A peace monument in honour of those killed in conflict in Thokoza is to be unveiled, writes Thokozani Mtshali
Four years ago the East Rand was the scene of widespread political violence between supporters of the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party. Open gun battles raged between IFP-aligned hostel dwellers and ANC-aligned township residents in Thokoza, Katlehong and neighbouring townships.
Two well-known photographers, Abdul Shariff and Ken Oosterbroek, were among the hundreds killed in the conflict. Shariff was hit by a fatal bullet from Kwesine hostel, aimed at a delegation including former ANC secretary general Cyril Ramaphosa, Umkhonto weSizwe veteran Robert McBride and then South African Communist Party chair Joe Slovo.
Oosterbroek was shot dead during a skirmish between IFP snipers and the National Peacekeeping Force.
On Saturday, October 17, the residents of Thokoza will unveil a peace monument celebrating the fact that the conflict is a thing of the past and honouring those who died.
Situated in the infamous Khumalo Street – once a no-go strip separating the hostels from the township – the monument carries the names of 688 victims of the conflict.
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and Minister of Correctional Services Ben Skosana are expected to unveil the monument at a remembrance ceremony marking the culmination of a year of co- operation between former foes, civil society and a handful of committed individuals.
The monument bears the names of ANC leader Sam Ntuli and lawyer Thabo Molewa, both residents who lost their lives in the conflict. Shariff’s and Oosterbroek’s names are there too, along with many others.
Thokoza Monument Council director Margie Mojapela said the names inscribed on the monument are only a fraction of the number of people who were killed in the area.
“Each year when we commemorate the event, new names which have been brought forward will be included in the list. This is just the beginning. Thousands of people died here. Gradually, we will ensure that every victim gets inscribed there,” said Mojapela.
Members of the community are eager to see this symbol of peace and hardship unveiled. But rumblings on the ground suggest that although the fighting may be over, the seeds of discontent are still scattered around the township.
Local IFP structures have pulled out of the initiative and called for the long-planned unveiling of the monument to be delayed so that IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi can be part of the ceremony.
Former Gauteng premier Tokyo Sexwale had this in mind when the project first began. He wanted Buthelezi and President Nelson Mandela to jointly open the monument park – and declare Khumalo Street a “safe zone” open to all – in a symbol of the new dtente between the two parties.
But with elections looming, Buthelezi will be launching IFP branches in the Northern Cape. The IFP will send Skosana instead, while the ANC has sent Mbeki in Mandela’s place.
IFP Gauteng Youth Brigade leader Thabani Dlamini wants the ceremony to be postponed so that Buthelezi can attend. He points out that Buthelezi’s name is already inscribed as joint opener of the monument.
There are other disputes. IFP Thokoza chair Sipho Sithole said he is worried about a “lack of transparency” over donor funds contributed to the project, as well as moves to invite the ANC- aligned Congress of South African Traditional Leaders to attend the ceremony.
“The KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders should have been invited, so as the IFP we decided to pull out,” said Sithole.
But ANC MP Duma Nkosi, whose Alberton constituency includes Thokoza, dismisses the latest squabbles as “minor differences sparked by the breakdown of communications”.
Nkosi’s words are echoed by Sam Theron, a resident who was forced to leave his house for five of the warring years.
“The community is happy about this, they must just address their differences and let the function go on, because the only problem is money, the concern is over the finances,” said Theron.
Ironically, Mojapela, who has borne the brunt of the IFP’s criticisms regarding project finances, says the project “never received any cash, but [only] material such as bricks from Corrobrik, cement from Alpha, fencing by South African Breweries and so on. The only hard cash used was from my [own] pocket and the money which was initially collected by the displacees committee, which has their own account,” said Mojapela.
Mojapela said she was amazed by the financial concerns because although the committee had no accounts, its treasurer, KK Ntshangase, is the IFP’s East Rand regional leader.