MK veterans hail Sis Agnes

Ncwana fatally shot by unknown gunmen

SLAIN Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) guerrilla Noluthando “Agnes Marfu” Ncwana’s fighting spirit, as much as her compassion, will be remembered by those who served with her underground.

Ncwana, 62, died on Sunday, after spending two days at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg, from wounds she sustained when unknown gunmen opened fire on her and her son Thabiso at their home in Harare, Khayelitsha, last week.

Thabiso was admitted to the same hospital after the intervention of Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla, who visited Ncwana’s home this week.

Ncwana was in her 20s, living in Langa, when she fled South Africa in 1976 soon after the June 16 uprising to join MK in Angola at a camp dubbed “Engineering”.

It was during her training as part of the June 16 Detachment at the MK camp in Benguela that she met her husband, John Sibanda from Soweto.

Sibanda, who operated under the nom de guerre Peter Gumede, joined MK in 1974.

He was killed in 1987 while returning to Lusaka, after helping MK soldiers cross into South Africa from Botswana, at the Zambezi River crossing at Livingstone.

His bakkie was blown up by a landmine believed to have been planted by the then SA Defence Force.

Ncwana was always driven to serve, having been deployed with the City’s law enforcement in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

She later worked at 2 Military Hospital, playing a vital role in working for the unification and restoration of the dignity of former combatants, irrespective of military affiliation.

Department of Military Veterans (DMV) acting director-general Lieutenant-General Derrick Mgwebi expressed his condolences to the family, saying: “Sis Agnes served the community of military veterans selflessly and diligently; the military veterans community is certainly poorer without her.

“The DMV will do all in its power to make sure that her deeds and memory occupy a deserving rightful place of honour in the annals of the country’s history and that of the military veterans’ liberation heritage in particular.”

Former MK member George Njamela said: “Her fighting spirit could only be equalled by her deep compassion for others. She aided military veterans whether they were Azanian People’s Liberation Army, Cape Coloured Corps or even SADF, because she knew the health and other issues suffered by combatants better than anyone.”

Former MK commander James Ngculu said: “She was one of the best comrades ever. The way in which she died saddens me.

“All her life she fought for our people to be free, only to be killed by the people she fought to be liberated.”

He added that Ncwana deserved to be buried with the highest military honours.

Njamela said he was part of the funeral preparation committee, and a preliminary funeral date had been set for Saturday. Police were investigating a murder and attempted murder case, but no one had been arrested.

Anyone with information about the incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.