"Kubuhlungu sekulusizi masishiywa ngamaqhawe esithembele kuwo, sithembe inkululeko, hamba kahle soldier lenguquko hamba kahle soldier lomkhonto" goes a song in memory of the fallen heroes at the Matola Raid in Mozambique. I feel it befits this tribute to my friend, comrade and fellow soldier Sipho Kolisi.
"Kubuhlungu sekulusizi masishiywa ngamaqhawe esithembele kuwo, sithembe inkululeko, hamba kahle soldier lenguquko hamba kahle soldier lomkhonto" goes a song in memory of the fallen heroes at the Matola Raid in Mozambique. I feel it befits this tribute to my friend, comrade and fellow soldier Sipho Kolisi.
It is said that traditionally and culturally or maybe because norms dictated upon us by society, that it is a sign of weakness for a man to cry.
But please allow me to indulge in this “weakness”, for when I received the news that the NPA had informed the Kolisi family that they had to exhume the remains thought to be those of Sipho “Sky” Kolisi and repatriate them back to Pretoria for those thought to be the correct ones.
I could not help but shed a tear as I recalled Sipho’s father's words when we re-buried what we thought were Sipho's remains.
He was steadfast and resolute that those remains were not of his son and that he would not rest until he buried his son.
You would now forgive the sceptic in me on the science of DNA, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth.
Secondly these are tears of joy as I reminisce about a dear friend, friend, comrade and a death defying soldier of uMkhonto Wesizwe.
SIPHO THE STUDENT LEADER
Nstika, Nombulelo and Nathaniel Nyaluza has not been and will never be the same since the activities of the then Congress of South African Students (Cosas) during the 1980s.
Here was a silent giant of our struggle being born.
I recall that a few of us those days had the luxury of having rooms in the backyards of their homes, one of whom was Sky, whose room was dubbed "Moscos".
This is where many political discussions and decisions were taken.
We would spend hours in “Moscow” preparing for our political discussions with our Azapo and Azasm counterparts on matters of National Revolution.
Phila Nkayi would be amongst us to give guidance.
We would alternate the venues for security reasons with Lindile Bavuma’s room in “P” Street.
Compatriots, it would be unfair whilst reminiscing about Sipho to not recognize and acknowledge post- humously his fellow comrades and friends.
I salute Tembinkosi “Terror" Mankayi, Vuyo “Vista” Kulati, and lest we forget Tata Billy Ndwebisa, our former GRACA veteran.
At this juncture I would also like to acknowledge and thank the St Paul's College of Theology for taking a very bold stand when it was not favorable and popular to be associated with “trouble makers”, but harbored us none the less.
It was at this institution where the decision to leave the country and join the ranks of the people’s army was taken.
I have referred to “Sky” as a silent giant, though he was of course a soldier of action rather than words.
I and other former members of the leadership of Cosas that I have spoken to, to name but a few, Pamella Yako; Nomfundiso Kulati; Mzimasi “Taroki” Ncapayi; Mzwandile “Tswayi” Poswa; Lindile Bavuma; Teach Landu (Doctor); Luntu Neer (Mdana); Ndumiso Madinda and Potose Lesoro dip our banner in salute of this fallen soldier.
I refer to Sipho as a soldier of unquestionable loyalty as he befits that honour.
May we ask ourselves how many of us today may wear that hat with pride?
Sipho’s reburial – with all the honour he deserves – comes at a time when our movement is confronted by challenges that include opportunism, greed, corruption and acts of character assassination.
These manifest themselves in various forms.
[For example, ] those not elected in positions of leadership within the ANC go and contest or “revive” other structures within the alliance.
[They use] Sanco, SACP or Cosatu, in order to oppose the democratically elected leadership of the ANC.
This is not done in principle and is not focused on… advancing progress and delivery to the people, which is our core business.
I dare say that Sipho would not have been party to these formations that are in essence anti-ANC, as he knew from the beginning what collective leadership and collective decision making processes were.
I had the honor and privilege to serve with Sipho in both Cosas and uMkhonto Wesizwe.
On both occasions he never disappointed, hence the call up to infiltrate the country that led to the ambush where he and his fellow comrades fell.
I remember Sipho as a voice of reason.
During the boycotts led by Cosas, we would have discussions with comrades from the then-GRACA, led by Dan Sandi and the Youth Congress led by Chris Mbekela.
We discussed the use of school boycotts as a strategy.
These discussions would be heated and tempers would flare, though outside of meetings we would still be comrades and show a united front, abiding by any decision that was taken and agreed upon by the collective.
In essence it was never personal.
Today it seems like a crime to disagree with a comrade in a meeting.
It is safe to say you can expect retribution that may result in you being recalled if you are a deployee or suffer the consequences if you have business interests.
I ask the question: what would Sipho and other cadres of this glorious movement say to this state of affairs that has engulfed us, were they alive?
I re-iterate that Sipho was a cadre of unquestionable loyalty, for when the clarion call was made by our then Commander-in-Chief O.R Tambo (Long Live the Spirit of O.R) for the young lions to roar and render this country ungovernable and the system unworkable, he answered that call and took the order as a soldier.
Sipho Kolisi, I salute you, for today I am a better man, still a soldier and a committed member of the ANC.
Because of you, I now know what a cadre of unquestionable loyalty is and should be.
You have given me the strength and resolve to be a better member of the ANC of Duma Nokwe; Chris Hani; Joe Modise; Joe Slovo; Alfred Nzo; Alex Laguma; Stanley Mabizela and many of our fallen heroes who never wavered.
Because of you, I am a member that will not lie, gossip and rumor-monger in order to be elected or deployed to a position so that I may have access to resources for my personal gains.
Please rest assured that those of us who served with you shall never disappoint nor betray you and the rest of the comrades we served with. This is my solemn vow.
Uyadela wena usolapho, Lala Ngoxolo Qabane, Lala Ngoxolo Soldier
Hamaba Kahle Mkhonto
Amandla
In my personal capacity
Tony Yaka (Former Chairperson of Cosas) aka Godfrey Mlangeni
