Kgoshi Mokoena has joined other South Africans in publicly criticising Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.
The chairman of the Mpumalanga provincial house of traditional leaders,Kgoshi Mokoena, has told thousands of people attending the Human Rights Day celebration in Mkhondo that what happened to Steve Biko was proof that the justice system during Apartheid colonialism was no good.
Biko, a gallant anti-Apartheid fighter, was the leader of the Black Consciousness Movement and died on 12 September 1977 in police hands.
Kgoshi said as chiefs they felt very bad “to hear a leader saying the time of Apartheid colonialism was better”.
“We feel very bad,” Kgoshi said at the Mkhondo Rugby stadium.
“As chiefs we will celebrate if the racism we are seeing now is done away with.
“It’s painful to see that our people are being put in coffin alive,” Mokoena said.
“We feel very bad when our people continue to be killed and the person killing says ‘No, I thought was a monkey’. It’s very painful,” he said on Tuesday.
For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water etc.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) March 16, 2017
“When one says the justice system of colonial time was better our minds go back to when one of our stalwarts, Steve Biko, was transported from King Williams Town to Pretoria naked in a police van, bleeding all over and threw him in a cement cell and another person says that time was better,” the chief said.
Would we have had a transition into specialised health care and medication without colonial influence? Just be honest, please.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) March 16, 2017
The commemoration at the Rugby stadium was addressed by arts and culture MEC Norah Mahlangu and was attended by various politicians – including Nkangala mayor Linah Malatjie, Gert Sibande mayor Muzi Chirwa and economic development MEC Eric Kholwane.
Mkhondo mayor Vusi Motha welcomed the crowds who were celebrating the day at his municipality and MEC Mahlangu asked for a moment of silence in mourning Joe ‘Sdumo’ Mafela and 14-year-old Middelburg pupil Siphamandla Choma.
(edited by ZK)
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