Disillusioned by failed promises, no land and no jobs

A FORMER military wing commander sits in a bar on Jan van Riebeeck Drive in Paarl, musing about Freedom Day. Simon Ngcime is quick to point out the irony of a former Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla) commander being a denizen of a pub on a street named after a colonial administrator.

The first democratic elections took place 24 years to the day yesterday, but former underground soldiers are disillusioned with how things have turned out.

“Not a single day do I not reflect on ‘freedom’, and there cannot be true freedom without land,” said Ngcime, a former Apla commander who instructed his forces in the St James massacre in 1993.

He said even though Freedom Day meant little in the context of economic freedom and the PAC’s ideology, the youth did not reflect enough on this day.

“Our Struggle was that of national liberation and it stemmed from the land conquest of 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck landed,” Ngcime said.

“And after 24 years of ‘freedom’, the majority of this country is still disadvantaged and the statistics speak for themselves.

He said the youth did not use commemorative holidays to advance equality and transformation of the economy.

“It is a pity that the youth isn’t conscientised on matters that could take this country forward,” Ngcime said.

He said all youth did today was hurl insults that the MK and Apla sold out.

“Partly, we appreciate that we have this freedom. We should not just fold our arms after attaining this neo- colonial freedom; we should continue the Struggle until it’s complete.”

Former uMkhonto we Sizwe soldier Derrick Letlaila said many MK and Apla soldiers were disillusioned about Freedom Day.

He said he would love to see the youth unemployment rate go down. Most of his comrades were either backyarders or were jailed due to crime.

“I always advise the youth to reignite their fire and dreams for a better South Africa, like the class of 1976, so that we can celebrate Freedom Day when we’ve solved the issue of unemployment and free education – until then there is nothing to celebrate.”

He said while he wouldn’t be participating in any commemorative events this weekend, he would wear his MK regalia to mark the day.

Carl Niehaus, MK Military Veterans Association spokesperson, said the organisation had been inundated with complaints by several former MK and Apla soldiers post-1994. “We are aware of their plight, and we have a standing agreement with some municipalities to improve the lives of former underground movement soldiers. They complain that they’re in dire straits, they can’t take care of themselves and no one is out there to look after them. These people sacrificed their lives. I certainly don’t blame them.”