Executive Mayor Benson Fihla recounted moments with his comrades at a special Memorial Service for the late Dr Nelson Mandela for employees of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality today.
“Today is indeed an historic occasion, as we honour Nelson Mandela on the Vuyisile Mini Square, a place named after another brave comrade. We must give serious consideration to the fact that this square does not have anything to make it identifiable with Vuyisile Mini. Be that as it may, I was initially charged with Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Kayingo and Mkhaba, as I was linked by the Security Police due to my interaction with Kayingo.
“This was later changed and I was charged separately. We received different sentences and I was sentenced for a jail term on Robben Island. Vuyisile Mini, Kayingo and Mkhaba were not so lucky. They were sentenced to death.
“I remember being placed in a single cell opposite Vuyisile Mini in the North End Prison (it was known as Rooi Hel back then) and it was torture because I did not know what to say to them.
“We could still go to jail and still be released, but for them it was death. This was pure torture for me. When we were moved to Robben Island, it was very difficult to say good bye. We knew that we will never see them again.
“I was told that when they were taken to Pretoria they kept on singing. We were later told that when the singing stopped, there was a dead silence as they were no more.
“The price that these comrades paid was in blood. I remember leading Comrade Nelson Mandela on to the stage in Motherwell in 1990. That area is now known as the Nelson Mandela Peace Park. It was the first time that he came to the Eastern Cape after his release from prison. I was the ANC Chairperson of the Eastern Province. It was a big occasion. More than 500 000 people came to listen to Nelson Mandela.
“Today we are here to remember what he did for our country and the great example he was as the leader of the liberation movement. We must make this municipality work as it carries the name of the Father of our Nation. He was the first Commander-in-Chief of Umkhonto We Sizwe, the spear of our nation, and led with discipline which he instilled in those who served under him.
“I would like to encourage you to fill the stadium tomorrow at the Memorial Service and that we will be disciplined. All the public mourning areas must be filled on Sunday so that we can say farewell to a great man in a dignified way,” he said.
The Memorial Service for Dr Nelson Mandela starts at 9am with a musical tribute until 11am, followed by the formal programme of the day. Dr Zweli Mkize, Treasurer General of the ANC, will be delivering the keynote address.
The full statement of Executive Mayor Benson Fihla appears below:
I am sure that you are all aware that we are standing here on an historic day. A day before the Eastern Cape Memorial Service for Comrade Nelson Mandela at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Days before his body will be finally laid to rest in Qunu. A day that the whole world will be looking at us as a nation. I am sure that they are surprised that we are not united even though many people gave their lives for our freedom. They will be surprised that inequality and poverty is still widespread and the current, democratic government is unfairly blamed for this. Our example of reconciliation will be mentioned continuously. The sacrifices of our leader Nelson Mandela and his comrades will be repeated over and over again. And so it should be, as we live in a country that amazed the world. However, when the funeral service will be over on Sunday and the final heap of sand will be leveled on the grave of the greatest leader of our struggle, the eyes of the world will move and focus on something else. The example of this great leader will hopefully stay with us and when we see his name on our computer screens and tell people that we work at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, it must fill us with pride and energy to do better every single day. We should be inspired to work for the betterment of society and not just when we want to create a media opportunity.
Today is indeed an historic occasion, as we honour Nelson Mandela on the Vuyisile Mini Square, a place named after another brave comrade. We must give serious consideration to the fact that this square does not have anything to make it identifiable with Vuyisile Mini. I was initially charged with Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Kayingo and Mkhaba, as I was linked by the Security Police due to my interaction with Kayingo. This was later changed and I was later charged separately. We received different sentences and I was sentenced for a jail term on Robben Island. Vuyisile Mini, Kayingo and Mkhaba were not so lucky.
They were sentenced to death. I remember being placed in a single cell opposite Vuyisile Mini in the North End Prison (it was known as Rooi Hel back then)and it was torture because I did not know what to say to them. We could still go to jail and still be released, but for them it was death. This was pure torture for me. When we were moved to Robben Island, it was very difficult to say good bye. We knew that we will never see them again.
I was told that when they were taken to Pretoria they kept on singing. We were later told that when the singing stopped, there was a dead silence as they were no more.
The price that these comrades paid was in blood. I remember leading Comrade Nelson Mandela on to the stage in Motherwell in 1990. That area is now known as the Nelson Mandela Peace Park. It was the first time that he came to the Eastern Cape after his release from prison. I was the ANC Chairperson of the Eastern Province. It was a big occasion. More than 500 000 people came to listen to Nelson Mandela.
Today we are here to remember what he did for our country and the great example he was as the leader of the liberation movement. We must make this municipality work as it carries the name of the Father of our Nation. He was the first Commander-in-Chief of Umkhonto We Sizwe, the spear of our nation, and led with discipline which he instilled in those who served under him.
I would like to encourage you to fill the stadium tomorrow at the Memorial Service and that we will be disciplined. All the public mourning areas must be filled on Sunday so that we can say farewell to a great man in a dignified way.
I thank you.
Amandla!
Nkosinathi Benson Fihla
Executive Mayor
NMB Communications
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