Former South African Minister of Defence and current member of the ANC national executive committee (NEC), Thandi Modise, has urged members of the political alliance to reconcile their differences for the good of the country. Modise was speaking at the third Peter Dambuza Annual Lecture held at the Thohoyandou Indoor Sports Centre last Friday.

In her address, Modise expressed concern that the ANC is prioritising quantity over quality when recruiting new members. She emphasised the importance of focusing on youth recruitment and strengthening party branches. “Let us go back to our roots and sit together with our alliance partners. We have to find each other. There will be no renewal of the ANC if the alliance is not united, and if we are serious about the renewal of the ANC, we have to be united,” she said.

Reflecting on the legacy of David Malada, known as Peter Dambuza, Modise described him as a dedicated Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) commander who played a vital role in the country’s liberation struggle. She lamented that some current leaders are driven by personal gain rather than service to the people.

“People are using the ANC to enrich themselves while some see being deployed to government positions as a career. MK cadres like Commander Peter Dambuza sweat blood in foreign countries while fighting for this country, but now, because of greed and selfishness, we are divided and this has to stop,” she added.

Modise also criticised the current state of leadership, stating that some of today’s leaders were more interested in raising their profiles and increasing their bank balances than in fulfilling their duties. She noted that figures like Dambuza would have defended the unity and integrity of MK, preventing its exploitation.

The traditional leader of Makonde village, Vhamusanda Vho Tshedza Ravhura, also spoke at the event, expressing pride in the village’s history of producing freedom fighters. “Commander Peter Dambuza was a very respected soldier in our village, and he also worked very well with the royal council. We are also proud of the late Amos Mbedzi, who was another fearless freedom fighter,” he said.

Ravhura highlighted the contributions of other notable individuals from Makonde, including Mashudu Masindi, who has risen to become a prominent figure in the country's military.