Adapted from a Radio Script by RMT Ngqungwanat When We Speak of Martyrs and Heroes ^Of^Umkhonto We Sizwe We Speak of Men and Wo

The cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe were drawn from the active youth of the congress VUYISILE MINI movement. It was the dedica­ tion of men like Mini that stee­ (Adapted from a radio script by RMT Ngqungwanat When we speak of martyrs and During this period of mobilisation red the infant MK into shape. heroes ^of^Umkhonto we Sizwe and reorganisation Mini and his The work involved great risk. we speak of men and women family were to suffer continuous The fundamental training was who were deliberately murdered harassment , as he had become carried out secretly in houses by the racists for their ideas and very well known throughout the and in the bush. At one time a activities; we speak of men who country by the police. football field was used for de­ were killed for their part in the By 1961 Mini was going up monstrating manoeuvres and struggle to rid South Africa of and down the country fully how to place bombs on a target. the scourge of racial and class involved in the formation of Arms and explosives had to be oppression. We speak of the our people's army, Umkhonto manufactured and distributed. heroic Vuyisile Mini, whose cour­ we Sizwe. These travels are filled None of the command had age never faltered even as he with many stories and escapades: ever received thorough military marcher1 fist clenched, singing Around August 1961 Mini and a training as no African had ever freedom songs to the gallows. fellow comrade Brian were travell­ been drafted into military service Vuyisile Mini along with Wil­ ing for consultations in Johannes­ DECEMBER 16 son Khayingo and Zinakile burg. From that triD the infant Mkhaba were the first Umkho­ MK was to acouire one of its first On the evening of Saturday nto we Sizwe combatants to be weapons, iney nuiue uiis gam December the 16th 1961 the murdered by the racist hangman during a confrontation with a whole country was to reverbate in 1964 He was a man who was from.explosions, taking the whole never daunted by the possibility country by surprise. The regime's of danger. Mini was a member natural response was to arrest of the volunteer corps of the anybody and everybody they ANC and forerunner of Umkho- suspected, like Mini and semi- nto we Sizwe. He was a youth blind old men, some of whom leader and trade union organiser did not even believe that the charged with many tasks like be­ ANC could be involved in 'terro­ ing the organising secretary of rist' activities. The ECC (East- the Port Elizabeth branch of the em Cape Command) was not Stevedoring and Dock-workers crippled. The following day Union which was an affiliate of after their release the Eastern SACTU. Cape was rocked by explosions. He was an active participant in the 1952 Defiance Campaign. Coupled with all tnis work of. For his role he was sentenced to pioneering the formation of MK, three months imprisonment. He; he was also activolv involved in was also later to be arrested the worfcof the ANC andSACTU. during the 1956 Treason Trial But time was running out for of 166 leaders of the Congress him as the- reign of terror was Alliance. The trial ended in being intensified. The, notorious acquital because the state failed Vuyisile Mint special branch policeman Donald to prove treason in the activities J Card was specially dispatched of the then peace preaching ANC boer train guard. While Mini was from East London to hunt and and its sister organisations. standing in the passage of the hound Mini. But it was becoming This was however not to be carriage, the boer guard who was apparent that the fly was within. the end as he was again to be de­ trying to get past spoke to him in Mini was arrested and tried along tained in Rooi Hell {the North" a very naughty manner. Mini with Wilson Khayingo and Zina­ End Prison in Port Elizabeth! faced him and .said: "Look kile Mkhaba. During the trial with Govan Mbeki and Raymond here you must mind your langu­ Mini displayed his heroism and Mhlaba. It was here that Mini age, brother" he said, looking the courage. This was illustrated by was to experience real hell when man straight in the eyes. The Mini's refusal to give evidence guard was taken aback and pro­ the prison officials forbade him against Wilton Mkwayi even duced a revolver. Through quick though he was certain he would to sing revolutionary songs in his work they disarmed him, and famous baritone voice. The sadis­ be executed. He refused to be left the train making a speedy reprieved at the expense of a tic warders were to react to his detour. refusal \o stop singing by locking fellow patriot, a comrade-in­ him and his fellow detainees up He handled all situations in a arms. for twenty four hours a day. cool, calm and collected manner, this being one of the major His voice, his beliefs, his ideas UNDERGROUND factors for his appointment to still live on in his songs, in his the Eastern Cape Command. He work, in our history and shall The racist regime was getting was a member not from reckless­ continue to do so even beyond more violent. The African Natio­ ness or a sense, of adventurism the attainment of freedom in nal Congress was finally banned. but from a deep conviction tnat South Africa. But this did not silence comrades this was the only method that His name shall be written in like Mini and he, like many others, would achieve the freedom of his bold letters on the Roll of decided to go underground, people. Honour.

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