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Speech at Bilatye village in memory of two MK cadres
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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC BALINDLELA
AT BILATYE VILLAGE IN MEMORY OF TWO MK CADRES, COMRADES BALISANI TROM AND THOBILE STATE DYANTYI
ON 10 DECEMBER 2000



INTRODUCTION

Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends, it gives me great pleasure to be invited to this very important occasion today. What we are 
doing here today can be interpreted on many levels: Firstly, we are gathered here to unveil a memorial to two of our peoples heroes and 
matyrs, Comrades Trom and Dyantyi, who laid down their lives during the era of the apartheid regime in defence of this beautiful country, 
South Africa - so that all of us here could be able to exercise our democratic right and vote in the local government elections which took 
place just five days ago. Secondly, we are engaged in an exercise of redressing the imbalances of the past in how the heritage of this 
country has been memorialised. Thirdly, we are witnessing a perfect example of a successful partnership between a community, local and 
provincial government, leading to effective service delivery.

BACKGROUND TO THIS PROJEC

The government of the Province, through the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture has pioneered the concept of Community 
Heritage Projects. Through this programme we invite applications from communities for specific projects which would commemorate heritage at 
a local level. Broadly speaking, the purpose of this endeavour is to give recognition to the role played by all the people of this province 
in the shaping of the history of this country.

The community of Bilatye submitted an application to the department to be assisted in building a monument in honour of these our heroes. 
Today we are unveiling the plaque that confirms the very important role these comrades have played in the liberation of the people of this 
country from the oppressive yoke of apartheid and colonialism. Later on today St Patricks High School and the local clinic will be named 
after Dyantyi and Trom respectively.

The government has certain specific objectives that need to be realised by building memorials of this nature:

* provide recognition for neglected heritage sites in the province
* promote nation-building and reconciliation among all the people of this province
* redress the imbalances of the past in the portrayal of the history of our people
* maximise the tourism benefit of all our heritage sites
* promote the educational benefit of such sites

I would like to pay tribute to the community of Bilatye for coming forward with this project so quickly. It should be remembered that this 
particular project involved the exhumation of the remains of Comrade Trom from Maseru, which took place on 20 November 2000. It is 
encouraging indeed to notice that the community here is prepared to come forward and claim what is rightfully theirs.

Contract setting out the nature and scope of work to be done was signed with the department, and an amount of R50 000 was made available by 
the department to the community of Bilatye. Our officers and the community steering committee worked tirelessly over months in order for us 
to be able to commemorate our comrades today

Comrade Balisani Trom left the country in the 1960's to join the military wing of the African National Congress, Umkhonto Wesizwe which was 
engaged in an armed struggle against the apartheid regime. He was arrested and sent to Robben Island. On his release he skipped the country 
and went to Lesotho. Comrade Trom specialised in explosives. He was a victim of the infamous Maseru Raid of 9 December 1982, which was 
orchestrated and carried out by the South African Defence Force (SADF) against an ANC cell in Maseru. Incidentally, only yesterday was an 
18th anniversary of that barbaric raid by the forces of darkness against innocent people. Thank God today we can safely say this country 
has a democratic, transforming and accountable &#145;national Defence Force. Comrade Trom, together with many of our comrades, was buried 
in Maseru at the time because the South African government of the time would not even allow his remains to be brought home for a decent 
burial.

Comrade Thobile &#145;State Dyantyi also skipped the country in the 1960's and went to the then Rhodesia. He was also an MK combatant, 
having been involved in the liberation struggle as an 18-year old teenager. Comrade Dyantyi was killed in the 1967 Wankie Battle with the 
SADF.

It is probably true to say were it not for the sacrifices of such matyrs as comrades Trom and Dyantyi, we would not have been a free 
country today! We would not have had an opportunity to cast our votes democratically as we did on 5 December 2000! It is in that light that 
I wish to salute these two comrades for laying down their lives and pay the highest price in order for all of us to be a free nation today.

CONCLUSION

I wish to salute the families of Trom and Dyantyi for having &#145;donated with their loved ones for the total liberation of this country. 
Let me assure all of you that their suffering and death has not been in vain. I also wish to thank the community of Bilatye for the role 
they have played in order to pay a fitting tribute to our comrades here today. Your pioneering work should serve as an important example to 
other communities.

I thank you all.

AMANDLA!

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