Daughter’s relief as father’s remains return
After 54years of not knowing her father’s whereabouts, Nomhle Mjo now breathes a sigh of relief knowing that his remains are back in the Eastern Cape and in her possession.
Mjo is the daughter of PAC struggle veteran and Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla) combatant Vuyani Ndinisa, whose remains arrived in the country on Thursday night after being exhumed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sports, recreation, arts and culture MEC Bulelwa Tunyiswa led the repatriation process.
On Friday, the department held a ceremony at the East London Airport cargo area, welcoming the remains.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on the sidelines of the ceremony, Mjo, who was visibly emotional, said she had never met her father, and when his remains were exhumed it was like she was “meeting him for the first time”.
“I only know him from pictures. I’ve never met him. I was told when I was young that my father went to exile, but no one knew exactly which country.
“When I was about eight years old I was told he might be in Liberia, but later heard that he might be in Maseru and he has a new family,” she said.
“All of this had a bad effect on my mother’s health. As a result my mother died of depression.”
Mjo, who grew up in Mdantsane and was raised by her mother, said a law enforcement official relative assisted in tracking her father’s whereabouts from 2014.
“He managed to track down a PAC veteran that lives in Duncan Village. The veteran gave us details of another veteran from Pretoria that knew my father. The veteran told us he has been looking for us as he knew where my father’s remains were, as they were deployed by the PAC together,” she said.
Ndinisa left the country in the 1960s as part of a PAC delegation to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and was later redeployed to the DRC to assist in the training of Angolan guerillas.
Delivering a message of support, PAC veteran and national executive committee member Zamikhaya Gxabe said the return of Ndinisa’s remains brought back many memories.
“There is nothing as painful as losing a father, son, husband and a breadwinner. Some may not understand the seriousness of leaving your home and going to exile.
“It’s a very difficult decision, and Ndinisa was among the first people to go to exile,” he said.
Also attending the ceremony was PAC president Mzwanele Nyhontso, Amathole District Municipality mayor Nomfusi Nxawe, MPL Nonceba Kotsiwe and BCM councillor Mzwandile Vaiboom, among others...
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.
This article is reserved for DispatchLIVE subscribers.
Get access to ALL DispatchLIVE content from only R49.00 per month.
Already subscribed? Simply sign in below.
Already registered on HeraldLIVE, BusinessLIVE, TimesLIVE or SowetanLIVE? Sign in with the same details.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@dispatchlive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.