Issue 69 July - September edition

HANDOVER OF EXHUMED REMAINS OF 10 MK MEMBERS

24 July 2015 As the remains of the freedom fighters were returned to their families; tears of anguish and pain streamed down the faces of family members as they silently bowed their heads in prayer and gave thanks to God; “I`m so happy they were found, now we can take his spirit home”. A sombre period awaited us at Freedom Park as the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Adv. Michael Masutha officially handed over the remains of ten former Umkhonto We Sizwe members as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified victims to their respective families on Friday 24 July 2015 at Freedom Park. This was part of the implementation of TRC’s recommendations. As the coffins were carefully brought into the Gallery of Leaders; family members sat grim-faced and rigid, silently wiping away tears. A group of families long, cold journey finally ended when the remains of their loved ones were presented to them. They were the widows, fathers, mothers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren of freedom fighters who disappeared in 1987.

Memories of their loved ones raced through their minds as they conjured up some kind of connection to their beloved. They were after all brutally and savagely separated from them. Yet

they achoed the sentiments of most of the families that the freedom struggle, fought by their fathers, brothers, uncles they never knew, gave them the opportunities they never had. Many of the families were happy that the remains were found. It is the end of the road. Now they can take their beloved spirit home. “They will be with the family and with us all”.

The remains of the following MK members and TRC identified victims were handed over for reburial: Japie Jacob Phadi (MK Matome Mananga) from Kagiso/Magaliesburg, Mojau Teme (MK Floyd Maru) from Kagiso, Mzwakhe Moses Phato (MK Slow Mbewu) from Soweto, Archie Lethoko (MK Lloyd Zwane) from Soweto, Bheki Cyprian Hlatshwayo (MK Bismark) originally from Mafikeng, Phemelo Moses Ntehelang from Kuruman, Leonard Tebogo Tume from Kimberley and Charles Sandile Ngqobe.

The Minister also handed over the remains of young activists, Lolo Corlett Sono and Siboniso Shabalala, who provided support services to MK members operating in Soweto. Sono and Shabalala disappeared on 13 and 14 November 1988 respectively.

Jacob Phadi and Mojau Teme were reburied in Kagiso

Cemetery, Mogale City after their remains were traced

and returned to their families. Gauteng ANC chairman

Paul Mashatile was among the politicians who attended

the funeral.

He said the country shouldn’t forget the contribution the

two men had made to the fight for freedom. He said it

was up to the ANC to make sure people who fought for

liberation were given dignified burials.

“The MK was a selfless, disciplined and courageous army that stood up for the defence of our

people and our country,” he said. Teme was one of four MK members shot dead in an ambush by

the Western Transvaal security police on 27 June 1986 in Nietverdiend, near the border with

Botswana. Phadi, a member of the MK’s special operations unit, disappeared somewhere in South

Africa in 1982.”

FREEDOM PARK BOOK LAUNCH

The day finally dawned when our book Freedom Park: A place of Emancipation and Meaning”

was inaugurated to the public. It painstakingly documents the textual and visual map of the journey

of Freedom Park from conceptualization to completion and quietly honours the people who were

instrumental in the writing of the book as well as the staff who contributed to the book in terms of

all the events, milestones and highlights of Freedom Park. What an absolute honour and privilege

to be part of this auspicious occasion. Each of us either knowingly or unknowingly have played an

integral part in the making of this book, and it was wonderful to catch up with people who were

instrumental in the presence would be highly appreciated.

The event boasted an illustrious array of eminent guests. It was nostalgic to see the many people

whom we interacted with in the numerous meetings, seminars and the different workshops that we

hosted as we completed each phase of the building of the Park. The event further acknowledged

and honoured the contributors some of whom have since passed on, detailing the hours of work

that have gone into the writing of this extraordinary publication.

We have simply come too far and achieved too much. Racism, sexism as well as cultural and

religious intolerance might belong to our past, but a free, democratic and united nation is our

future.

DIALOGUES

Mr Da Gama Mngqibisa

The Pan African Archives Unit recently conducted a dialogue with Mr Da Gama Mngqibisa. He is

one of the survivors of the Ntlonze Massacre and is 86 years old. Freedom Park will have a series

of dialogues and the first phase will be Ntlonze Massacre. Mr Da Gama Mngqibisa was the first

participant for this series. He is 86 years old and one of the six survivors of this massacre.

The Eastern Cape has always been in the forefront of the struggle, yet there seems to be little

written evidence about this. One can allude to the fact that we seem to memorialise narratives that

cultivate popular acceptance of their ideas. People can also argue that only icons that lend

legitimacy to the status quo dominate the public space. Yet at Freedom Park, oral evidence and

written documents have equal standing and all historical tools of analysis are applied to all

categories of documents in the reconstruction of historical narratives.

“In December 1962, three groups of Poqo of fighters from, Cape Town travelled to Transkei, to

attack Matanzima. Their meeting point was Ntlonze Mountain which had caves where they could

hide. The first group of nine Poqo members camped on the mountain, awaiting the others,

however their presence had been revealed while passing through Queenstown prompting the

security forces to follow them up the mountain. Six comrades were shot while others ran away and

others arrested. Their leader, Labert Shweni was sentenced to 20 years at Robben Island but was

charged and subsequently hanged”

Dennis Goldberg

As the man at the head of the table chuckled and spoke animatedly about a ‘free’ South Africa and

his lifelong friendship with Madiba, Denis Goldberg spoke with candour, humour and poignancy of

his rich and remarkable life; sometimes there was a crackle in his voice as he reminisced about his

happy childhood which did not preclude an awareness of the systematic brutality and deep

inequality that existed in our country.

My mind raced to an era in our history where all the heroes and heroines that adorn the Gallery of

Leaders become a living symbol of the men and women who were not filled with dreams and

discussions of victory and fame; but they were immersed in the immediacy of the battle for

freedom. Madiba, in the face of the struggle for social justice in South Africa, constantly stressed the importance of his fellow leaders during the anti-Apartheid movement. Denis Goldberg, a white South African, was one of those compatriots. Goldberg was tried alongside Mandela at the Rivonia Trial in the 1960s, and both men were sentenced to imprisonment for their political activism. Goldberg spent 22 years behind bars with Madiba.

To the PAA team as well as the research team; more especially Ms Lubi Ndaba; thank you for affording us the opportunity to engage with the great living activists of our time; we are really

honoured to witness these ‘historic moments’ at Freedom Park.

Dennis Goldberg with ACEO and staff of Freedom Park

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Freedom Park is for all South Africans. Geographical distance coupled with a lack of the necessary finances does unfortunately mean that some South Africans might never have the opportunity to visit Freedom Park personally. As we instill a sense of national pride in this icon of humanity and freedom and create awareness that there is a site that exists where people died fighting for freedom and liberation in this country and are being honoured. MAFIKENG Freedom Park partnered with “Careers for a Powerful in ‘You Only Matriculate Once’... session (YOMOO™) in Mafikeng. Through this opportunity Freedom Park had access to over 1500 learners.

University of North West The National Science Week is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), which is primarily aimed at raising awareness of the importance of science, technology and innovation in day to day life. The NSW is one of the many DST-led activities to build a South African society that is knowledgeable about science, critically engaged and scientifically literate. NSW 2015 was celebrated from 1 to 8 August 2015 throughout the country under the theme "Light and Light-based Technologies".

Freedom Park was invited to exhibit at the launch which was attended by the Minister of Science and Technology Ms Naledi Pandor, the launch was attended by almost 3000 learners, students, educators and the community at large. STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS The Public Particpation unit together with the ACEO had stakeholder meeting in Limpopo on the 8th of September 2015. Meetings took place with Premier Mathabatha, provincial secretary Mr Nocks Seabi and the Acting CEO of Limpopo

ACEO with Premier Honourable Mathabatha LimpopoProvincial Secretary of the ANC Mr Nocks Seabi

Mr Fixon Hlungwani, Acting CEO of Limpopo Tourism Agency

The unit also partnered with Boitshepong Foundation in Tembisa on the Arbor Day programme in September 2015. Almost 2000 learners and the community attended. A presentation was done anfd thereafter the programme commenced with the planting of trees and a vegetable garden.

SADC MEDIA AWARDS

The SADC Media Awards was a resounding success with South Africa emerging victorious in the television category. Two journalists from the South African Broacasting Corporation (SABC) Dennis Tshetlane and Sam Msibi walked away winners in the television category. South Africa also shone in the SADC School competition with Imbelani Matibe from Thengwe High School taking the coveted first place.

The awards were conferred by the outgoing Chairperson of the SADC and the President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe at the 35th SADC Summit in Botswana in the presence of all SADC Heads of State including President Jacob Zuma. At a “Thank you Dinner” hosted by GCIS, The Presidency and Freedom Park, the Minister of Communications Ms Faith Muthambi, congratulated all the recipients for doing South Africa proud.

CHARLOTTE MAXEKE MEMORY PROJECT The Presidency hosted the inaugural lecture of the Memory Project, under the theme of “The Life and Legacy of Charlotte Manye Maxeke”. The first South African woman to be celebrated during this Heritage Month is Ms Charlotte Maxeke for her significant contribution at a political and social level. The theme of the lecture was titled “the Life and Legacy of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke”. An eminent array of high profile dignitaries was present including the Deputy President. The Memory Project, which is the initiative of Parliament, is aimed at recognizing the significant contribution of South African women in their respective areas of expertise and will be presented in a format of an annual lecture and information sharing series.

“She was an individual whose every action was expressive of her extraordinary intellect, diligence, determination, courage, dedication to the highest ideals and principles, and love of God. Because of gender, hers is a name sadly overlooked in the history of South Africa.” History on Line.

What a befitting tribute to this outspoken woman of human rights and dignity. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at the inaugural Memory Project of Charlotte Maxeke

HERITAGE DAY FESTIVITY AT SENTLHAGA

The Inkululekho Community Centre from Salvokop approached the Education unit to co-host the Heritage Day event at Freedom Park’s Sentlhaga. The event which was titled “The Heritage Day Celebration with Vhana vha Hina” was headed by one of the storytellers at Freedom Park, Mr Justinus Dikgale. The Inkululekho Community Centre brought children from 6yrs to adults. Storytellers Mr Justinus Dikgale and Ms Bongiswa Kotta- Ramushwana entertained the children in terms of Heritage and Culture. Judging from the expressions on the children’s faces they were enraptured as they listened attentively and participated in the different genres of storytelling.

MoU with Gautrain and Freedom Park

Our engagements with Gautrain are proving to be extremely beneficial, and in keeping with the

MoU agreement signed between the two institutions fresher ideas and initiatives were put forward.

We are now in the process of cementing this into innovative ways of bringing more schools to

Freedom Park. A meeting was scheduled for the 5 August at Freedom Park with officials from

Gautrain executive.

During the month of September and October Gautrain embarked on an initiative called ‘connecting the dots through transport’. The aim of this initiative would be to encourage schools to visit places along the Gautrain route using the train and to educate them about domestic Tourism. Gautrain receives on average fifty requests from schools wanting to ride the train. Gautrian

executive identified Freedom Park as a heritage destination of choice for the learners to visit. For

the month of September 2015, the Gautrain Management Agency hosted 3 disadvantaged schools

from Soweto, Magaliesburg, Tembisa, and Rustenburg a free ride on the train and lunch. The idea

behind this is to subsidise the disadvantaged schools but the suburban and Model C schools

would pay the full price. Thus far 200 learners form Tembisa visited the Park and paid full price for

entrance whilst enjoying a ride on the train with free luch from Gautrain.

This would be a sustainable initiative with a potential of becoming an extremely lucrative and

mutually beneficial partnership.

The World Peace Summit - KOREA Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (“HWPL”), together with Freedom Park and

the National InterfaithCouncil of South Africa (NICSA) hosted the second Annual Commemoration

of the Declaration of World peace at Freedom Park, Pretoria.The purpose of the event is to bring

all Africans together under one banner of peace and promote the message: AFRICA – we are one!

This event is a commemoration of the day when the Declaration of World Peace was proclaimed

by the Chairman of HWPL Mr. Lee in South Korea on the 25th of May 2013 in front of 30 000

youths from all around the world. Since this day, the declaration has become the standard and

goal of HWPL around the globe and its members and affiated organizations are making united

effrts to achieve them.

Recently the ACEO was guest of honour at the The World Peace Summit, organised by the World

Alliance of Religions for Peace (WARP) and hosted by the Heavenly Culture World Peace

Restoration of Light (HWPL, Chairman Man Hee Lee).

Chairman of the Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL) Man Hee Lee

delivered a speech at the opening session, in which he thanked all the delegations for participating

in the event aiming to foster global peace.

He called on the audience to propose an International Declaration of Peace, to be ratified by all

countries.

ACCOLADES Incredible news from the Research Unit Recent good news from the David Publishing Company in New York, USA, is that a research paper titled “Revisiting Ubuntu in the midst of a violent Conflict: Reflections on the Marikana Tragedy in South Africa”, co-authored by Tembeka Ngcebetsha and Nomazizi Jamela, has seen the light of day in an internationally accredited journal of International Relations and Diplomacy, (Volume 3, Number 8, August 2015, pp.520-546). This is a huge achievement for these distinguished researchers but in particular the research unit of Freedom Park. Congratulations to both researchers on this notable feat. Production, presentation and publication of research papers are one of the many key performance areas in the research unit. With the imminent opening of the Knowledge Centre, the old adage of ‘publish or perish’ becomes a cold reality. A research output of this kind not only enhances the reputation of the research unit but Freedom Park as a whole as it becomes the hub of research and knowledge.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Education Unit The Education unit has a new Curriculum Developer Ms Lesego Modisha. Ms Modisha graduated with a Heritage and Cultural Tourism degree from the University of Pretoria. She leaves Sanparks Mapungubwe National Park where she worked as an archaeologist and acting curator having won the Northern Region Parks awards in 2013. Welcome to the Freedom Park family!