Durban - “Hell would break loose” if a joint memorial service was held today for the two people killed in the Inchanga violence.
This was the response from the family of the late Xolani Ngcobo to Wednesday’s statements by Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC, Mxolisi Kaunda, suggesting a joint service today.
The families of Ngcobo and Nontsikelelo Blose - killed on Monday and Sunday respectively - were apparently not consulted.
A relative of Ngcobo, who asked not to be named, said the idea flew in the face of the differing political loyalties of the deceased. “We can’t accept such a stupid and dangerous proposal. We can’t be with those people in the same space.
“They can have their memorial service, but we as Xolani’s brothers and family will not be part of it. Worst of all, we were not consulted before this was communicated to the public,” fumed the relative.
“If we were to be in the same space with the other side (Blose’s supporters), all hell would break loose. It’s insensitive of the leaders to come up with such an idea and not communicate with us.
“We told the police and the ANC people that we won’t be part of this, and they seemed to respect our feelings. It’s strange that they should issue such statements,” he said.
A date for Ngcobo’s funeral was, as of on Wednesday, still to be decided.
In the statements, the department alerted the media that Kaunda, the ANC and SACP leadership would address a joint memorial service of “two people” who were killed in Inchanga this week.
He said both families had agreed to a memorial service.
Blose was an SACP local leader, while Ngcobo was an ANC member in the same area.
In the statements, Kaunda said: “The decision to hold a joint memorial service by both families demonstrates bold leadership and political maturity. This memorial service must be a foundation of peace and political tolerance in the community of Inchanga.”
Blose’s family took a swipe at Kaunda for releasing the statements.
“We won’t have a joint memorial service with those people (Ngcobo’s supporters). It’s these people, including the MEC (Kaunda) who issued a statement and misinformed the people without consulting us. Even if he had, we would not have agreed to that. It’s a dangerous idea,” said a relative.
“We won’t have a memorial service and we will only have a funeral service this weekend.”
An SACP member, who asked not to be named, said: “People on the ground expected the leadership to discuss a solution to the political squabbles between the alliance members, but what we see are statements pronouncing a joint memorial service. We will have none of the planned service.”
Matthews Ndlovu, first deputy provincial secretary of the SACP, said a meeting of alliance partner leaders that continued until on Wednesday evening, agreed to abort the service.
“Ours was to support an initiative that sought to bring peace and stability in the community and among alliance members. The Young Communist League’s provincial spokesman, Thami Dhlakadhla, called for an extensive investigation’ into the political tension in Inchanga.
“The genesis of the saga lies with the provincial congresses last year, especially the ANC’s elective congress. As for the YCL, with any proposed idea there has to be a buy-in by both the affected families and the community at large.
“The deployment of the police in the area won’t bring a lasting solution there and we need to bear in mind that people’s lives are at stake,” said Dhlakadhla.
ANC provincial spokesman, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said they were in no position to force the families to accept the service.
“Tensions are still high in the area and we don’t want a situation where things fall apart during a memorial or funeral service,” he said.
The MEC in a statement today announced the joint memorial services had been postponed to allow local leaders to hold talks.
“Today, we are having further engagements with the leadership of (the ANC and SACP) to further promote the spirit of peace, stability and peaceful co-existence,” said Kaunda.
Daily News