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Speech at the commemoration of Bulhoek Massacre
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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC BALINDLELA
AT THE COMMEMORATION OF BULHOEK MASSACRE
IN NTABELANGA
 27 MAY 2001



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 at a number of levels: Firstly, we are gathered here to commemorate what has become known as The 
Bulhoek Massacre of 1921, a sad chapter in the history of this country where scores of innocent worshippers were mowed down by the 
soldiers of the Smuts regime, simply for demanding to be left alone in this piece of land in order to worship God. Secondly, we are engaged 
in an exercise of redressing the imbalances of the past in the portrayal of the history of our Province thereby paying tribute to our 
heroes who fell in the struggle for social and political emancipation of all of us. Thirdly, we are witnessing an example of a successful 
partnership between the provincial government and the local district municipality, as well as other government agencies such as the South 
African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). Government has also worked closely with local community organisations in an endeavour to involve 
all stakeholders and other interested parties in our drive to build our nation. All of us here need to encourage this relationship because 
it can benefit all of us.

BACKGROUND: FROM WHENCE WE COME (APHO SISUKA KHONA)

The Provincial government has pioneered the concept of Community Heritage Projects. I shall now spend a few minutes on the background of 
this concept. In 1998 the Directorate of Museums and Heritage Resources in the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture began a 
process of calling for public nominations for projects that would commemorate heritage at local level. Thus communities were invited to 
identify and submit to us sites of historic and cultural significance located within their areas. For instance, ukuba kwilali ethile kukho 
umthi ekwakuthandazelwa kuwo xa kucelwa imvula, lomthi okanye londawo yindawo ebalulekileyo yembali nemvelaphi yoluntu lwalo lali, ngokuba 
ibalulekile kubantu balo lali.

Communities responded positively to the call, and as a result a substantial number of Community Heritage Project have since been 
implemented. For instance, 15 memorials and commemorative plaques have been erected and officially unveiled. To quote a few;

On 24 February this year we were at Fingo village in Grahamstown to commemorate what has now become known as the Battle of Grahamstown of 
1819 (Egazini); Battle of Mbolompo of 1828 at Mbolompo, Umtata (11/11/00); Nguza Hill Massacre of 1960 (06/06/1998); Xalanga Heroes 
Memorial at Cala (27/05/00), Langa Massacre of 1985 (21/03/00); Barkly East Massacre of 1985 (21/03/00); King Ngubengcuka Memorial at 
Clarkebury (17/10/99), and reburials of the remains of comrades William Bongco in Fort Beaufort (09/08/98) and Dr Bantwini Ngcipe at 
Somerset East (29/05/99) respectively.

I would like therefore to pay special tribute to the people of Ntabelanga for coming forward to the government with a project of this 
nature. I am informed that representatives from a wide spectrum of the Chris Hani municipal area worked together tirelessly to make this 
project the success it is today.Congratulations.

BULHOEK MASSACRE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

From 1919 to 1921 a number of worshippers who were commonly known as the Israelites began to converge at Ntabelanga to listen to the 
Saint of God, Prophet Enoch Mgijima. The Jan Smuts regime viewed this popular activity as a vehicle for black political activists to 
conscientise the African masses. The magistrate in Queenstown was instructed by his superiors to act decisively against the innocent 
worshippers. Approximately 200 policemen were ultimately deployed at Ntabelanga to forcefully remove the Israelites who had settled there. 
After a series of failed attempts to persuade Israelites to leave the area, approximately 1000 policemen and soldiers were dispatched to 
Ntabelanga from Queenstown with a view to arresting certain worshippers and destroying all houses allegedly built without government 
permission. However on 24 May 1921, the armed forces opened fire without provocation and mercilessly killed approximately 400 innocent 
worshippers.

The massacre which took place on this spot on 24 May 1921 is without doubt one of the most unfortunate chapters in the history of the 
people of this country, especially at a time when religious freedom is one of the cornerstones of the supreme law of our land, the 
Constitution. The episode of this day must serve as a constant reminder of who were are and where we come from as a nation and our 
religious beliefs. It is history that must be related to our children as one example of what must be avoided at all costs in this country. 
Never again must differences between people, or for that matter citizens and their government be allowed to cause irreparable divisions in 
our country. I am convinced that there were far better ways to solve the apparent difference between the Church and the government of the 
day.

Nation building and reconciliation are at work here today. Although our country is still bleeding from the scars of yesteryears, and 
todays generation is still trying to come to terms with the past, the descendants of the adversaries of May 1921 are today not only 
sitting side by side, but are also working together to make our democracy work.

This ceremony must also, of necessity, be seen within the context of the African Renaissance. This country is indeed on course to the put 
on the centre stage the agenda that highlights the importance of being an African in the African context. The majority of the people 
present at this ceremony are indeed South African. In this regard, President Mbeki had this to say in Parliament, I quote him:

Outwardly we are people of many colours, races, cultures, languages and ancient Yet we are tied to one another by a million visible and 
invisible threads .

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, let me congratulate all those who were involved in making sure that this project is successful. Your pioneering work should 
serve as an important example to other communities.

This commemoration and the memorial plaque that was officially unveiled by Premier Makhenkesi Stofile here on 24 May 1998, will ensure that 
there will be a permanent reminder of the sacrifices our forefathers made in defence of what was rightfully theirs.

To the youth of our country who are here today, let me appeal to all of you to take the trouble to learn more about the history of your 
community, your province, your country and indeed, your continent.

Seek inspiration in the heroic deeds of those who came before you. Take up the challenge and help us build a better life for all in South 
Africa.

I thank you all

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