A World War 2 veteran- turned-policeman, who is quietly enjoying retirement in a Flagstaff village, called for unity during his 98th birthday celebration yesterday.The face of Herbert Thandaphi Mhlomi glows when he shares memories of his days as an instructor in the South African military, which he joined in 1941.
After WW2 ended in 1945 he was a policeman for 29 years.
Mhlomi still dons his vintage green military gear now and then, and keeps an album full of snaps from his days of service.
He said he was assigned to train new recruits into the army, who later fought alongside colonial-era British forces in many wars around the world.
“As an instructor I taught the new soldiers what to expect in a war. I had to polish them before deployment. It was a difficult time – whites did not attach any value to a black person,” he said.
As a soldier, he was deployed to various army bases around South Africa, including Mthatha, Bloemfontein and Durban, where he trained hundreds of soldiers.
When he left the army in 1945 and joined the SAPF he was exposed to apartheid segregation.
Black police officers were not allowed to sit in a chair and had stand for their entire eight-hour daily shift.
“I was lucky – or unlucky – to work in an office. In order to get rest I had to lie and say ‘ek wil bietjie gaan k*k’. I would then go to the toilet and sit there to smoke my pipe,” he chuckled.
Now the father of four children, 25 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, he soon got into trouble with his bosses after staging a one-man protest against high prices in a local Pietermaritzburg store in the early 1960s.
“I was labelled a communist for asking why goods were priced the same for blacks and whites when blacks had nothing. I won the case,” he said.
It was during that time he met former president Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo as lawyers.
Mhlomi enjoys a daily diet of samp and potatoes and thanks God for his longevity.
He has helped to build three schools, food gardens and a sportsfield in Sigubudwini village – yet he has not been honoured by the government.
South Africa’s ambassador to Lesotho Harris Majeke, who joined in the celebrations yesterday, described Mhlomi as an unsung hero who helped to shape South Africa into today’s democracy. “We are here to pronounce him as one the many unsung heroes, who have done a lot for our liberation struggle.”
More than 200 members of the AmaBhele clan, who travelled from across the country to join the celebrations, gathered in a large tent.
Officials from social development, education and agriculture departments sang his praises at the event. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Unsung vet urges unity
The face of Herbert Thandaphi Mhlomi glows when he shares memories of his days as an instructor in the South African military, which he joined in 1941.
After WW2 ended in 1945 he was a policeman for 29 years.
Mhlomi still dons his vintage green military gear now and then, and keeps an album full of snaps from his days of service.
He said he was assigned to train new recruits into the army, who later fought alongside colonial-era British forces in many wars around the world.
“As an instructor I taught the new soldiers what to expect in a war. I had to polish them before deployment. It was a difficult time – whites did not attach any value to a black person,” he said.
As a soldier, he was deployed to various army bases around South Africa, including Mthatha, Bloemfontein and Durban, where he trained hundreds of soldiers.
When he left the army in 1945 and joined the SAPF he was exposed to apartheid segregation.
Black police officers were not allowed to sit in a chair and had stand for their entire eight-hour daily shift.
“I was lucky – or unlucky – to work in an office. In order to get rest I had to lie and say ‘ek wil bietjie gaan k*k’. I would then go to the toilet and sit there to smoke my pipe,” he chuckled.
Now the father of four children, 25 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, he soon got into trouble with his bosses after staging a one-man protest against high prices in a local Pietermaritzburg store in the early 1960s.
“I was labelled a communist for asking why goods were priced the same for blacks and whites when blacks had nothing. I won the case,” he said.
It was during that time he met former president Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo as lawyers.
Mhlomi enjoys a daily diet of samp and potatoes and thanks God for his longevity.
He has helped to build three schools, food gardens and a sportsfield in Sigubudwini village – yet he has not been honoured by the government.
South Africa’s ambassador to Lesotho Harris Majeke, who joined in the celebrations yesterday, described Mhlomi as an unsung hero who helped to shape South Africa into today’s democracy. “We are here to pronounce him as one the many unsung heroes, who have done a lot for our liberation struggle.”
More than 200 members of the AmaBhele clan, who travelled from across the country to join the celebrations, gathered in a large tent.
Officials from social development, education and agriculture departments sang his praises at the event. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos