Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa described the walk he took yesterday between King William’s Town and Bhisho as “a very sad and painful memory lane”.
An emotional Ramaphosa had walked the same stretch of road 23 years ago when he and other prominent ANC leaders led a march of more than 80000 people to the provincial capital in 1992.
This was just moments before the Ciskei military regime led by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo, whom Ramaphosa described as a Bantustan puppet, killed 28 marchers on September 7 of that year. A soldier was also killed and more than 200 were injured.
Unlike the 1992 march, the number who joined yesterday’s march and festivities was just over 1000.
On arrival yesterday, Ramaphosa met ANC leaders and families of those who had perished.
The families told him first-hand about challenges after their loved ones, including breadwinners, were gunned down.
He later joined the march from Victoria Grounds to Bhisho Stadium. It was part of a re-enactment of the 1992 march which followed the same route moments before the massacre.
Yesterday, there was a wreath laying ceremony at Ginsberg cemetery, where some of the victims were buried, led by premier Phumulo Masualle.
Ramaphosa later told the crowd at Bhisho Stadium that if it were not for two ANC “cadres” who used their bodies as human shields to protect him from the hail of more than 425 bullets fired by Ciskei soldiers on that fateful day, “I believe something terrible could have happened to me, too”.
“That was one of the most saddest and scary moments of my life and I will forever be grateful to those who dived on top of me, risking their lives just to protect me. That was the day when the sun set at midday. It was such a terrible experience. In the aftermath, we were all shocked and outraged by the senseless killing of so many,” he recalled.
Ramaphosa, who is also ANC deputy president, said those who died “were gallant citizens who sacrificed their lives and died for this collective freedom”.
“Through their blood they have nurtured the tree that brought about this freedom and we bow our heads in sadness when we remember them. We say their sacrifices should not be in vain. We should commit to completing the march they started and to achieve the ideals they fought for.
“Today we have our freedom and it is largely due to their supreme sacrifices.”
The deputy president later committed on behalf of government to assist families of those who died.
Boyce Nqono, who was shot in the chest on the day in 1992 and who spoke yesterday on behalf of all the victims’ families, said government needed to come on board and assist those who had lost breadwinners.
Nqono said he had lost full use of his right arm as a result of the shooting and was now struggling to find decent work and support his five children.
He said some of the families’ challenges included lack of medical care for survivors and lack of housing, employment opportunities and funds to send children to school. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Sad walk down memory lane
An emotional Ramaphosa had walked the same stretch of road 23 years ago when he and other prominent ANC leaders led a march of more than 80000 people to the provincial capital in 1992.
This was just moments before the Ciskei military regime led by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo, whom Ramaphosa described as a Bantustan puppet, killed 28 marchers on September 7 of that year. A soldier was also killed and more than 200 were injured.
Unlike the 1992 march, the number who joined yesterday’s march and festivities was just over 1000.
On arrival yesterday, Ramaphosa met ANC leaders and families of those who had perished.
The families told him first-hand about challenges after their loved ones, including breadwinners, were gunned down.
He later joined the march from Victoria Grounds to Bhisho Stadium. It was part of a re-enactment of the 1992 march which followed the same route moments before the massacre.
Yesterday, there was a wreath laying ceremony at Ginsberg cemetery, where some of the victims were buried, led by premier Phumulo Masualle.
Ramaphosa later told the crowd at Bhisho Stadium that if it were not for two ANC “cadres” who used their bodies as human shields to protect him from the hail of more than 425 bullets fired by Ciskei soldiers on that fateful day, “I believe something terrible could have happened to me, too”.
“That was one of the most saddest and scary moments of my life and I will forever be grateful to those who dived on top of me, risking their lives just to protect me. That was the day when the sun set at midday. It was such a terrible experience. In the aftermath, we were all shocked and outraged by the senseless killing of so many,” he recalled.
Ramaphosa, who is also ANC deputy president, said those who died “were gallant citizens who sacrificed their lives and died for this collective freedom”.
“Through their blood they have nurtured the tree that brought about this freedom and we bow our heads in sadness when we remember them. We say their sacrifices should not be in vain. We should commit to completing the march they started and to achieve the ideals they fought for.
“Today we have our freedom and it is largely due to their supreme sacrifices.”
The deputy president later committed on behalf of government to assist families of those who died.
Boyce Nqono, who was shot in the chest on the day in 1992 and who spoke yesterday on behalf of all the victims’ families, said government needed to come on board and assist those who had lost breadwinners.
Nqono said he had lost full use of his right arm as a result of the shooting and was now struggling to find decent work and support his five children.
He said some of the families’ challenges included lack of medical care for survivors and lack of housing, employment opportunities and funds to send children to school. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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