MEDIA RELEASE
To all Editors
17 January 2013
Spirit of hero to be laid to rest as a human rights reminder in March
The spirit of the late Makhanda (Makana),affectionately known as Nxele, (the left-handed) who fought the battle of Grahamstown in 1819, will be brought from Robben Island during March 2013 as part of the Human Rights Month celebrations. The great warrior Makhandadrowned off the Coast of Robben Island in 1820 while trying to escape after his banishment to the Island. Makhanda touched lives of many freedom fighters some of whom were later to be incarcerated in Robben Island and others exiled.
The CEO of the National Heritage Council (NHC), Adv. Sonwabile Mancotywa met this morning with the Eastern Cape Provincial Government stakeholders, including the Amathole District Municipality Municipal Manager Mr Chris Magwangqana, Department of Arts and Culture as well as Prince SivileMabandla representing the Contralesa Youth at the Amathole District Municipality offices in East London to finalise the arrangements and ensure that the program is rolled out.
The project is a joint initiative of the National heritage Council and the Amathole District Municipality which came about as a response to a plea by Makanda Family as led by Mr Monde Mkunqwana.
Advocate Mancotywa stated that in line with its mandate, the NHC as an implementing agent is entrusted to preserve, protect and promote the heritage of South Africa and that the role played by Makhanda as a freedom fighter is immeasurable. He stated that it is important that Makhanda receives a prominent repatriation process and an event befitting his stature and the role he played in the wars of dispossession. The story of Makhanda is also central to the Liberation Heritage of which the NHC is an implementing agency.
The National Heritage Council has already started the process of recognising and celebrating this hero. A book by Prof Julie Wells was supported by the NHC and has already been published. The NHC also commissioned a documentary on Makhanda which is currently work-in-progress. The meeting agreed that the event will be held over three days and that it should be a dignified, educational and project an image befitting of the Makhanda’s role. The meeting also resolved to broaden its stakeholder consultation base to include among others; the family, AWHF, AU (Social cluster), DoE, Kingdom of Amarharhabe, the house of Traditional leaders, MKVA, The Presidency, BCM and Makana Municipality, and the corporate world.
Nxele is recognised as one of the icons of the Liberation Heritage of South Africa through his leading involvement in the wars of dispossession. His descendants still reside under the leadership of Nkosi Zwelivuziwe Makinana in a village called Tshabho near King Williamstown. Nkosi Makinana is the direct descendant of Nkosi Ndlambe whom Nxele or Makhanda was his counselor.
The Makana Municipality in Grahamstown is named after him, so is the Makana Street where the famous singer Brenda Fassie resided in Langa , Cape Town. In Robben Island, political prisoners used to play soccer under the banner of Makana Football Association. There is also the Makana Ferry at the Nelson Mandela Gateway that ferried ex-political prisoners as well as a Navy Frigate. This indeed shows that Makhanda’s contribution to the struggle has been of note.
“His spiritual repatriation will bring closure to the pain that his family and community went through over 193 years”, says Sonwabile Mancotywa, CEO on the NHC.
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Issued by the National Heritage Council
Please contact:
Mr. Danny Goulkan
Communications Manager, National Heritage Council (NHC)
Office: 012348 1663, Mobile: 072952 2260, Email: