Mbalula praises African countries’ support during apartheid

The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula has hailed the role played by African countries during the apartheid era.

During the draconian regime, many African nations opened their doors to South African freedom fighters, providing safe havens, training, and support.

Mbalula thanks these frontline states for their unwavering commitment to the liberation of South Africa and Africa as a whole.

He was addressing families and dignitaries during the ceremony following the repatriation of over 40 South Africans who died in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

“Indeed, many of our comrades went into exile so they could contribute in different ways to the liberation of our country. We remain grateful to the many nations of the world who embraced our people, supported our struggle, trained our people and provided our movement with the much-needed resources to wage our struggle in different terrains. The role of the frontline states who stood as a bulwark against the aggression of the apartheid state gave our struggle momentum and rallied the continent and the world behind our struggle.”

Repatriation Homecoming Ceremony | Secretary-General of ANC Fikile Mbalula

‘Repatriation process to continue’

The Arts and Culture Deputy Director-General Vusithemba Ndima has assured South Africans that the government will soon start the repatriation of citizens’ remains from other parts of Africa.

Countries such as  Tanzania and Angola were also at the forefront of assisting South African liberation movements. Tanzania provided facilities for liberation movements – such as the ANC, the PAC, ZAPU and FRELIMO – and allowed them to operate from its soil.

The Tanzanian government also allowed the organisations to use Radio Tanzania to broadcast messages to their respective countries.

Ndima says the government was determined to continue the repatriation process.

“Immediately after this project, we just have to look at the lessons learnt out of this first repatriation process and of course, a lot of research is required because even the work that you see today. This is a result of very good research that was done by the missing persons’ task team. They started doing research, of course working with our South African Heritage research agency, going to these countries; working with families; identifying graves, and doing all sorts of research so that’s the kind of work that goes into this. This is the work that we’re going to be doing now – maybe for Tanzania, for Angola and any other country. Research first.”

ANC’s Nocawe Mafu reflects on the return of SA freedom fighters’ mortal remains