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News - Date: 09 April 2012
As a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, he fought fearlessly for the emancipation of the country, but since his return to his home village of Gaba outside Thohoyandou, the community seems to have forgotten him.
Struggle veteran and an ex-Robben Islander, John Aifheli Thabo (76), or KG, as he was known in army ranks, received a hero’s welcome at the weekend when his community hosted a mammoth party in his honour. The whole community gathered at Gaba Primary School for the big event.
The organiser of the function, political activist Mulalo Nemakonde, said the country was celebrating its heroes as part of the ANC’s centenerary celebrations, but there were many unsung heroes like Thabo who had been forgotten by their people. “Comrade Thabo did a lot for our people. We are what we are today because of his selfless sacrifices. We thought as a community that we should give him the honour he deserves while he is still alive,” said Nemakonde.
He said they also wanted to give him the chance to speak to the youth about his experiences and the history of the ANC. “We are one of the few communities who are priviledged to still have their own veterans who can still give guidance to our generation. We should be very proud of this man, and this fact prompted the celebration,” he said.
In response, Thabo urged the youth to take their education seriously, saying it was the only weapon that could give them economic freedom. “There is still an acute shortage of the vital skills in the country, and I urge the youth to take opportunities open to them and study these fields,” he said.
He also urged the youth not to forget to respect each other and their elders.
Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019. He currently writes on a freelance basis, covering human rights issues, court news and entertainment.
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