Molefe Pheto was an outstanding person who contributed to the (national liberation) struggle, and in the arts. A cultural activist of note who was an author, a teacher, a coordinator who touched many lives, wherever he has passed. The committee comprised people from different genres, artists, poets, business people, journalists, struggle veterans, authors, film and documentary producers and actors and his former students. All these people had previously interacted with him.
We all committed to making the event successful. We set up subcommittees, drew budgets and contacted artist. Unfortunately, we did not all have money. So, we embarked on a fundraising drive which targeted individuals, companies, department of arts and culture and the Johannesburg and provincial government. The COJ gifted us with the Soweto Theater.
When we realised that there was no funding, we decided that members should contribute whatever they could afford. We were determined that this was not going to fail. Fortunately, some of the artists came on board and offered their services for free, as long as we could transport them. One outstanding artist produced a great portrait that we never got to hand it over to him (Pheto).
The lunch organised on his actual birthday on the 11th of June and the event on the 18th were a success. We are satisfied we were able to do that for him. We are grateful to Ntate Nape Motana for coming up with the idea and bringing us together.
We have a structure, The BCM Memories, which was conceived around 2019. It also identified elders that needed to be celebrated. Ntate Pheto, BraB, Baba Jordaan, Drake Tsenkeng were on the list. We only did two people: Ntate Bokwe Mafuna and Molefe Pheto himself, but then we were caught by Covid 19 restrictions. Our events were smaller and intimate. Not as big as this last one. I hope the younger comrades with more energy can take over and develop the idea of honouring more of our icons.
Ntate Pheto is gone, leaving us with a question of if his sacrifices were worth it. This so-called democracy that was cemented in 1994 and the put up for sale sign of our country, our people, our land and our lives. Today newspapers, news and social media is so depressing; the country is going down, poverty is growing, unemployment, lack of services, depression, crime, and all the other negative things are attributed to this country. In some way, we are tempted, even when death leaves the family and leaves us grieving, we somehow think the departed are peaceful where they are. Because they don’t get to read or hear all the bad news that we are subjected to.
I would like to share one experience that I had with him just after the formation of AZAPO when he was in London. When we read that Koornhof who was the Minister of Bantu Affairs was going to be gifted the Freedom of Soweto by the UBC. The Black Women Unite of which I was the National Coordinator, together with AZAPO travelled the length and breadth of Soweto through the churches, trade unions and taxi associations and we organised a very big protest against that event. We tried to discourage Father David Nkwe against blessing that event, and he refused our request to further discourage The Soweto Teachers Choir from performing there. The soldiers and police teargassed us that day. I remember because I was pregnant with my second child, and I could not jump a fence.
Immediately after the event it was announced that the choir was going to the UK. I then called Ntate Pheto and told him. He asked me to Telefax Newspaper cuttings about the day, including people being sjamboked (whipped) and teargassed by the police. The choir was picketed in UK, they could not even finish their tour. They had to come back home.
I am lucky that he wrote music for my documentary. That is my treasure. And on the 11th after the birthday lunch at Bangadile, he called his son, “a re bona, remember the 2 boxes tse ke ne ke bua ka tsona? Di tlise kwano.” (He called his son and asked, “remember the 2 boxes that I was talking about? Bring them here”). Those boxes were put next to me, and he said “Rakgadi, put this in your car.” When I asked, he said “don’t open them, otla bona ko gae. Then you and the committee you will decide what to do.” (“Don’t open them, you’ll see at home”). Then I found it was copies of his books ‘The Bull of Moruleng’. Unfortunately, we are selling them to try and pay outstanding debts from the past event.
Ntate Pheto has always been a committed comrade. In life, there is always a straight line that forces you to make a choice, you cannot stand on the line. Molefe Pheto made a choice, he chose the people, he chose to write and tell the truth, he chose to fight for his people. Up until his advanced age, he never sold out.
Ntate is gone, physically, but his ideas, his work will live with us for a long time. We are thankful for his life and his contributions. Aus Debbs, we know it is not going to be easy, o setse alone (you’re left alone). There will be many things that will make you miss him, his plate of food, his side of the bed, his chair – all of that will be vacant. Mama and family, with time, go tla siama (with time, all will be well). The time and life you shared together will be happy memories. Tsela e kea rona kaofela. (This road is taken by us all).
A re amogeleng. Ntate o phetse, he was sick but strong. Hare mo lokolleng. A robale ka kgotso. (We must accept this. Pheto had lived, he was sick but strong. Let us let him go. May he rest in peace.)
The sound of drums shall continue, in our struggle, in joy, in tears, today and the rest of our lives. The effect of his drums, and the feeling of the drums of Molefe Pheto. No silence, Drums, Drums. The legacy of Drums. The Drums of Molefe Pheto. We shall always remember Molefe Pheto and his drums.
One Response
My people of The South I am Sooo impressed by Late Ntate Phetho”s story. who recently left a void in his deep commitment to grooming students as a Tutor during the struggle years in the height of the struggle for Freedom in our Beloved Country South Africa.