‘Families of those who died need help’

FAMILIES of the seven Poqo members massacred at Ntlonze village near Cofimvaba are calling for the government to take care of the families of guerillas who died fighting for the freedom of the country.

Speaking at the commemoration and unveiling of the Ntlonze Massacre memorial stone yesterday, one of the survivors, Zwelakhe Tina, said it was time for people benefiting from South Africa’s freedom to start to think of those who fought for that freedom .

“It’s time people think of the people who died for this country. They need to remember the oath they took when taking their positions,” he said.

“Some of the people who were killed during the massacre were buried in Cofimvaba and have not yet been buried at their homes.”

Tina said some of the families of the people who died for South Africa were living in poverty and their homes were dilapidated.

“They are getting nothing from this government, after fighting and dying to get this country free,” he said.

“If the PAC was in government all those families would have benefited and been taken care of.”

Tina said they wanted to free the African people in Cofimvaba when they were attacked by “white people”.

PAC secretary general Sithembiso Malusi in the Luthando Mbinda said: “There will be a time where Pasma will not only focus on educational issues but also prepare for the time when we take land from white people who don’t want to give us our land.”

Malusi said they thought when parliament approved the expropriation of land they would have a law which said the land and riches “of Azania” must be taken back by Azania.

“Our land is enough to feed our people and animals,” he said

“There is no need to fear other countries which will do nothing to us. When we talk about land we talk about our natural resources.”

Malusi said there was a need to build unity in the PAC.

“We had all the massacres in the country but we never knew that we would be talking about the Marikana massacre and Life Esidimeni, where more than 100 people died,” he said.

“I order that to not happen again. Let’s stand up and be united.”

Mzwanele Nyontsho, a supporter of PAC leadership figure Letlapa Mpahlele, said: “Apla is right to call for the united conference of the PAC, but I feel that December is too far.

“Apla should call the conference because if it is called by Mbinda or Mphahlele factions that will be just a factional conference.

“The leaders must be chosen by all members of the PAC from the branches, not by a faction.”