programmes but those who died and fell in the war; their families didn’t get any assistance.”

Zanele Nyembe, a sister to one of the late combatants spoke about how she recalls vividly her last moments with her late brother who left home to die during a mission in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu-Natal.

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She also spoke about how the government has not compensated them enough for their loss as a family.

“The money we received was not enough and we feel disappointed. Families are struggling and they have never considered that these people had families,” said Nyembe.

The Deputy President assured these families of a better way forward and that they would now on going forward be taken care of accordingly.