Ruling party pays respect to its fallen by cleaning gravesites
Provincial ANC secretary Lulama Ngcukaitobi says with all the problems facing the country, leaders need to know they are not the first and not the last.
He was speaking at a Thuma Mina campaign, in Mthatha on Saturday. Ngcukaitobi said the youth must be connected with the spirit of the old generation of leaders.
He, along with ANC members, cleaned gravesites of fallen party members and leaders, including the likes of young activists Solly Peters and Lizo Ndzobole.
“They need to be taught about their sacrifices and all,” said Ngcukaitobi.
“At the same time, teach the people responsibility for the mileage that is here today.”
He said cleanliness was part of the problems experienced in the O R Tambo district, particularly King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality.
“We came here to clean graves of leaders of the ANC as part of ceremonial approaches to say we have not forgotten about them. Some of our members cleaned in town. We took this route to reconnect with our past and, at the same time, be able to connect with our people by doing something instead of just talking.”
Asked about the O R Tambo regional conference that has not yet convened, Ngcukaitobi said he was not certain whether the region would have a task team.
“Let’s allow them the responsibility bestowed to them up until the end of term in office. The most unfortunate part is that they are not eligible to go to the conference and if they do not go to the conference, until the set time frame passes, a RTT [regional task team] will be introduced – but one will work and finish his time in office.”
Meanwhile, Agrinet Ndzobole, the 85-year-old widow of Colbert, said she was happy that the ANC had cleaned his gravesite. Her husband died in 1992 after a bomb blast in Mthatha.
“He really lived and died for the ANC. He worked underground for the ANC. We never stayed in one place as we were running all over fighting for freedom,” said Ndzobole.
The youth must be connected with the spirit of the old generation of leaders