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A Combatant for Life, a Patriot to the End

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A Combatant for Life, a Patriot to the End COMMENT NCHABELENG REMEMBERED © Shutterstock.com A combatant for life, a patriot to the end A veteran congress activist and a charismatic political dynamo, he died on 11 April 1986 at the Schoonoordt police station, 13 hours after he was detained by the Lebowa Police. By Kgoputjo Morewane hursday 11 April 2013, marked workers union – an affiliate of the South aim of enforcing stricter controls over the 27th anniversary of the African Congress of Trade Unions the rural people through chiefs. Many Tdeath in police custody of the (SACTU) and Sebatakgomo, a peasant people rejected the Bantu Authorities then United Democratic Front (UDF) resistance movement which resisted in areas like Sekhukhuneland, Zeerust, Northern Transvaal president, Peter the imposition of Bantu Authorities in Witzieshoek and Pondoland. Nchabeleng. Sekhukhuneland. He also worked as Sebatakgomo was launched in He was born Peter Mampogoane an interpreter for the late Joe Slovo, 1954 at Jeppe hostel in Johannesburg Nchabeleng on March 3, 1928 at who defended many accused in the by migrants from Sekhukhuneland in Apel in Sekhukhuneland in the then Sekhukhuneland revolts that followed. the then Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vaal Northern Transvaal. In 1951, the National Party (PWV) area – the industrial heartland In the 1950s Nchabeleng was government which won the 1948 of South Africa. Its aim was to oppose the Pretoria regional secretary of the general elections on an apartheid the 1951 Bantu Authorities Act and African National Congress (ANC) and ticket, introduced the Bantu subsequently the establishment of an executive member of the office Authorities in the reserves, with the Lebowa as a bantustan. It was led by 56 THE THINKER COMMENT people like Flag Marutle Boshielo, the country to quell resistance to in 1986 - was named in honour who disappeared during the Bantu Authorities in Sekhukhuneland. of this resistance movement. 1967/8 Wankie –Sipolilo campaign Arthur Phethedi Thulare, secretary Fetakgomo Local Municipality in the of the ANC’s Luthuli Detachment of to the Bapedi Paramount Chief, Sekhukhune district of Limpopo was uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and Joshua Morwamoche Sekhuhkhune II, and also named after this organisation. Nkomo ’s Zimbabwe African People’s Mogaramedi Godfrey Sekhukhune Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality Union (Zapu)’s military wing, the were banished to Mtubatuba and at Jane Furse, Sekhukhuneland is also Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Mthunzini in Natal respectively. In named in honour of the opponents of Army (Zipra) against the Rhodesian 1957, the government went further Bantu Authorities and bantustans in army of Ian Smith. by banishing Lot Kgagudi Maredi and Sekhukhuneland in the 1950s. Other leaders of Sebatakgomo were Kgagudi “Panto” Moruthanyane. In In 1962, Nchabeleng was charged Elias Mathope Motsoaledi, a Rivonia March 1958, Chief Sekhukhune II was for furthering the aims of a banned trialist and former Robben Island deposed and banished to Cala in the organisation (the ANC) and for prisoner, John Kgoana Nkadimeng Transkei, Eastern Cape. A detailed sabotage. He was sentenced to eight - a leader of SACTU and the ANC, account of the Sebatakgomo resistance years imprisonment on Robben Island. John Mahwidi Phala, Lucas Nthepeng movement is given by Kgolane Alfred After his imprisonment, his family Kgaphola, Godfrey Mogaramedi Phala in The Thinker March/2012/ was deported from Atteridgeville in Sekhukhune, Lot Kgagudi Maredi and volume 37. Pretoria to Apel in Sekhukhuneland. Uriah Rakgwane Ratsoma – whose Sebatakgomo - a Sepedi war cry - On his release from Robben Island, he son, Modikwane France Ratsoma, fell was changed to Fetakgomo in 1957 was also banished to Sekhukhuneland during the Wankie/Sipolilo campaign. after it was alleged that the organisation and banned. According to his daughter Sekhukhuneland was divided into Pinky, when he was brought to Apel Marentjere (Rangers) – supporters from Robben Island, the security police of the Bantu Authorities – and More than 50 told him “here (Apel) nobody will listen the majority, Makhuduthamaga, chiefs in to you” - referring to his political views who were opponents of the Bantu and activities. Authorities. More than 50 chiefs in Sekhukhuneland He was arrested again in 1974 Sekhukhuneland were divided into were divided into two and given a three year suspended two camps - the majority, who were sentence by the Pretoria Supreme opposed to the mooted bantustan camps - the majority, Court for contravening his banning system and the few who succumbed to who were opposed to order. In 1977, he was charged with apartheid government blandishments. the mooted bantustan harbouring and recruiting people for About 11 leaders of Sebatakgomo, military training, along with Joe Gqabi. mostly traditional leaders, were system and the few He stood trial in the famous Pretoria 12 charged and sentenced to death by who succumbed to terrorism trial with the current Minister the Pretoria Supreme Court. Those of Human Settlements, Tokyo Sexwale, who were sentenced to death were apartheid government Bafana Mohlamonyane, Naledi Tsiki, Chieftainess Madinoge Morwamoche, blandishments. Nelson Diale, Martin Ramokgadi John Makopole Kgolane, Jack and his son, Elleck. In 1978, he was Mogase Mariri, Johannes Machele acquitted together with Gqabi but Ngwako, Klaas Marweshe Mabinane, aimed to kill white people. This Elleck was found guilty and sentenced James Kgoloko Mahlagaume, name was derived from a Sepedi to six years imprisonment on Robben James Monampane Motubatse, proverb Fetakgomo o sware motho, Island. Gqabi was later killed by Frans Morewane Tswaledi, Jim mafetakgomo ke moriri o a hloga, which Apartheid Security agents while an Kgoro Makgoleng, Jim Makelepeng in essence means that people must ANC chief representative in Zimbabwe Morewane and Sebilo Mahlako. value life and people and forget about in 1981. The death sentences were later material possessions because they can Elleck, who started as courier for commuted to life imprisonment after a be replaced. In 1958, the rejection of the then banned ANC in 1975, was delegation was sent to Queen Elizabeth Bantu authorities culminated in what instructed by his co-accused to recruit of England and the Archbishop of become known as the Sekhukhuneland local youths for military training under Canterbury to plead with them to Revolts or commonly called Motshabo the pretext that they would learn influence the apartheid government (to run away). People in villages such karate. He saved the trialists from the to grant the accused amnesty. Later, as Mohlaletse, Apel, Manganeng, gallows by refusing to testify against uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) named Mphanama and Madibong in them. one of its detachments the Madinoge Sekhukhuneland openly revolted and After being acquitted in 1978, Detachment in honour of the rejected the state blandishments. Nchabeleng ’s banning order was Sekhukhuneland chieftainess. Fetakgomo High School at renewed for five years. In 1982, an Other leaders of Sebatakgomo Mohlaletse in Sekhukhuneland attempt on his life aborted when he were banished to different parts of – where the writer matriculated detected a letter bomb addressed Volume 53 / 2013 57 COMMENT to him at his Apel home. After this if police were looking for him, they will despite postmortem results which incident, he indicated to the leadership find him at home. When he arrived, clearly showed that Nchabeleng had of the then banned ANC that his life the Lebowa police detained him. been seriously assaulted. None of was in danger and it was now time for A veteran congress activist and a the statements taken from the riot him to go into exile. He was advised charismatic political dynamo, he died on police mentioned any assaults or against this move as the ANC saw him 11 April 1986 at the Schoonoordt police interrogation. The officer knew some playing an important role inside the station, 13 hours after he was detained of the statements were false, but he still country at the time. In 1983, his other by the Lebowa Police. The UDF gave handed them in as evidence. son, Luthuli, went into exile to join the him this epitaph: “A Combatant for Life, Accolades were heaped on ANC. a Patriot to the End.” Nchabeleng posthumously. The ANC After his banning order expired in His death sparked protests and formed the Nchabeleng unit of MK 1984, he became a member of the condemnation throughout the as part of Operation Vula - with the UDF Northern Transvaal Co-ordinating country and abroad. In the country, aim of infiltrating senior leaders of Committee and in February 1986 he organisations such as the UDF, the movement into the country which was elected the first president of the Congress of South African Trade would culminate in a mass insurrection Northern Transvaal region of the UDF. Unions (Cosatu), South African Council against the apartheid regime. Some In 1984 and subsequent years, of Churches (SACC) and the Detainees’ of the people involved in the unit are when we (the youth) were organising Parents Support Committee (DPSC) the former North West premier and ourselves as the Sekhukhuneland condemned his death. His death also Minister of Water Affairs, Edna Bomo Youth Organisation (Seyo) under the sparked a consumer boycott of white Molewa and chief of the South African banner of the UDF, many people, towns in the Northern Transvaal, which Navy, Vice-Admiral Refiloe Mudimo. especially parents, took us seriously was announced at his funeral on May An ANC branch in Mamelodi in the because of the presence of
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