WeeklySA_AdminHOMECOMING: Bavuma squad leads victory parade as Philip Kgosana led the historic march…
By Jo-Mangaliso Mdhlela
Sixty-five years ago in 1960, the Pan African Congress of Azania, led by Philip Kgosana, mounted an anti-pass laws protest in Langa – decrying and committing his party to overturn the apartheid system that oppressed the African people.
The event, alongside the Sharpeville massacre of the same year, orchestrated by the PAC president, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, placed the African township of Cape Town in the spotlight, and attention of the world community.
The protest activities, and the courage by Kgosana’s to dare the might of the apartheid system, helped to unveil to the world the apartheid atrocities. The anti-pass law protests system – an event that marked the turning point in the country’s resistance to unjust laws of the system, was joined by many throughout the country.
Last week, something of significance happened in the same township in which Kgosana, as the main protagonist leading his community to challenge the apartheid injustices.
What Kgosana achieved, in mobilising, cannot be seen in isolation of the significance of Temba Bavuma’s homecoming event.
Bavuma returned to his place of birth, leading the Proteas’ “victory parade” in a township that previously was associated with the ills of the apartheid system – with apartheid police, day and night, chasing black people for the so-called pass laws.
That a black player captained a nonracial squad to victory, resulting in the snatching of the World Test championship at Lord’s in London, was significant, and must serve as a tribute to the struggles waged by black resistance movement.
In history books, Langa is described as one of the oldest townships in the country that resisted unjust apartheid laws that oppressed black people.
The homecoming by Bavuma and his Proteas colleagues honoured not only the community of Langa – it was a tribute to Kgosana, Sobukwe, and all the country’s patriots who fought, and dedicated themselves to unseating the apartheid regime.
Kagiso Rabada was part of the Proteas that joined Bavuma in Langa. “We’re here and I can’t wait to be travelling around the country to share the happiness that we have with everyone else because I know they’ve been supporting us,” said Rabada.
Dane Paterson was also elated about the event, describing it as historic event, and “a massive achievement for cricket and the country”.
The country’s late political icons, who include Sobukwe, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Beyers Naude, and many others, are turning with joy in their graves, joining in the celebrations and festivities to wish Bavuma and his Proteas colleague well in their achievement.
The parade in Langa is the first leg of the official Mace Trophy tour, which is set to commence in full swing in September.
