UMKHONTO WE SIZWE IS A TRADEMARK OF THE ANC,” INSITS MBALULA

Leaders of ANC NEC, family of the late Solomon Mahlangu and members photos supplied

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalua insisted that the name “Umkhonto We Sizwe” is a trademark of the ANC and that the ANC is still engaged in a court process to reclaim the name.

Currently the name Umkhonto We Sizwe is used by Jacob Zuma’s party.

Mbalula was speaking at the commemoration service of the late ANC and Umkhonto We Sizwe operative Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu held at the Mamelodi West cemetery.

Mahlangu was hanged at the Pretoria Central Prison (now known as Kgoshi Mampuru Correctional Centre)by the apartheid regime on 6 April 1979.

He was only 22 years old and though he didn’t shoot anyone, he was convicted of murder based on the “common purpose rule.”

“Our freedom was not free and Solomon Mahlangu did not commit any crime yet he and many other freedom fighters were murdered by the brutal apartheid regime,” said Mbalula.

He said then ANC leader Oliver Tambo campaigned all over the world to stop the apartheid regime from hanging Mahlangu but his efforts were ignored by the apartheid regime which eventually hanged
Mahlangu.

“We are gathered here Comrades to remind ourselves that the struggle continues and Solomon Mahlangu today speaks to us from his grave and reminds us not to give up the struggle for economic freedom, and we are transforming this economy,” he said.

Mbalula admitted that support for the ANC regarding votes has dropped significantly and that “this is not the time to spew insurrectionary phrase mongering but this is the time to walk the talk and anything that entails stealing and corruption is not revolutionary and must therefore be defeated,” said Mbalula as he in the process called for the downfall of all thieves in the ANC.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading a difficult struggle and that struggle is to make sure that our people enjoy their freedom in a democratic South Africa and the youth get employed, and we have been able to fight the struggle of solidarity with the people of Palestine and we have been isolated and subjected to aggression on a daily basis by the United States of America,” he said.

“President Ramaphosa went to the USA and they played him a movie there, but still we remain resilient and determined to protect South Africa’s sovereignty and Solomon Mahlangu stood for South Africa even when he was in the gallows by stating that his blood shall nourish the tree of liberty,” said Mbalula.

“Nelson Mandela stood in the dock and declared that he has fought against white domination as well as black domination while facing the possibility of being sent to the gallows,” said Mbalula.

Mbalula said people like Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Walter Sisulu, Elias Motsoaledi, Govan Mbeki, Andrew Mlangeni and Solomn Mahlangu never sold out the revolution.

“We must pursue a national democratic revolution in our lifetime with discipline, resilience and determination,” he said.

“We must be truthful to our people and by supporting the ANC it shows that you believe it is the right vehicle to liberate our people, because the struggle is not over as there are people who are more determined than ever before to take this country backwards,” warned Mbalula.

“When people see you wearing an ANC T-Shirt they must know that you are the person to whom they can bring their problems for possible solution and I want to thank ANC Secretary George Matjila and ANC chairperson Bonzo Modise for having organised the commemoration service,” he said.

“There is no organisation that does not have problems and the late Oliver Tambo once pointed out that the person who can kill the ANC is not yet born; that it is only the ANC which can kill itself and nobody else,” enthused Mbalula.

He said the ANC must do away with factionalism within its ranks and that it must sort out its problems before facing the public.

“People are not interested in your internal fights but are interested in what you are doing or saying to change their lives for the better,” he said.

Mbalula said Solomon Mahlangu did not defy the apartheid regime so that people must play with freedom and that freedom must be protected and the struggle must be intensified.

“The ANC will win Tshwane outright in the forthcoming local government elections and we must ignore our detractors,” he said.

“We are asking everyone who has suggestions regarding Mayoral candidates and Councillors in Joburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane to come forward and present their suggestions to the ANC and in May we will duly announce those candidates,” he said.

He said Councillors who have performed their duties well must be retained and not discarded.