BCM councillor made his mark
BUFFALO City Metro councillor Mlandeli Ngabayena, who died last Wednesday evening following a long illness, will be buried tomorrow.
Ngabayena, 52, is a former Umkhonto weSizwe operative who grew up in Tsholomnqa outside East London.
He was the Ward
21 councillor in Mdantsane when he died. The ward covers NU12, 13 as well as some parts of NU15. His family moved to Mdantsane when he was a young boy and did his primary schooling there, before attending Tapa High, now called Solomon Mahlangu High.
It was while in high school that he cut his teeth in politics joining the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) as an activist.
Ngabayena was then recruited into an ANC underground structure, a decision which saw him going in to exile in the mid80s. On his return from exile, the late councillor registered at Dr WB Rubusana College of Education towards a career in teaching.
He taught at Mdabuka Junior Secondary in Lusikisiki as well as Phumlani Higher Primary in Needs Camp, before joining BCM as a councillor in 2016.
BCM Mayor Xola Pakati said his death came as a shock.
He said Ngabayena, a father of three, had dedicated his life to the liberation of his country.
He was among those people who from an early age was dedicated “to the extent of being prepared to pay the ultimate price. This is why he left the country at a young age and became a soldier of Umkhonto weSizwe. He participated in the struggle when it was not fashionable to do so and this is why he continued to serve his country and its people even after the evil system of apartheid was defeated,” said Pakati.
On his return from exile Ngabayena was involved in numerous ANC activities and served on the ANC’s regional executive committee of the Dr WB Rubusana region.
He also served on the committee for religious and traditional affairs.
Pakati said: “Comrade Ngabayena was a true activist whose story inspires us to continue with the struggle to liberate our people from racial oppression, class exploitation and gender subjugation”.
A memorial service was held on Wednesday at the NU15 Community Hall. Ngabayena is survived by his wife Mapaseka as well as his children Portia, Hlomla and Yolanda.