A great mobiliser and a high-impact person, these are some of the phrases used to describe the late co-founder of Ses’ khona People’s Movement Loyiso Mabandla, formerly known as Nkohla.
He was felled in a hail of bullets at the Philippi train station on Monday 17 April while addressing a group of community leaders (“Ubulewe emva komthandazo”, City Vision 20 April).
At a memorial service held at OR Tambo (Mew Way) Hall on Tuesday 25 April speakers praised the fallen hero. They described him as an activist, not a politician. They said he had dedicated his life to fighting for the poor.
Those who attended the service included former activist and Agang founder Mamphela Ramphele, former Western Cape African National Congress chair Marius Fransman, provincial Minister for Health NomaFrench Mbombo, ANC Secretary Fikile Mbalula and former provincial Parliament speaker Masizole Mnqasela.
Radio personality Putco Mafani led the proceedings.
Laying the foundation, Ramphele labelled Mabandla as a gifted child. She said he asked serious questions his seniors were scared to ask.
“Loyiso inspired those who were on the margins of society to rise,” she said.
“He listened to the spirit of the Creator imbued in him and agreed to be the light for those living in darkness. We are not talking about the people who will say ‘Thuma mina’ and not be productive in their sending. He was a high-impact person who was sent to us.”
Ramphele said Mabandla worked extensively to ensure equality in society and to encourage gains made in the last 28 years of democracy. He also advocated for education.
“He knew we could not be a free country for as long as betrayal in liberated South Africa continued,” said Ramphele.
It was when Andile Lili, Mabandla’s right-hand man in Ses’khona, took to the podium that the crowd went into a frenzy.
In his speech Lili tore into the government for failing to protect its citizens. He said they were not ashamed to be associated with Ses’khona, a people’s movement that took service delivery protests to new heights by discarding human excrement at various government buildings and other key areas in the province. Explaining the logic behind Ses’khona Lili said it was established to fight for the betterment of the poor. He praised Fransman for his unwavering support towards Ses’khona.
He lashed out at leaders with no backbone and described Mabandla as a great community mobiliser.
Lili said Mabandla was not bothered by what people thought or said about him.
He questioned the role of the country’s security agencies and intelligence.
“I want the media to pass this message to the president. Where are our intelligence officers in this country? Why is our state security so quiet? We only complained about the police conduct but our intelligence is sleeping on duty. There are extortionists who harass people, but no-one is arrested in connection with that.”
Lili questioned police effectiveness, especially taking into account Mabandla was shot 19 times in broad daylight. “Loyiso died like a criminal,” he said. “We can’t keep quiet as if nothing happened. We won’t rest.”
Provincial police spokesperson Capt FC van Wyk said Mabandla’s case was still under investigation and no-one had been arrested yet.
He was expected to be buried on Saturday 29 April at Peddie in Eastern Cape.
