EXECUTIVE MAYOR’S SPEECH FOR THE
LIBERATION HERITAGE BOOKLET LAUNCH 24 MAY
2013
Program Director
Portfolio Chairperson – Councillor Magopeni
Mayoral Committee Members Present
Councillors
CEO of the National Heritage Council – Advocate Mancotywa
Acting Executive Director – Mr Anele Qaba
Municipal Officials
Distinguished Guests
Comrades
Members of the Media
This event reminds me of memories of our struggle in the 50s in this area
when we were united to defeat the apartheid regime. It is here where we
launched the people’s program the defiance campaign, the Mandela Plan
to establish grassroots participation structures and the volunteer program.
The volunteers of our movement such as the late Comrade Nangoza Jebe
were instrumental in speaking to the masses of the people to make a
difference in their lives through joining the people’s glorious movement, the
African National Congress.
The establishment of the Red Location Museum was not an accident. It
was meant for us, the people of Nelson Mandela Bay to recognize where
we come from, to tell the history and the past atrocities by the apartheid
colonial government. People of our country fought for our liberation ever
since we were invaded in 1652. The founding of the ANC in 1912 was a
culmination of efforts to build a united front against the forces of darkness
led by the apartheid colonial regime. Some of the critical components of
that history are now written and available.
It was out of such heroic struggles and selfless contributions that the ANC
recognized the area of Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape in general as
the heartland of the freedom struggle and the political home of the African
National Congress. That reality is informed by the fact that the largest
number of heroes and heroines who have made a significant contribution in
the struggle came from this area. Many plans that were meant to change
the lives of the people for the better were developed in this area. Hence it is
no exaggeration to say that many cadres of our glorious people’s army,
uMkhonto weSizwe, came from the Eastern Cape and Nelson Mandela Bay
in particular. This is the City that developed the concept of Amabutho,
revolutionaries who were meant to take forward the struggle through
various means that included amongst others mobilisation for bus boycotts,
business boycotts and stay aways.
When we meet here today we need to recognize the contribution made by
many stalwarts of our movement who fought for us to be able to realize the
dreams of the Freedom Charter. When people met as the Congress of the
People in Kliptown in 1955, they reflected as follows:
“We the people of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to
know; that
 South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no
government can justly claim the authority unless it is based on the will
of the people,
 Our people have been robbed of their birthright to land, liberty and
peace by a form of government founded on injustice and inequality,
 That our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people
live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities,
 Only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can
secure to all their birthright without distinction of color, race, sex or
belief,
 And therefore , we the people of South Africa, black and white
together equals, countrymen and brothers adopt this Freedom
Charter,
 And we pledge ourselves to strive together, sparing neither strength
nor courage, until the democratic changes here set out have been
won.
Ladies and gentlemen these words continue to bring memories of what our
dearest heroes and heroines have done for our country. These men and
women fought for us to change our society for the better. Today, we are
here to say, “yes indeed as people of Nelson Mandela Bay we have made
a difference, this heritage route booklet launch bear testimony to that. We
have started to write a book about the history of the struggle of Nelson
Mandela Bay. This initiative will be reinforced with what we have done.
Nelson Mandela Bay has always been the centre of the struggles that were
waged to defeat the apartheid colonial regime. This Region suffered the
most repression and suppression; as a result it has produced many gallant
fighters, heroes and heroines that made Apartheid South Africa
ungovernable and apartheid unworkable.
When we launch this booklet we should remember the contribution made
by the heroes and heroines amongst others Dr Jongwe, Mbeki, Mhlaba,
Baardt, Matomela, Tshaka, Mabhuda, Damons, Thole, Jebe, Mkhalipi,
Mayekiso, Jinta, Tshume, Kayingo, Mini, Jonas, Mpentse, Mdlankomo,
Nqini, Mabhala, Malgas, Cosas 2 and Pebco 3, Kobese and many other
heroes and heroines.
The Liberation Heritage Route Booklet presents an opportunity for the city
to be recognized for its efforts in the struggle for peace, freedom and
democracy. This booklet also educates the communities and the youth
known as the born frees to understand and appreciate the political
milestones of the Metro. The City calls on the domestic and international
tourists to visit the heritage sites that form part of the Liberation Heritage
Route. A lot more is coming. I urge the hunted to tell their own stories. The
platform is available to them. Our history is our wealth. Through the
process of highlighting our history, more employment opportunities must be
created to boost the economy of the region in our continued efforts to break
the shackles of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
I urge the communities of Nelson Mandela Bay to own, appreciate and
embrace the heritage sites that seek to commemorate, respect and
appreciate the political battles for the realization of a democratic South
Africa. The Metro is committed in rewriting its own history that will feed into
the Eastern Cape Provincial and South African Liberation Heritage Routes.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Liberation Heritage Route Booklet is now
officially launched.
THANK YOU
Nkosinathi Benson Fihla
Executive Mayor
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality