Rev Maqina finally gets to tell his story
Book captures life and times of controversial PE personality
ONE of the city’s most controversial arts personalities, the Rev Mzwandile Maqina – once accused of being a vigilante leader in black-on-black violence – is going to share his “untold story” at a book launch this weekend.
The New Brighton patriarch turned 80 on Monday and will launch his biography, Mzwandile Maqina: The Untold Story, by University of South Africa professor Vuyisile Msila at Port Elizabeth’s Summerstrand Hotel on Saturday.
His youngest son, Thamie Maqina, said yesterday the book was his father’s chance to counter allegations that he colluded with the apartheid government or the so-called Third Force in the turbulent 1980s.
Black consciousness advocate Maqina was aligned with the Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) which feuded with the United Democratic Front (UDF), but to this day denies he was a member of Azapo or the vigilante group amaAfrika.
“The book is the life and times of my dad. It was a time of black-on-black violence and he gave shelter to many members of political parties who were being chased, their houses were being burnt and people were necklaced [burnt alive with a tyre around you],” Thamie said.
“Unfortunately, they were Azapo and PAC members, and they were targeted by the UDF. The UDF ended up being heroes but The Untold Stor y will tell his story.”
Thamie said having the biography written was healing for his father – who is still active in theatre circles.
“All that has been said about my dad is not true. He has developed many young people, others have become real artists and political leaders. He has had a good influence.”
Maqina was accused not only of fostering political violence between Azapo and the UDF, but also of causing the deaths of the Pebco Three and the Cradock Four.
The former Herald Citizen of the Year winner was stripped of his title given to him by then Port Elizabeth mayor Nceba Faku in 1995, due to these allegations.
“A lot was said about him at the TRC [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] but he was not even invited, he went there himself because of what he read in the newspaper and he wanted to clear his name.
“He ended up telling Nceba Faku, ‘I need my award, give it back’, but he never did,” Thamie said.
The family insult was to some extent softened by a later mayor.
“Danny Jordaan gave him an honour in 2016 as a living legend.”
The family hopes their father will rather be remembered for his contribution to the arts.
Maqina founded the New Generations dancers – who performed for Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Port Elizabeth in 1995 – and he has written several plays, including the once-banned Give Us This Day.
When the struggle play finally made it all the way to Grahamstown for the National Arts Festival two years ago, the actors claimed Maqina had not paid them. “That’s not true,” Thamie said. Despite his age, Maqina still runs the performing arts group Lift As You Rise Arts in New Brighton.
The family invite friends and interested parties to the 7pm launch.
Married under customary law, Maqina at one stage had four wives.
Two deaths and one divorce have left him alone with Brenda, the mother of eight of his 22 children.
Msila and Maqina will discuss the book, and there will be entertainment from jazz singer Nosisi Mavela, with Mzwanele Maqosha on keyboards.
Port Elizabeth praise singer Odwa Duru will MC the evening in tandem with one of Maqina’s many grandsons, Anomsa Vantyi, presenter on the teen show Hectic-Nine9.
Tragically, grandson Loyiso Maqina, 26, who pushed for the book to be written, died in a car accident in Cape Town only a week ago.