The “Twelve disciples” meet to recount struggle days

January 13, 2012 | Filed underPopular News,Previous news | Posted by editor
Recounting struggle experience … ANC veterans who went into exile met in Bloemfontein this week.
Nine ANC veterans who went into exile during the 1960s met again for the first time in 50 years after the party’s historic centenary celebrations kicked-off at the weekend.
The group operated underground and were members of the ANC Youth League.
They recounted tales of brutality of the apartheid regime during a special gathering in Bloemfontein.
Sindiso Nfenyana, son of a reverend, was born in 1940 in Noupoort. As a child, he was alarmed at what he observed around him. By the 1960s, the sound of gunfire and women and children screaming was a common occurrence. Though he was never tortured by the security forces, he saw what these so-called “peacekeeping” officers were doing to people. This moved him to join the people’s quest to rid them of this cruel system.
In the midst of the chaos he was able to attend school and further his education at Fort Hare University. But in 1960, he responded to the call by the ANC to join the armed struggle. He put his studies on hold and boarded the next train to Johannesburg. This is where he had his first contact with well-known ANC leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Andrew Mlangeni. Nfenyana was just 20 years old at the time but was determined to defend his country.
“They [government] refused to listen to what we had to say and we realised that the only language they could understand is that of the armed struggle.”
“They [government] refused to listen to what we had to say and we realised that the only language they could understand is that of the armed struggle. So by the time I left in 1960, we had made it clear as the ANCYL that this is the only way. But I had to wait for others to finish their degrees, so I waited for a year in Johannesburg. During this time, I learned a lot about politics – more than any other time prior to that.”
Most of the men in the group attended the university of Fort Hare and possessed the kind of knowledge that could benefit their country if they were given a platform. This group was also briefed by Mandela about the “M plan”. He told them the decision to take up arms was necessary.
“We want you to go and do something special for us. You must go to the Soviet Union and tell us how is it that they are able to offer free education, health service, cheap housing and transport, because that is what we would like for our people,” Mandela was said to have told the group.
Just after the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the group left for the Soviet Union in 1962. They had to learn to become proficient in Russian in just six months because they had arrived in the country three months later than the rest of their comrades.
“By the time we went to our respective institutions we were ready to learn. All nine of us went separate ways and learned subjects. Some learned science, some economics and others agriculture.”
Although the main purpose was to learn military tactics, they also learned life skills. This was to help them later when South Africa gained freedom, to make it a better country for all those who live in it.
“The greatest achievement we have now in South Africa is that we were able to introduce democracy. But the only thing that we used to say is that once South Africa gains independence, we will apply the methods used in Cuba. They were able in six months to put an end to criminality, but of course our constitution will not easily allow that.
“We thought we would have the best  and broadest education  because we have seen how the teachers were dedicated. Unfortunately we seem to have missed something, but hopefully we would be able to catch up,” said Nfenyana.
Members of the “Twelve Disciples” of the ANC were also present at the gathering. These were men from the Free State who were working underground for the movement.
One of them, Bethuel Setlai, said they had to be innovative to conduct their activities undetected.
“We then formed a Judo club which enabled us to travel up and down between the Northern Cape and the Free State. It taught that a small man can paralyse a big man. We had a permit that allowed us to move around, especially in rural areas of North West.”
The 12 had an arduous journey to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They walked from place to place, and the ANC did not have enough resources to support them. Life was hard.
From Dar es Salaam they soldiered on to Cuba, the USA, Britain, Holland, and Czechoslovakia – where they worked
and studied.
Setlai went to the USA.
“The only thing that no one would have cured was being homesick. As a young man in a foreign country, your value tends to be compromised. All you have is your peers and they are not trained to take care of you, so many of us went astray.”
Though Setlai is proud of the ANC’s achievements, he hopes that more will be done to improve the lives of the people.
“I use to walk 13 kilometres to school when I was 13 years old. When I came back to the country in 1991, the first place I went is that area where I use to walk to school. What touched me is that I saw young children walking the same distance to school. I could not believe that was happening still.”
He, however, hailed the Constitution as the greatest achievement.
Zolile Nqakani also went to the Soviet Union and worked as a chemical and environmental health engineer when he returned to South Africa.
“In Soviet Union we saw how they respected human dignity. Their programme for children was excellent. The Soviet Union was encircled and they always have money in their pocket ready to buy anything. There were hardships but the Soviets supported us.”
Nqakani believes that “economic freedom in our lifetime” must now become a reality. He bemoaned the fact that R110-billion is spent on social grants, saying that the government must ensure that people are self sufficient and do not depend on grants.
“Youth must learn that we do not have to re-invent things but look into what has been done and take it further. The focus on our people has lessened and we need leadership that could change that.”
All these veterans have a high regard for education; they completed their studies locally and abroad. Their wish is for the current leadership and youth to preserve what they were prepared to die for in creating a better life for all.
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