Threat to MKMVA credibility

THE secretary-general of MKMVA lied that “South Africans hate Guptas because they are from India”.

Another blatant lie is that this notorious family are South Africans involved in business like any other business and have created jobs.

I am sure genuine cadres and operatives of Umkhonto we Sizwe, especially those who received Umrabulo from the best political teachers like Moses Mabhida, Jack Simons, Mark Shope, Ronnie Kasrils, Chris Hani, Joe Slovo at various camps and from Govan Mbeki and Harry Gwala in Robben Island prison and from United Democratic Front political teachers, Curnick Ndlovu, Raymond Suttner, Chris Ntuli and Thami Mohlomi, will analyse the Guptas differently.

This year is the 70th anniversary of Doctors Pact of AB Xuma, Monty Naicker and Yusuf Dadoo. Our liberation Struggle was graded by true patriots who paid a supreme price for us to be free in 1994, among them Ahmed Kathrada, 25 years in jail, Billy Nair (20), Laloo Chiba (18), Mac Maharaj (12), Natoo Barbenia (15), Kinsten Moonsamy (15), George Naicker (15), and Indres Naidoo (10).

Others shed their blood to nurture the “tree of freedom”. Solomon Mahlangu spoke about (them) in his message before he was hanged. These are Babla Salojee, Ahmed Timol, Lenny Naidu and Sadha Naidoo (whose mother Phyllis Naidoo was central in the MK underground in Lesotho).

With many MK operatives, underground activists and UDF leaders arrested, it was lawyers like Kessie Naidu, Dullar Omar, Priscilla Jana, Yunus Mohammed and many others who represented them. MKMVA wanted to honour Brian Molefe, Hlaudi Motsoeneng and Dudu Myeni but not Vejay Ramlakan, Ivan Pillay, Ray Lalla, Daya Pillay, Derek Naidoo, Jay Naidoo who served in MK.

When things were difficult, when Oliver Tambo was sent to set up ANC foreign missions, it was people like Frene Ginwala, Kader Asmal, ES Reddy who aided him. Inside the country, Piet Willem Botha introduced a tricameral parliament, South African Indians and coloureds rejected this co-option. Thanks to the role played by Pravin Gordhan, Mohammed Vadi, YS Chetty, Paul David, Mewa Ramgobin, George Sewpersadh, Farouk Meer, Ismail C Meer, Fatima Meer, Inba Naidoo, Spider Jagurnath and many others.

Only 20% of the South African Indians voted.

During the Struggle where were the likes of… the Guptas? Why did these “staff-riders not love the ANC during the tenure of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki? Can MKMVA give us political credentials of these “johnny-come-latelies”.

Since when was Gordhan an “impimpi” as claimed by the ANCYL?

The Gupta family are now more prominent than families of freedom fighters. By defending the Guptas, the MKMVA will continue losing credibility but the MK Council will not.

SIYANDA MHLONGO

KwaDukuza