Freedom fighter and academic had passion for aviation
Maj-Gen Abednigo T Ntsibande Date of birth: October 15 1955 Died: February 15 2017 Funeral: Thaba Tshwane Hall Burial: Rooihuiskraal, Centurion
ON Wednesday morning last week, we were shocked to learn that Abednigo Themba Ntsibande was no more.
He was a retired army general from the non-statutory forces of the integrated liberation armies of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Some called him a rebel general. We regarded him as a reliable fighter for the rights of the downtrodden.
Ntsibande was born on October 15 1955 in Soweto. He had a dream of having a successful career as a doctor, clerk (umabhalane) and few other professions that were available to blacks at the time.
After starting off at Ndondo Higher Primary in Rockville, he proceeded to Sekano-Ntoana High, also in Soweto. It is a school that produced political leaders like Cyril Ramaphosa, Sanki Mahanyele, Duma Ndlovu, Amos “Ambi” Masondo, Brian Hlongwa, Duma Nkosi, Dan Motsisi, Willie Makgalemele, the late Phillip Phiri and many others.
Having passed his matric with maths, applied maths, physics and biology, Ntsibande enrolled at the University of Zululand.
In 1976 he joined the political struggle of the youth of the time, which declared the time had come to free South Africa/Azania. He answered the call of exiled liberation movements and joined the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). In 1983, he joined the African National Congress (ANC).
In the ANC he rose to be a revered political commissar and broadcaster on Radio Freedom.
He returned home after the unbanning of political movements in 1990. Having studied aviation at the Nigeria Aviation Academy in Zaria city, and the respected Ethiopian School of Aviation in Addis Ababa, he qualified as a Boeing 737 maintenance technician.
However, upon return to SA he was told to start the training from basics, which was an insult to him. Working as a trainee at the South African Airways technical department was not easy, and the powers that be did not intervene despite many trips to ANC headquarters in Luthuli House. His book Ambassadors of Globalisation (published in December 2015), tells part of the story.
As we salute Ntsibande, we acknowledge the gap he has left, more so in the transformation of the air force which he was passionate about.
In his book, he also argues that the Nobel prize should have been bestowed on Steve Biko, Sobukwe and Tom Manthata, instead of the two recipients, former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk.
In his self-published book, he mentions what today is popularly known as “state capture”. Ntsibande’s well researched book also mentions what has now been revealed as Absa bank’s bailout by the apartheid government.
The military man, academic and political analyst held, among others, a diploma in aircraft frames and engines (Nigeria), FAA Licence B7373 series (USA), diploma in Marxist-Leninist Philosophy and political economy (Bulgaria). He has also served in a number of boards as non-executive director, including at SA Civil Aviation Authority.
Ntsibande, who lived in Rooihuiskraal in Tshwane, is survived by his wife, son and siblings.
His memorial service was held at the Thaba Tshwane Hall, in the SANDF’s military headquarters, on Thursday. He’ll be buried tomorrow.
Hamba kahle Sbabza, T-Man, Jack. Kuhlase! Mdlanyoka! Goje!