BY Obakeng Maje

The remains of two African National Congress ‘s military army, Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) cadres are to be exhumed for reburial in Mahikeng as part of the North West Provincial Mandela Month Celebration.

The formal event hosted by Office of the Premier in partnership with Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veterans (MKMVA), National Prosecution Agency (MKVA) scheduled to commence at the Mmabatho Civic Centre as from 10:00am on Friday.

The Cyprian Bheki Hlatshwayo (MK Bismarck) from Soweto and Vuyani Goniwe (MK Jorrissen) from Ntselamanzi in Alice in the Eastern Cape formed part of a reconnaissance unit that infiltrated South Africa from Botswana in 1978 and were killed after a skirmish with apartheid security forces.

Their fellow unit member, Tladitsaga Moses” Moss” Molefe(MK Ncosi) was shot in the leg and captured the following day and later charged in the well-known Pietermaritzburg treason trial and later imprisoned on Robben Island.  

Forensic experts had conducted DNA tests to determine the identities of the two as their remains were fragmented in an explosion. Their skeletal remains had mingled as they were squeezed into a single coffin when they were secretly buried there.

Locating the actual grave in which they were buried was not easy as no records of their burial was kept.

North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise accompanied by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the Provincial Legislature, NPA, Representatives of MKMVA will visit the family in Masutlhe 1 village outside Mahikeng on Thursday afternoon.

“The reburial of the cadres will allow their families to put closure to decades of anxiety and reconcile with a painful past As we celebrate the legacy of selfless service of former ANC President and Commander in Chief of MK.

We owe it to the memories of fallen heroes and heroine of our liberation struggle to recognise the sacrifices and heroic deeds of those who paid the supreme price contributing towards attainment of our freedom and democracy. Their blood nourished the tree of liberty,” said Modise herself a former MK commander and political commissar.

Members of the media that wish to cover the Thursday dress rehearsal by Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veteran Association (MKMVA) as well as Premier Modise and Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the Provincial legislature family visit ( 3:00-5:00pm), Dinner and media briefing session(7:00- 9:00pm)  night vigil by MKMVA (6:00-9:00pm)

The programme for Friday morning includes hoisting of flags and march-pass parade by MKMVA(7:00am), Healing and cleansing ceremony, exhumation (7:15 am) are requested to RSVP with Pat Dooms @ 084 831 4072 for accreditation and overnight  accommodation(one per media house outside Mahikeng) by 10:00 pm on Thursday.(Press cards will have to be faxed through for consideration)