THE Mbhashe Local Municipality’s mayoral committee has been tasked with the responsibility of identifying and recommending profiles of unsung heroes and heroines to its council for approval for the recognition awards at the commemorative event of the Battle of Lurwayizo.
The Battle of Lurwayizo Heritage Development Project is one of the catalytic projects that serve as a cornerstone towards the restoration, promotion, and development of heritage legacy within Mbhashe Local Municipality’s jurisdiction. A document prepared for a December 2024 council meeting stated that the local authority had been supporting the project since its inception in 2021. “Thus, (the) Battle of Lurwayizo Heritage Development Project is one of the key projects in the Integrated Development Plan and has been budgeted for in the current financial year (2024/2025). Moreover, the municipality renders both financial and non-financial support towards the implementation of the project,” the document stated.
Mbhashe was in collaborative partnership with the Battle of Lurwayizo Development Initiative (BOLD) and the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), and will host the commemorative event on January 30. “The primary objective behind this annual commemoration is to signify and inculcate knowledge in the broader community regarding its (the battle’s) contribution to the liberation struggle. As part of the event, DSRAC will be hosting awards for the recognition of the unsung heroes and heroines who immensely contributed to the broader liberation struggle. “It is recommended that the MAYCO recommends to Council (the names) for the approval of profiles of unsung heroes and heroines for the Recognition Awards at the commemorative event of the Battle of Lurwayizo,” the document said.
Among the profiles submitted to the council and reflected in the document are those of Archie Cornelius Siyolo Solombala from Zazulwana village in Butterworth, Thompson Cweba Dukada from Qokolweni in Mqanduli, Mzwandile Vena from Grahamstown, Sicelo Mantyi from Mission Locality in Willowvale, Mbulelo Alfred Ngono from Kenton-on-Sea, and Phumzile Mayapi whose origins were not listed.
According to the Battle of Lurwayizo Development website: “The Battle of Lurwayizo Development initiative emerged from a poignant historical event, catalysing a vision that transcends conflict into a future of harmony and progress. Rooted in the lessons learned from the Battle of Lurwayizo, this development endeavour embodies a profound commitment to fostering peace and sustainable advancement in the community it serves.” The website said the Battle of Lurwayizo Development sought to forge a social fabric where every member finds a voice and a place. It champions the integration of diverse perspectives and expertise, recognising that true progress arises from collective effort and collaboration.
The Battle of Lurwayizo took place from January 21 to 22, 1987 and recorded a fierce 36-hour shootout between the South African Defence Force supported by the Transkei Defence Force and the anti-apartheid fighter, Mbulelo, Ntsizwa/KK, Ngono. He was a prominent figure in the struggle against apartheid and is notably recognised for his role in Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC. Ngono was part of the combat unit that was deployed mainly in the then Transkei region; he was based in the Willowvale area and was sheltered by local trader, Max Jafta.
