DEPUTY president Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday walked the same route he took exactly 23 years ago to the Bisho Stadium.
That day – 7 September 1992 – ended in bloodshed when the Ciskei homeland’s soldiers opened fire on protesters, killing 28.
About 80 000 protesters had gathered outside Bisho to signal widespread opposition to Brigadier Oupa Gqozo’s rule.
The ANC had sent a memorandum to the then SA president FW de Klerk, demanding that he replace Gqozo with an interim administration which would permit free democratic activity in Ciskei. But De Klerk refused on the grounds that Ciskei did not fall under South Africa’s jurisdiction.
As a result the ANC began a campaign of mass action, organising a protest march to occupy Bisho and force Gqozo’s resignation.
The 1992 march was led by senior ANC leaders including the SACP secretary general Chris Hani, Ramaphosa and Steve Tshwete, among others.
Yesterday Ramaphosa, who was accompanied by about 200 people, said: “I was here personally with the late Hani and Tshwete. I remember that day vividly. I became emotional when I walked down the same road today.”
Ramaphosa said the ANC was not just walking for fun, but walking for the freedom we have today.
“We are here to commemorate those who lost their lives that day. We are sorry for those families who lost family members that day,” he added.
Nomutile Nontshinga (83) from Frankfurt, near Bisho, lost her son Headman in the massacre. He was only 29.
“It’s an emotional day today. I have forgiven Oupa Gqozo for what he had done.
“I heard he was burnt by a paraffin stove. Maybe it was punishment for what he did on that day,” said the gogo.
Nomutile said the new SA government had done nothing for the victims, and added that she too would like an RDP.
She said she still lives alone with no road, no water and no electricity.
Ramaphosa, Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle and MEC for public works, Thandiswa Marawu, laid wreaths at the memorial site to mark the occasion.
