The first premier of the Free State, Mosiuoa Lekota. The writer recalls his leadership in conflict-affected communities across the then-Natal province, his later deployment to rebuild ANC structures in the Free State, and his eventual role in national politics, including his move from Free State premier to Parliament following the creation of the National Council of Provinces.
Image: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Newspapers.
The consequences of the unbanning of the ANC and the subsequent release of Nelson Mandela in the month of February 1990 were dire and twofold in the then Natal province.
It exposed which areas and people were identical with the liberation movement and thus a threat to the status quo, especially a one-party KwaZulu bantustan, a surrogate of the apartheid regime manned by securocrats and others based in Vlakplaas.
The release of Nelson Mandela led to widespread internecine violence in the then Natal driven by the third force, which coded it as black-on-black violence to hide the Pretoria apartheid regime's role in arming and training Inkatha warlords and impis to wipe out anything associated with the struggle for freedom.
As a result, sporadic no-go areas, refugees, political killings, destroying to the ground and setting on fire households and livestock, especially in the rural areas and other townships, were the order of the day.
Amakhosi were compelled by Ulundi-based KwaZulu bantustan in cahoots with Inkatha to wipe out any remnants of comrades in their areas.
Xhamela (Walter Sisulu), leader of the ANC National Internal Leadership Core, appointed comrades Lekota as Convenor; Sbu Ndebele as Secretary; Dr Diliza Mji as Treasurer and their collective as the first ANC Southern Natal Region under such complex conditions to rebuild the ANC and branches in the country.
A fearless comrade, Terror, was visible in violent, strife-torn areas such as the Lower South Coast, Ndwedwe, KwaMakhutha, and Hammarsdale/Mpumalanga whilst other leaders focused on rebuilding the ANC in relatively peaceful areas.
He was constantly in contact with local leaders such as George Mbhele, Ray Nkonyeni, and Cyril Shezi in the lower south coast; Prince Cyril Zulu and Prince Mcwayizeni Zulu, who was mainly at Wema hostel as one of his hideouts against bantustan tyranny; Noel Nsele; Dumisani Mabizela; Shangase at Wosiyana; Mabaso at Osindisweni; Million Meyiwa; Gizenga Mpanza; and others.
Scores of mourners attended the memorial service of Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, who was laid to rest on Saturday in his hometown of Bloemfontein. Lekota was active in the ANC during the turbulent 1980s and 1990s, including in the then violence-plagued Natal province. He later became a co-founder of the Congress of the People (Cope), an ANC breakaway party. He was honoured with a special official funeral category 2 with the national flag flying at half-mast.
Image: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Newspapers
As JWC (Joint Working Committee) of the UDF/MDM and COSATU and subsequent to the unbanning of the liberation movement and subsidiary formations, it was reconfigured into the ANC-led Alliance JWC, responsible for monitoring violence, creating peace structures and a strategic forum on the ANC-led peace process. Hence, JWC provided ANC with data of contacts across the province.
Within 5 months, ANC Southern Natal had branches across the then region and held a successful conference. It was no coincidence that the theme of the inaugural conference was, “The demon of tribalism must be buried.”
It was two-fold, confronted with tribal and regional party Inkatha and, as a result, confronted with remnants of tribalism within our society which needed to be eradicated in all its manifestations.
Ironically, within a few days after this regional conference, Xhamela deployed Terror to rebuild the ANC in the Free State Region. In less than 12 months, he led the re-establishment of ANC branches across two regions and participated fully in the ANC National Consultative Conference in Nasrec, Gauteng, in December 1990.
It was a watershed consultative conference that laid the basis for a historic first national conference in July 1991 at the then University of Durban-Westville. ANC Northern Natal (now Musa Dladla, Mzala Nxumalo and Nokuhamba Nyawo regions) had only 3 branches attending the Consultative Conference and only 10 branches at the National Conference the following year. Hence, it had conference observer status.
Fast forward. I was assigned by the ANC Department of Information and Publicity at the Shell House headquarters to organise and share a press conference by Madiba at the Kings House, now Dr JL Dube House, in Durban in 1996, where Madiba announced Lekota’s deployment to a new house in Parliament dictated by the enactment of the Constitution to dissolve the Senate and create the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
He was flown from Bloemfontein, where he was the Premier of the Free State, to Durban, unaware of what this emergency meeting with Madiba was all about.
That briefing took almost an hour before Madiba addressed the media to break the news. Ironically, he complied despite the fact that it was undisputed who was causing havoc in the Free State, both in the organisation and government. There was no media leak on the objectives of this presser.
ANC leadership had organisational discipline.
Fare the well comrade Terror!
(Ndhlela is a member of the ANC. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune or IOL)
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Mlungisi Ndhlela a member of the African National Congress
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