Minister lauds Mkonto and other ‘disciplined’ MK vets

LATE Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) member Sandile Mkonto was described as a visionary and humble person committed to the Struggle against apartheid at a memorial service in Gugulethu last night.

Speakers described him as a dedicated MK member who helped recruit youngsters from Langa and Gugulethu to join the ANC underground movement.

Directly referring to the family, ANC NEC member and Public Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said: “Your son, your cousin, your brother served this country with dignity. I am sure wherever he is, as a family you are proud of him.”

Dlodlo used the opportunity to tell the mourners to educate themselves and deal with challenges in a legal manner.

“It is a shame how military veterans are treated in this country. The veterans die with broken hearts.

“But with the challenges they have, you will never see them taking it onto the streets and burning tyres, because they know the sacrifices they made to acquire these facilities. They die in silence,” said Dlodlo.

Long-time friend Andile Dyasi told those who attended the memorial service at Luyolo Community Hall that Mkonto was very fond of sport, especially boxing.

Dyasi said 57-year-old Mkonto used sport to recruit for the underground movement.

“He had good leadership qualities. All the time he stayed with us, he was an underground comrade of the movement and we did not know.

“He would not tell us about his underground activities because it was dangerous and no one could be trusted,” Dyasi said.

Bongani Jonas, who had gone into exile at the same time as Mkonto, told the mourners it was high time the stories of those who fought fearlessly against the apartheid regime were recorded.

Dlodlo echoed Jonas’s view that the stories needed to be told.

You will never see them taking it onto the streets and burning tyres