Musina pays tribute to a fallen hero of the liberation struggle

By David Mokobi

The sound of 21 gunshots by members of Mkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) reverberated through the cemetery of Musina as the coffin containing the remains of Lucas “Dra” Moemi was lowered to its final resting place on Saturday. This was the perfect way to pay tribute to this gallant fighter of the liberation struggle who died on Saturday, 3 April, after collapsing at home. He was 74.

Shortly before the burial, hundreds of mourners filled up the Lesley Manyathela stadium in Nancefield location.

Moemi’s political life started in 1961 when he was a student at Mokone High School. Following his strong opposition to the apartheid regime, he was banned from attending any school in South Africa for a period of five years, forcing him to come back to Musina. At the border town he assisted people who were going into exile to cross over to the then Rhodesia.

Moemi was recruited to join MK, the military wing of the ANC, in 1986 and he trained inside the country to carry out MK operations. He was part of the committee that took up arms in the mid-eighties to fight the apartheid regime when it wanted to move the people from Nancefield to the farm Magasand near Tshipise.

A gallant fighter, Moemi was instrumental in the establishment of the civic movement in Musina, resulting in the formation of the Musina Action Committee. He was also part of a committee that welcomed freedom fighters when they returned from exile after the unbanning of liberation movements in the country, thereby playing a critical role in the formation of the ANC structures in Musina. At the time of his death, Moemi was the deputy secretary of the ANC Vhembe Regional Veterans League and member of the provincial executive committee of the ANC Veterans League.

In his address during the funeral procession, the provincial secretary of the ANC Veterans League in Limpopo, Rashaka Ratshitanga, said Moemi had played a vital role in the formation of the ANC Veterans League in Limpopo. He added: “It is because of Comrade Dra’s encouragement that we finally established the ANC Veterans League here in this province. We became the first province to launch the league and other provinces followed suit.”

The chairperson of the Limpopo ANC Veterans League and former deputy mayor of Chase Town in Canada, Jacob Marule, described Moemi as a disciplined, honest and sincere cadre of the movement to the end.

Khathu Netshifhefhe, the regional secretary of the ANC in Vhembe, said Comrade Dra had dedicated his life to the struggle against apartheid. “He was a true cadre of the movement, a comrade who used to fight foreign tendencies in the ANC.” Netshifhefhe said “Dra” led from the front and never fought for position in the movement.

In her address, the mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Cllr. Mihloti Muhlupe, said Moemi had engaged in the struggle not for personal gain or glory. “He became a fighter for liberation because he understood that he had to be ready to make the necessary sacrifices, expecting no personal reward except the reward of freedom.” She concluded her address by commenting that the municipality would name the newly constructed community hall in Nancefield after Moemi.

Date:15 April 2016

By: News Correspondent

Correspondent journalists from all over the region supply us with news and sport articles. 

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