Cape Town - Among the hundreds of protesting students who faced riot police at Parliament this week was the granddaughter of two famous struggle martyrs, Griffiths and Victoria Mxenge.
Griffiths, a lawyer, anti-apartheid activist and a member of the ANC was assassinated in 1981 in Durban. His wife, Victoria, also an anti-apartheid activist was also assassinated in Durban.
Hlumela Mxenge, 25, is in her final year studying international relations and politics and says her grandparents’ example inspired her to join the march. When the protesting students entered Parliament they were met by police dressed in armour who pushed them with shields, threw stun grenades and used Tasers on them.
Mxenge, from the Eastern Cape, said: “My grandparents contributed a lot for this country’s democracy. I also felt I should be part of the students’ struggles so I can also be part of the history we are making.
“They (her grandparents) died for the betterment of this country and were both assassinated by the apartheid government. When we were in Parliament and the police began treating us the way they did, it was sad to see black men sending police to be brutal against children.”
“The government and Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande don’t take us seriously. Even the way we were treated by the police shows. I’m sure my grandparents must be turning in their graves when they see the people they died for to be in power and protect us treat us the way they do.”
“We are still young, this is all new to us and we were scared on Wednesday in Parliament, but because we were promised free education by the government in power we had to take action. This is not something new. It’s always been an issue. We just realised we have a voice together.
“We’ve only had this experience for a few days; my grandparents and others kept it up for years because they believed in what they were fighting for. So like them we won’t stop this fight because I can’t have my children fighting the same fight I fought when I was a student.”
Mxenge said as citizens it was their responsibility to hold the government accountable.
“I wanted to one day work in Parliament and help make the country better, that way continuing my grandparents’ legacy. They were in the struggle for this country to be better for those who live in it. But that has all changed now after the continuous failure by the government to make life better for the people who vote for them. There are other ways of making change.”
Although her father supported her stance, he was worried because he was present when her grandmother was assassinated and he could not help but worry when “there’s politics involved”.
Weekend Argus
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