WeeklySA_AdminVANDALIZED AND ABANDONED: Second death for first victim of June 16 1976
By Ali Mphaki
June 16, 1976: A bullet wound to one side of his head, blood on the other side, the gurgle of death in his throat. This is how a doctor at the casualty section described the “grisly scene” of a dying Hastings Ndlovu on a stretcher at the Baragwanath Hospital.
June 19, 2018: An amputated hand, scars on the forehead and torso, face down with mouth seemingly stretched in a rather painful grin. This is how a battered statue of Ndlovu (still in blue and white school uniform) looks like in a safe room at the nearby Hector Pieterson memorial in Orlando West. Fact is there is no dispute as to who fired the shot that killed Ndlovu in ‘76.
What is not clear is who vandalized his statue in 2016. But most certainly it is the same people who are enjoying the freedom Ndlovu paid the supreme sacrifice for. Ndlovu, the only 15 years old, is arguably the first youth to be shot by apartheid police on that fateful day. He was part of a students march from the Orlando North high school when they met with police towards the bridge on Khumalo Street.
The schoolboy died later same day. A rogue cop with a comical surname based at the Orlando Police station – a Colonel Kleingeld – later testified with something in him of the coquette that Ndlovu was inciting other students when he was shot. Though Ndlovu’s death was somewhat overshadowed by that of another victim 12-year-old Hector Pieterson (probably because of the dramatic pic of bleeding Pieterse, his sister Antoinet and Mbuyisa Makhubo taken by Sam Nzima). However, a statue to honour the fallen Ndlovu said to be worth R80 000 was commissioned by the Johannesburg Road Agency in 2010.
Described as an outdoor memorial, it is situated more or less opposite the bridge on Klip Valley Road and Khumalo Street where Ndlovu met his demise. At this memorial a young Ndlovu, dressed in school uniform and standing on a plinth, could be seen smiling and holding his arm up. There are also storyboards which lined each side of the bridge, on the sides of a new steel and concrete structure, with seating, inviting visitors to walk down and take in the quiet memorial next to the busy intersection. But just why a place of such historic significance was not secured continue to boggle the mind.
Approached for comment, Eric Raboshakga the city’s regional director of planning infrastructure said he had referred our inquiry to a colleague identified as Loyisi (no surname given) who will direct us to the relevant department.
But at the time of going to Print, no Loyiso had called Weekly SA Mirror.
Three years ago in a statement by Joburg city’s spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane, he said theft and vandalism of infrastructure and assets is a major challenge. He said infrastructure such and assets commonly targeted in open spaces and parks include ablution facilities, fencing, electrical equipment, trees, buildings, statues, play equipment etc ”The city continues to call on the community to support the SAPS and the JMPD by reporting acts of vandalism and theft,” Modingoane said. As for what remains at the open museum, Modingoane said the story boards that remain and have been damaged by the exposure of the sun will be taken care of as part of the maintenance programme.
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