Dignified send off for fallen MK commander
Services planned to honour comrade Peter Dambuza
Benson Ntlemo
Despite being fully aware of the lockdown regulations, the ANC in Vhembe has planned to give the late David Mbulaheni Malada, 66, the late MK commander who was better known by his guerrilla name Peter Dambuza a fitting send off.
Malada of Makonde in the Sibasa area of the Thulamela Local Municipality died on August 20 after a short illness.
He was part of the June 16 Battalion and served as a soldier of Umkhonto weSizwe during the struggle for liberation of South Africa and participated in many successful operations in the country that dealt a heavy blow on the enemy, the apartheid government.
In a statement yesterday, the ANC in Vhembe said it had concluded arrangements made in unison with the Malada family aimed at giving the fallen soldier a befitting funeral.
“It is a pity he has left us during the time the Covid -19 pandemic was ravaging the world, making it impossible for many comrades to bid farewell to this larger than life comrade and a fearless soldier, “read the statement.
It continued, “We believe that the arrangements we have made will give all of us a slight opportunity to bid him farewell.”
Starting from today, up to the day of the funeral at Makonde on Saturday, a number of memorial service events will be held in honour of the late leader.
Tomorrow at 14hrs00, the government’s memorial event will be held at the Vhembe Council Chamber led by executive mayor Dowelani Nenguda who will be joined by all mayors of the local municipalities within Vhembe.
On Thursday the ANC region and alliance structures will have an event at Makonde sports ground to remember him while the provincial ANC event will be held in the same venue on Friday.
All the events will be strictly for 50 people.
At the funeral on Saturday, the ANC national executive committee and the provincial executive committee will determine who would be part of the funeral from those two bodies.
The ANC has advised those who would not be part of the funeral to follow it on the following platforms:
Twitter: @ANCVhembeRegion
Facebook: ANC Vhembe Region
Instagram: @ancvhemberegion
