Imbizo-The Debate: The ANC never had any firing squads Siyanda Mhlongo In a media interview in KwaZulu-Natal, a regional Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) issued a controversial statement that “if it was still the struggle era, Julius Malema would have been killed by the firing squad for the way in which he was rude to the ANC leadership”.
This reckless statement should not go unchallenged for many reasons. Firstly, it distorts the history of the ANC armed wing and ANC itself. While Imbokodo, the ANC security department, violated human rights, the ANC did not have a firing squad or a policy to kill those who differed with the leadership. The rebels who revolted against the leadership in 1984 had to be suppressed violently because they did not want to put down arms. The ANC took the blame for violations of human rights, hence the Motsuenyane Commission. The second reason is the ANC signed the Geneva Convention. Thirdly, the security department was restructured to avoid human rights violations. It has never been a policy of the ANC to use firing squads, even against informers. The ANC even pardoned Dirk Coetzee who, together with Nofomela, killed Griffiths Mxenge. An informer from my birthplace (Groutville) was responsible for the death of Msizeni Maphumulo and the redetention of Dorothy Nyembe but he was not killed by the “firing squad”. Fourthly, there are genuine comrades like Thami Zulu and Ben Langa who were killed because someone labelled them spies in the same way Bulelani Ngcuka was called a spy by Mo Shaik and Mac Maharaj. Mbeki and many of us were insulted on the website of the Friends Of Jacob Zuma Trust, no one from MKMVA made threats that were sent to Malema. Did it mean Zuma should face a firing squad when he called Mbeki a “dead snake”? MKMVA must be reminded that former ANC president Oliver Tambo publicly denounced “necklacing” and the killing of civilians. MKMVA must watch the film on the ANC, Ulibambe Lingashoni, where he speaks about these two issues. Such a position by OR Tambo contradicts what the MKMVA says today. The slaughtering of the truth and construction of falsehood that in the ANC of Oliver Tambo those who were rude to leaders were killed by a “firing squad” are a smokescreen to intimidate Malema who is Zuma’s creation. It reminds me of intimidation by Zulu police and Amabutho during UDF days. It must also be said that the ANC of Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela was never a terrorist organisation. Only terrorist organisations use firing squads. -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
