The February month has significant historical milestones that have contributed to South Africa’s democracy. 11 February marks the 21 Anniversary of the release of Former President, Dr Nelson Mandela, a Nobel Peace Laureate released from the Pollsmoor Prison after spending 27 years incarcerated for fighting for the liberation of South Africa from the shackles of apartheid. Just last week, we were commemorating the 20th anniversary of the unbanning of all political organizations.

Mandela’s struggle for freedom, symbolizes the commitment of the ANC and its Alliance partners to see the masses and generations to come enjoying the benefits of the democratic rule. Mandela’s struggle and others (some of whom are unaccounted for) who died in the midst of the struggle, have laid a foundation that will ensure that South Africa does not slide back into the same situation that we fought against for 40 years. It is therefore not coincidental that this year’s State of the Nation address is delivered on the day when we commemorate the day of his release.

The liberation of the country came through combined efforts of freedom fighters such as Mandela, and a number of martyrs who laid down their lives, driven by the desire to see South Africa freed from the shackles of the monstrous rule, declared by the International community as a crime against humanity. One such martyr is Comrade Portia Shabangu. She was brutally assassinated by the Vlakplaas Security Branch, led by Colonel Eugene de Kok in Swaziland in 1989. Comrade Portia was assassinated along with two other activists from the Free State, Comrade Thabo Mohale and Comrade Mpho Moshoeng in Swaziland. They were lured by the security agents to Swaziland under the pretext that they will be trained by Umkhonto we Sizwe. Today, is their 21st anniversary since their assassination. This information was shared by De Kok during the TRC hearings. (http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/decisions/2001/ac21227a.htm)

At the time of her death, Cde Portia was a committed cadre of the movement. She was a student at Mgwenya College of Education. Before that, she worked as a teacher at Khaliphani Secondary School at Kanyamazane. Her former students, describe her as a passionate person, and one of the best teachers to have come out of the school. They describe her as a teacher who was passionate about her work, and always willing to walk an extra mile to help the black child to succeed. Her only surviving daughter is Marcia Khoza-Mkwanazi.

Cde Portia has been honoured for her sterling role in the fight against apartheid. Two streets, one in Hazyview and one at Kanyamazane, have been renamed after her. Her name also appears in the Cenotaph which was build at Matsulu, aimed at recognizing the role of struggle heroes. Her legacy in the struggle is to be imprinted in the history of the country with the imminent establishment of a Foundation to be named after her. The foundation will amongst other things:

• Promote Peace, Justice and Reconcilliation,

• Reconstruct, Develop and contribute to the betterment of lives of people.

• Promote dialogue and public discourse on topical issues of National and International interest with the view to prevent the country and the world from sliding back to similar apartheid political environment of any magnitude to the Nazi era, Hutu/Tutsi conflict and similar conflicts in the world.

The foundation will roll out some of the following programmes:

• Memorial Lecture

• Leadership Academy as a training institution for the youth, with the view to produce future leaders and the think-tank of Mpumalanga.

• Human Resource Development, through mobilization of resources in the form of Bursaries, Internships and Sponsorships to assist the families in similar circumstances

• Perform rituals on site, where the killing of the three victims took place.

Her 21st anniversary coincides with the fierce debate currently taking place in the country, about whether President Zuma should pardon De Kok for the crimes he committed in the past.

His hands have bloodstains, considering the reign of terror which he instituted against people like Cde Portia. It will be interesting to see how President Zuma will deal with the matter. The best we can do is to honour Cde Portia for her contribution in the struggle for the freedom of the country.

The Foundation is still work in progress. The authors of the article are: Mr Godrich Gardee and Mr George Mthethwa.