Martyrs' family urge improved services

MILITARY veterans in Nelson Mandela Bay were told at the weekend to defend hard-fought democracy and to back the ANC in honour of slain antiapartheid activists.

The message was delivered at the first Nomkhosi Mini Memorial Lecture by Human Settlements Deputy Minister Zou Kota Fredericks, deputy mayor Chippa Ngcolomba, ANC regional secretary Zandisile Qupe, and Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) regional leader Nomfundiso Kulati.

Before the lecture, Kota Fredericks led the delegation to the Papenkuil cemetery in Gelvandale to lay wreaths at MK soldiers' graves.

The speakers at the Doris Singapi Hall in Kwazakhele on Saturday also called for service delivery improvement as another way of honouring Nomkhosi, who was killed by a Vlakplaas hit squad during a raid in Maseru in December 1985. She was 26 and the daughter of activist Vuyisile Mini, who was hanged in 1964.

Delivering the keynote address, Kota Fredericks said Nomkhosi had invited them to a housewarming party the day she was killed. - Mkhululi Ndamase